Biological diversity of ecosystem of the State Botanical Reserve of Regional Importance “Step Bolshoy Endovy” in Penza region and issues of its protection

Background. One of the relevant areas of protection of biological diversity is the inclusion of habitats of rare species of plants, fungi and animals in specially protected natural areas (protected areas). The purpose of this work was a comprehensive study of the biodiversity of the territory of the State Botanical Reserve “Step Bolshoy Endovy”, an assessment of environmental factors affecting the state of its ecosystems, as well as the impact of the facility on the state of the natural environment of adjacent territories. Materials and methods. The research was carried out on the territory of Penza region within the territory of the State Botanical Reserve “Step Bolshoy Endovy” in 2016-2021 using a route and stationary method. Results. It has been established that the state botanical reserve “Step Bolshoy Endovy” is of great value from the point of view of protecting the biological diversity of the Penza region. Plant communities, rare for Penza region, dominated by xerophilic species located on the northern border of their distribution, have been identified on its territory. These are associations of real steppes – tereskenovo-raznotravno-tyrsovaya and tipchakovo-shaggy-solonechnovaya. During the study of their flora, 144 species of vascular plants were identified. Eleven of them are listed in the Red Book of Penza region (2024). Two rare species of fungi have also been found.: Picipes rhizophilus and Floccularia luteovirens, listed in the Red Book of Penza region (2024) and in the Red Book of the Russian Federation (2024). The habitats of seven species of insects and one species of arachnids listed in the Red Book of Penza region (2019) region, as well as two species listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation, have been recorded: Bombus armeniacus end B. fragrans. Conclusions. The conservation value of the state botanical reserve “Step Bolshoy Endovy” of regional significance is determined by the fact that plant communities and their inherent biological diversity are preserved on its territory, mainly destroyed in the adjacent territories as a result of land plowing. Protected areas have a positive impact on adjacent territories in the following areas: it serves as a source of seeds for the restoration of steppe vegetation on fallow lands adjacent to protected areas; provides a refuge for numerous pollinator insects; promotes the spread of vertebrate species and insects to adjacent territories. Environmental factors that negatively affect the ecosystem of the protected areas under consideration include the absence of moderate grazing and haymaking, as well as the use of pesticides on farmland adjacent to protected areas.