THE ONTOGENESIS AND AGE STRUCTURE OF COEPOPULATIONS OF CHAEROPHYLLUM AUREUM, AN ALIEN UMBELLIFERAE SPECIES OF CENTRAL RUSSIA IN THE SECONDARY HABITAT (MOSCOW REGION)

The ontogenesis, age structure of population and the potential seed production of Chaerophyllum aureum L . an actively spreading in Central Russia alien Umbelliferae species have been studied. As a result eight phases in the large life cycle of C. aureum have been identified. Ontogenetic spectrum of the population is close to bimodal. Maximum peak is observed in old generative individuals. The resulting distribution shows that the species has high germination ability, high mortality of young plants and significant length of generative period. The average number of flowers per shoot is about 3635, potential seed production averages 7270 ovules per shoot. The average number of mature fruits is nearly 836, it is about 17% of the all flowers formed on the shoot.From the data obtained it follows that C. aureum has some potential to further spreading in disturbed and some natural habitats of Central Russia, its populations are able to naturalize and exist for a long time in the new territories. This is possible because of high rate of seed germination, long generative period, high degree of inflorescences branching and large number of flowering shoots per plant, as well as effective particulation. The main factors interfering with fast spread of C. aureum in secondary habitat may be high mortality of young individuals, low real seed production and absence of long-term persistent soil seed bank.

Chaerophyllum aureum, Umbelliferae, Chaerophyllum aureum, Umbelliferae, phytoinvasions, ontogenesis, population, age structure, ontogenetic spectrum, potential seed production