Geobotanical monitoring of light pollution in urban nature protected areas (the case study of the Vorobyovy gory nature reserve in Moscow)

Aim. Assessment of the light pollution impact on the vegetation cover in the Vorobyovy Gory nature reserve. Methodology. The principle investigation methods were the following: system geoecological analysis (including characteristics of natural landscapes and anthropogenic load), geobotanical observation (changes in species composition, abundance and phenophase of terrestrial plants) and instrumental measurements of the illumination intensity measured by luxmeter. To monitor the transformation of the grass vegetation cover, 8 test sites were laid: background and light pollution testing sites. Comparison of identical species of the nature reserve flora in neighboring illuminated and unlit areas (10×10 m) within the same landscape tract fragments was carried out. Results. The study showed that the effect of light pollution on the natural vegetation cover affects its structure, species abundance as well as rhythms of their development. Geobotanical study of plant species composition at these sites allowed us to identify 21 plant species of different sensitivity to the level of illumination of their habitats. These species may be used for further monitoring of light pollution impact on vegetation cover ( Ficaria verna , Campanula sp. , Vicia sylvatica , Anemone ranunculoides , etc.). Research implications. Geobotanical methods for light pollution monitoring are proposed.