Trends in the Settlement of Invasive Plant Species on the Territory of the Nature Sanctuary “Forested Ravine near the Village of Vlasievo” (Moscow Oblast)

The issue of biodiversity conservation is of great importance. Plant species under threat of extinction are being studied especially carefully, and the cases of degradation of phytocenoses are being investigated. Invasive flora needs to be assessed in nature conservation areas. One of the reasons for the loss of unique natural ecosystems is the invasion of alien organisms, which explains the relevance of the study. The main purpose of this publication is to study the spread of invasive plant species on the territory of the nature sanctuary “Forested Ravine near the Village of Vlasievo” in Moscow oblast. During the field routes in 2017–2022, various biotopes were examined on an area of about 98 ha. The invasive flora includes 15 species, among which Heracleum sosnowskyi is the most active. Assessment of the degree of naturalization of invasive species in protected areas showed that in most species this process is slower than on average in Moscow oblast, in the neighboring Ryazan oblast, and in general in Central Russia. Probably, this trend is due to a weak degree of anthropogenic disturbance of the territory and a low number of alien individuals. At the same time, the expansion of H. sosnowsky was noted in the protected areas, leading to a partial change in the vegetation cover and the composition of the native flora, including rare and protected species. Satellite monitoring made it possible to determine the approximate period of penetration of H. sosnowskyi and to estimate the rate of its spread across protected areas. The identified alien taxa, namely, Acer negundo , Amelanchier spicata , Impatiens parviflora , Echinocystis lobata , Bidens frondosa , Erigeron annuus , and E. canadensis , are among the 100 most dangerous invasive species on the territory of the Russian Federation, which are capable of increasing the invasive potential in the case of violations of the environmental regime of protected areas.