Andrik E. Biological and ecological characteristics and conservation problems of Fritillaria meleagris L. (Liliaceae Juss.) in Priti-syanska lowland

The thesis presents the results of combined populational and biological studies of Fritillaria meleagris L. that were conducted in the Pritisyanska lowland for many years. The problems of distribution and ecocenotic at-tachment of F. meleagris have been elucidated. On the basis of literary sources a map showing the general area of distribution of the species includ-ing eastern regions has been compiled. The features of major life cycle has been studied in detail: three periods and seven age groups have been stated, variable ways of ontogenetic development of individuals have been noted. Features of reproduction biology of the species have been investigated. The character of variation of 26 biomorphological parameters of individuals has been studied. Age spectra of the model populations and the basic spectrum for the species in the Pritisyanska lowland have been established. It was found that the growing conditions in thin forest cenoses are the closest to the ecological and phytocenotic optima of F. meleagris. For the Pritisyanska lowland the causes of the species decline have been found and some sugges-tions on conservation of the species and revival of its populations have been worked out.