Kyyak V. Small populations of rare plant species in highlands of the Ukrainian Carpathians: structure, strategy and viability.

The object is a small populations of grasses and bushes species of plants. The aim is to select the main ecology-biological features of small populations of rare plant species in highlands of the Ukrainian Carpathians. The methods are population, ontogenetic, ecological, botanical and morphometrical, stationary, routs, statistical. On the basis of individual and group parameters' analysis the peculiarities of structure, strategy and viability of small plant populations compare to large populations and metapopulations of rare species of highlands of the Ukrainian Carpathians are found out. The extents of small populations' definition is given. Their age and spatial structures, variability of ontogenesis and individual vitality, peculiarities of intrapopulation diversity, means of reproduction, interference with neighbour species, etc. are ascertained. Buffer mechanisms and adaptive potential, origin algorithm, forming and losing of populations' viability are discovered. Priority features for the evaluating of vaibility of small populations are emphasized. Threat factors are ascertained and protection measures for small populations of rare plant species in highlands of the Ukrainian Carpathians are substantiated. Application spheres are the training courses and protection of rare plant species.