Specially protected natural area «Sestrinskie okamenelosti» – a promising reference polygon for remote identification of valuable steppe ecosystems

The paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the flora of the natural monument «Sestrinskie okamenelosti», located in the Bolshechernigovsky District of the Samara Region. The taxonomic analysis has revealed the growth of 255 species of vascular plants from 49 families within the boundaries of a specially protected natural area. Biomorphological and ecological-coenotic analyses have been used to assess the degree of preservation of the natural steppe communities of the studied territory. The ecologic-geographical characteristics of the natural monument are made in accordance with the classifications of T.I. Plaksina and A.P. Laktionov. The result of the two classifications correlation is the analysis of common types of habitats – pluriregional, Holarctic, Euro-Siberian, European. The study of the natural monument «Sestrinskie okamenelosti» phytodiversity has revealed its unique physiognomic features associated with the dominance of a number of steppe plant species. The results of the analysis allow us to recommend this territory for use as a reference zone (polygon) that provides processing of remote sensing materials obtained using satellite images and UAV. The use of a series of multi-season images will allow us to establish the location and visual characteristics of the dominant steppe species reference zone in order to build classifiers and then use the results for remote identification of the most valuable areas of natural steppes in the Samara Region and adjacent territories. Remote sensing methods allow to monitor the state of virgin steppe areas continuously. Similar work has already begun on other protected areas of the region; the first results have been obtained.