L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, a dissertation defense for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) by Rustemova Assel Dossymgalievna on the topic «Ecological and biological characteristics and intraspecific genetic variability of Adonis volgensis Steven ex DC. in the Kazakh Uplands» to the educational program «8D05208 – Ecology and Nature Management».
The dissertation was carried out at the «Management and Engineering in environmental protection education department» of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University.
The language of defense is kazakh
Official reviewers:
Satybaldieva Gulmira Kalmashеvna – Candidate of Biological Sciences, Associate Professor, Director of the Institute of Agriculture and Forestry, S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical Research University (Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan);
Kulymbet Kanat Kairatuly – Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Researcher at the Soil Ecology Department of the U.U. Uspanov Kazakh Research Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry (Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan).
Temporary members of the Dissertation Committee:
Isaeva Akmaral Umurbekovna – Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, Vice-Rector for Research and International Cooperation, Director of the Research Institute of Ecology and Biology;
Kurmanbayeva Aigul Saparbekovna – Candidate of Biological Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Mining, Construction and Ecology, Sh. Ualikhanov Kokshetau University;
Usupbaev Adilet Kydykbekovich – Doctor of Biological Sciences, Head of the Laboratory of Geobotany and Specially Protected Natural Areas at the Institute of Biology of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic (NAS KR).
Scientific advisors:
Mukhtubayeva Saule Kakimzhanovna – Leading Researcher at the Astana Botanical Garden, Candidate of Biological Sciences, Associate Professor at the Department of Environmental Protection Management and Engineering, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan);
Banaev Evgeny Viktorovich – Head of the Dendrology Laboratory at the Central Siberian Botanical Garden, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Biological Sciences (Novosibirsk, Russian Federation).
The defense will take place on October 30, 2026, at 11:00 AM in the Dissertation Council for the training direction «8D052 – Environment» in the educational program «8D05208 – Ecology and Nature Management» of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. The defense meeting is planned to be held offline and online.
Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/434022639962466?p=7sBn96hE1az1ZC0qZR
Address: Astana, st. Satpayev, 2, Academic and Administrative Building, room. No. 302.
Abstract (English): Under conditions of increasing anthropogenic pressure and global climate change, the conservation of biological diversity has become a critical issue. According to data from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, published in 2019, approximately 1 million species of living organisms are at risk of extinction in the coming decades. The main causes include habitat destruction, climate change, environmental pollution, and overexploitation of natural resources. Particular attention is being paid to the plant kingdom, as plants form the basis of ecosystem functioning. According to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew report «State of the World’s Plants and Fungi», approximately 40% of the world’s plant species are at risk of extinction. These data indicate the high vulnerability of the world’s flora and demonstrate the need for comprehensive research and conservation measures. An important period in the botanical study of the Kazakh Uplands was marked by a number of comprehensive expeditions organized by the Academy of Sciences of the USSR in Central Kazakhstan: the “Comprehensive Expedition for Newly Developed Lands” in 1954–1955; the “Biocomplex Expedition of the Zoological and Botanical Institutes of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR” in 1957–1959 and 1961; as well as the East Kazakhstan expedition involving botanists N.N. Tzvelev, R.V. Kamelin, V.I. Grubov and A.A. Yunnatov of the Botanical Institute. Based on the results of these expeditions, Z.V. Karmysheva and E.I. Rachkovskaya compiled a synopsis of plant species of the steppe zone of Central Kazakhstan. A rare representative of the regional flora is Adonis volgensis Steven ex DC., a rare medicinal and ornamental species included in the Red Data Book of Kazakhstan. The species is used as medicinal plant material for the treatment of cardiac, renal and neuropsychiatric disorders. Recent studies indicate that populations of Adonis volgensis are characterized by instability and a declining trend. This is associated with anthropogenic factors, including plant collection, habitat destruction and livestock grazing, as well as with the biological characteristics of the species. The species has low seed productivity and a prolonged seed dormancy period, which limits its capacity for natural regeneration. Research object: natural coenopopulations of Adonis volgensis Steven ex DC. occurring in the Kazakh Uplands. Research subject: ecological and biological characteristics of Adonis volgensis Steven ex DC. in the Kazakh Uplands. Aim of the study: to investigate the current status, distribution and intraspecific anatomical and morphological variability of populations of the rare medicinal plant Adonis volgensis and to develop measures for its conservation in the Kazakh Uplands. Research objectives: 1. To investigate the geographical distribution of Adonis volgensis Steven ex DC. populations based on field studies and a review of materials from eight major national and international herbarium collections, and to develop a map of their distribution within the Kazakh Uplands using ArcGIS. 2. To investigate the population and quantitative characteristics, as well as the ecological and phytocoenotic characteristics, of Adonis volgensis Steven ex DC. in the Akmola and Karaganda regions of the Kazakh Uplands. 3. To assess the interpopulation anatomical and morphological differentiation and intraspecific phenotypic variability of Adonis volgensis Steven ex DC. in the Akmola and Karaganda regions of the Kazakh Uplands based on genetic variability. 4. To identify the limiting factors negatively affecting the current status of Adonis volgensis Steven ex DC. populations. 5. To develop recommendations for the conservation of the studied populations of the rare species Adonis volgensis Steven ex DC. occurring in the Kazakh Uplands. Scientific novelty of the study. For the first time, an investigation of the intraspecific variability of the rare species Adonis volgensis Steven ex DC. in the Kazakh Uplands was conducted using modern anatomical methods. New data were obtained on the natural habitats, morphology, ecological and phytocoenotic characteristics of populations, and reproductive features of the rare species. The current status of populations and the phenotypic variability of Adonis volgensis Steven ex DC. were investigated. The dissertation research was carried out using modern anatomical and geobotanical methods. Limiting factors affecting the condition of Adonis volgensis Steven ex DC. populations under the conditions of the Kazakh Uplands were analyzed, and the major ecological constraints and stressors determining the vulnerability of the species were identified. Using the ArcGIS geographic information system, the current geographical distribution of Adonis volgensis Steven ex DC. populations was mapped for the first time. Theoretical significance of the study. The results contribute to the understanding of the genetic structure of rare steppe species and the role of abiotic and biotic factors in shaping their adaptive capacity in natural populations. The study of the phytochemical composition of Adonis volgensis not only deepens the understanding of the functioning of metabolic systems in rare steppe species but also contributes to the development of theoretical aspects of botany, ecology, plant physiology and evolutionary plant biochemistry. The introduction of Аdonis volgensis provides a deeper understanding of the biological and ecological basis of adaptation of rare and highly specialized steppe species to new growing conditions. The study of the introduction process contributes to the development of general principles of acclimatization and adaptation biology by identifying mechanisms underlying plant stability and plasticity in response to changes in environmental factors. The results of introduction trials make it possible to theoretically substantiate patterns of adaptive potential in steppe ephemeroids and to identify important factors limiting the survival of the species outside its natural habitat. The results of introduction studies contribute to knowledge of ontogenetic variability and the effects of new environmental conditions on plant morphogenesis and reproductive biology. Monitoring changes in phenological phases, characteristics of generative and vegetative reproduction, and tolerance to environmental stress factors makes it possible to clarify the patterns underlying the adaptive strategies of rare species. The introduction of Adonis volgensis Steven ex DC. is important for deepening knowledge of the adaptation mechanisms, evolutionary plasticity and ecological and biological characteristics of rare medicinal plants, as well as for developing the conceptual foundations of introduction biology and plant resource conservation. Practical significance of the study. The results obtained expand the information base on the current status of the rare medicinal species and can serve as a basis for developing regional programs for the conservation of the flora of steppe ecosystems. The established indicators of population genetic structure provide a basis for developing optimal strategies for reproductive and introduction-based propagation of the species under artificial and semi-natural conditions. The research materials can be used to establish collection and introduction plots for rare and medicinal plants and to develop agrotechnical recommendations for cultivating Adonis volgensis Steven ex DC. in botanical gardens, research stations and pharmaceutical farms. This will not only contribute to the conservation of the species’ natural resources but may also provide an alternative source of plant raw material for the medical and pharmaceutical industries. In addition, the research results can be applied in the educational process in preparing teaching materials for courses in Botany, Ecology, Genetics, Plant Conservation and Plant Introduction. Thus, the practical significance of the study lies in establishing a scientific basis for the conservation and sustainable use of Adonis volgensis Steven ex DC., as well as in the potential application of the results in conservation, economic and educational activities. Main provisions submitted for defense: 1. Soil samples were collected in the Kazakh Uplands, and the concentrations of heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Co, Cr, Cd) were determined. This information is important for assessing their influence on the occurrence of Adonis volgensis Steven ex DC. in the study area. The concentrations of heavy metals and silicates provide an assessment of the current soil condition and the degree of technogenic pressure. 2. A review of herbarium specimens established that Adonis volgensis Steven ex DC. has been recorded in 15 floristic regions, with the species being widely distributed and studied in the Aktobe, Tobol-Ishim and Western Kazakh Uplands regions. Specimens collected in different years make it possible to trace changes in the distribution areas of the species. 3. Anatomical and morphological studies of Adonis volgensis Steven ex DC. were carried out using microscopic methods through the analysis of the leaves, stem and root. 4. The phytochemical composition of the species was investigated. The following components were identified in the ethanol extract of Adonis volgensis (Ad.Q.4): xylitol (37.85%), 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid, (Z,Z,Z)- (13.50%), 2-Propenoic acid, 2-methyl-, pentyl ester (5.92%), Stigmasterol (5.88%), 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid, ethyl ester, (Z,Z,Z)- (4.30%), and Hexadecanoic acid (4.30%). 5. The total contents of phenolic compounds and flavonoids in Adonis volgensis extracts were determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu method and showed considerable variation, ranging from 32.14 to 86.66 mg GAE/g. 6. During the study of ontogeny and age structure, 12 coenopopulations were investigated in the Kazakh Uplands. Their characterization was based on the location and coordinates of the coenopopulations, the plant communities in which they occurred, environmental factors affecting the vegetation cover, and dominant phytocoenotic species. 7. During the introduction of Adonis volgensis Steven ex DC. at the Botanical Garden of Astana, phenological observations showed that stem height ranged from 7 to 9 cm; the number of leaves ranged from 3 to 7; the length of upper leaves was 11–15 cm, while that of lower leaves was 10–12 cm. Author’s contribution. The author conducted field studies in the Kazakh Uplands and collected herbarium and seed material. Descriptions of the studied coenopopulations and phenological observations of Adonis volgensis Steven ex DC. were carried out, and ecological characteristics of the species’ habitats were recorded. A comparative analysis of morphological, ecological and molecular genetic data was performed, making it possible to determine the degree of genetic differentiation among Adonis volgensis populations and patterns of intraspecific variability. Phytochemical analysis of plant material was conducted to determine the qualitative composition of biologically active substances and identify possible differences among populations. A methodology for introduction trials of the species under Botanical Garden conditions was developed and implemented. The survival, viability, flowering and seed productivity of introduced plants were assessed. The results of the field, laboratory and analytical stages were integrated. Conclusions were drawn regarding the current status, structure and conservation level of natural Adonis volgensis Steven ex DC. populations, and recommendations for the conservation of the species were developed. Publications. The main results of the dissertation have been published in four scientific papers. In addition, papers on the vegetation cover of Kostanay Region and the Buiratau State National Nature Park have been published in international conference journals, as well as articles in journals indexed in the Scopus database. 1. Zhumagul, M.Z.; Mukhtubayeva, S.K.; Kubentayev, S.A.; Izbastina, K.S.; Abubakirova, N.B.; Rustemova, A.D. A study of the cenopopulations and ontogenetic structure of Adonis volgensis in the Akmola region // Bulletin of Karaganda University. Series “Biology. Medicine. Geography”. – 2023. – No. 4(112). – P. 159–166. 2. Kenzhina, K.D.; Rustemova, A.D.; Tuleshova, K.A.; Zhangozhina, G.M.; Amanzholov, A.I.; Turlibekova, G.K. Features of the distribution of vegetation cover depending on the physical and geographical location of the northern part of the Kazakh Uplands // Bulletin of Karaganda University. Series “Biology. Medicine. Geography”. – 2024. – No. 4(116). – P. 205–211. 3. Moldir Zhumagul, Anar Myrzagaliyeva, Saule Mukhtubayeva, Saule Baibossynova, Ainur Zhanbyrbayeva, Kairat Akhmetov, Assel Rustemova, Assemgul Bekturova. Molecular genetic analysis of gene pools of rare and endangered plant species Adonis L. of Northern Kazakhstan // Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences. – Vol. 22, No. 4. – P. 913–918. Online ISSN: 1735-3866. Print ISSN: 1735-3033. 4. Serik Kubentayev, Shukherdorj Baasanmunkh, Daniyar Alibekov, Dong Chan Son, Zagarjav Tsegmed, Anar Myrzagaliyeva, Moldir Zhumagul, Assel Rustemova, Saule Mukhtubayeva, Balsulu Kubentayeva, Hyeok Jae Choi. A taxonomic revision of Adonis (Ranunculaceae) in Kazakhstan // Italian Botanist. – 2025. – Vol. 20. https://doi.org/10.3897/italianbotanist.20.159425. Structure of the dissertation. The dissertation comprises 133 pages and includes a list of abbreviations and symbols, an introduction, literature review, materials and methods, results and discussion, conclusion, and a list of 155 references. The dissertation contains 26 tables, 48 figures and appendices. Keywords: Adonis volgensis, Kazakh Uplands, rare plant species, coenopopulations, population structure, ontogeny, morphological variability, genetic variability, intraspecific variability, environmental factors, phytocoenosis, geographical distribution, introduction, biodiversity conservation, plant conservation.
