Floristic Features of the Coastal Zone of Lakes in the “Altyn-Dala” Nature Reserve

This study aimed to investigate the floristic composition and structural features of the aquatic and coastal vegetation of lakes located in the Turgai floristic district within the “Altyn-Dala” Nature Reserve, Kazakhstan. Field research was conducted on 10 water bodies. The floristic composition was analyzed within three ecological zones: the littoral zone, the supralittoral zone, and the lake terrace. Standard geobotanical methods were applied to determine species composition, projective cover, occurrence, and species activity. The calculation of species activity was used to assess the coenotic importance of dominant taxa in each zone. The study recorded 108 species belonging to 76 genera and 29 families of higher vascular plants. The littoral zone included 27 species and was dominated by Phragmites australis, followed by Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani and Potamogeton perfoliatus. The supralittoral zone comprised 53 species, with the highest activity shown by Agrostis stolonifera. In saline habitats, halophytic species such as Chenopodium urbicum, Salicornia perennans, and Suaeda corniculata were especially important. The lake terraces contained 65 species and showed clear differentiation between non-saline and saline sites. Only 8 synanthropic and adventive species were identified, including the invasive transformer species Conyza canadensis. The results demonstrate pronounced floristic differentiation among coastal zones and confirm the ecological value of the lake systems of the “Altyn-Dala” Nature Reserve for biodiversity conservation.