ИСТИНА

In the conditions of increase of specialization of chairs of natural-scientific faculties it is very important to keep in student’s mind an integral view at the nature and ecosystems. It is necessary not only to speak about it, but also to show good visual examples. Here we, the Botanical garden of the MSU have started to develop two new directions of work: • carrying out studies on various sections of biology, soil science, ecology; • research work and studying of evolution of man-made ecosystems in urban conditions. In the sphere of education lessons on soil science for some categories of listeners are already conducted, some students passed summer practice in soil biology. Within 2012 it is planned to develop a trail for carrying out excursions and classes on different taxonomic groups of fungi. Scientific work on studying of ecosystem of the Garden was started in the late 1990-s. Cooperation with biological and soil science faculties allows to involve for this work mycologists, microbiologists, ornithologists, soil scientists. All of them have found that our Garden is very specific and interesting object for research. Thickened plantings of trees in arboretum and regular input of fertile substances have created favorable conditions for many species of micromycetes and formation of specific (in structure and distribution) complexes of soil microorganisms. Due to urbanization and critical reduction of natural biodiversity in our city the MSU Botanical garden should become a reference point for other city’s green territories. In the modern conditions of consolidation of space and time botanical gardens should involve all possibilities which they have. Involving all components of ecosystem in a focus of interest of botanical gardens is very important for strengthening positions of a garden both as a part of educational institution and in municipality, and, besides, allows to move up to a new level of maintenance of collections.