The vegetation on the signaling points of goitred gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa)

Traces of living of Goitred gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) were observed at the territory of Tigro- vaya Balka nature reserve (Tajikistan) near the lower course of the Vakhsh river from 29^th of March till 9^th of April, 2012. Main habitats of this antelope in the reserve are desert and tugai which is a kind of riparian forest of desert natural zone. At the paths and near them numerous gatherings of excrements (toilets) were observed which are stamped with hooves and filled with excrements areas about the size of 50×100 cm. Enhanced vegetation forms peripheral border clearly visible from a distance of many tens of meters. On the route of 28 km 42 antelope toilets were observed, where 19 species of plants from 11 families vegetate. Whole structure, including stamped and cleared spot, gathering of excre- ments, border of bright green plants and smell of dung left by numerous animals during long time is a good and easy-to-see attractor. Forming a matrix of stable elements in the communicative space of ecosystem they function as a path control of the animals at the territory. There is no reason now to believe that plants tending to the gazelle toilets more “nitrogen-philous” compared with other species, growing in the reserve. The great majority of plants marked at the toilets are annuals, spring ephemer- als. All these species are usual, and some of them are common plants, including plants forming aspects of typical flat and lowland ephemeral-ephemeroid southern deserts of Central Asia.