Фауна хребетних Полтавського міського парку

Abstract

The original data of the long-term faunistic studies of vertebrate animals of the Poltava city park are listed. The characteristic of landscape-ecological conditions of park territory is given and their changes are marked during many decades of observations. The main biotopes that determine the species diversity of vertebrate fauna are noted. It was analyzed data from the literature and oral reports of local researchers of nature that highlight the state of the fauna of this area before the establishment of the park. It is established that 169 species of animals from 121 genera, 62 families, 29 orders and 5 classes can be found in the modern fauna of the vertebrates of the Poltava City Park, including 9 species of fish, 6 ones of amphibians, 3 species of reptiles, 129 ones of birds and 22 species of mammals. For each class, lists of species have been compiled, which indicate data on the distribution patterns of animals in the park area, their confinement to habitat and for some animals it was specified data on the nature of their migration, population status, etc. According to ecological features, the fauna studied (except fish as exclusively aquatic animals) is represented by components of four faunal complexes. The most rich fauna of vertebrates in the forest complex, which totals in total 81 species – 72 species of birds (including 44 nesting), 6 species of mammals and 3 species of amphibians. Meadow-steppe faunal complex consists of 17 species of vertebrates – 13 species of birds (including 5 nesting species), 2 species of mammals and by 1 species of amphibians and reptiles. The near-water complex includes 32 species of birds (9 of them are nesting), by 2 species of amphibians and reptiles and 1 species of mammals – together 37 species. The synanthropic faunal complex contains 12 species of birds, as well as 4 species of mammals. A significant contribution to the biological diversity of the park is also made by 9 species of eurytopic mammals. Sozological value of vertebrate fauna of the Poltava City Park caused by 2 species from the European Red List, 11 species from the Red Book of Ukraine and 19 local rare species. The main changes in the fauna of vertebrate animals on the territory of the Poltava City Park have been noted, which appear in the reduction of the species diversity of the meadow-steppe faunal complex and the increase in the diversity of forest and near-water complexes. This is due to the transformation of biotops in the park from natural mainly meadow-steppe communities to man-made tree plantations and artificial ponds.