Biodiversity of the spruce forest of the Tsuman Forestry (Kivertsi National Nature Park "Tsumanska Pushcha", Ukraine)

Abstract

According to the results of field research during the vegetation period of 2022, 60 species of vascular plants and representatives of 35 taxa of invertebrates during the vegetation period of 2022 were found in the spruce forest of the Tsuman Forestry in the Kivertsi National Nature Park «Tsumanska Pushcha», Volyn Region. Three sites survey in sq. 4, ed. 18 of Tsuman forestry were carried out on 14.05.2022, 28.05.2022, 11.06.2022 and 25.09.2022. The tree layer was represented by Picea abies (L.) Karst. plantation in adding of Quercus robur L., Carpinus betulus L. The shrub layer was poorly developed, represented by singles Corylus avellana L. and Rubus idaeus L. In the grass layer of the test-аrea 16 Dentaria bulbifera L. was common, while in micro-lowering Geum rivale L., Myosoton aquaticum (L.) Moench, Maianthemum bifolium (L.) F.W. Schmidt as well as Galeobdolon luteum Huds. were spread. In test-areas 17–18 Oxalis acetosella L. with constant for this area species Urtica dioica L., Glechoma hederacea L. and Chelidonium majus L. were spread. The research area remoteness both from the town of Tsuman and highways contributed to the plant covering preservation. All types of forest plants were represented by aboriginal flora with typical nemoral (31 species; 51.8% of all plants under research) and boreal (15 species; 25.0%), boreal-nemoral species (5 species; 8.3%). The synanthropic fraction was represented by only 9 species (15.0%), among which 8.3% belonged to apophytes, 3.3% belonged both to archaeophytes and chenophytes. To sum up, this indicates significant preservation of the spontaneous flora. The eudodominant group of invertebrates were representatives of various orders of the class Insecta (41.65 %) from the total number of collected specimens. Dominant (DI ≥ 10.00 %) were Collembola (19.46 %) of the orders Poduromorpha and Symphypleona, sarcoptiform mites Sarcoptiformes (19.06 %), in particular shell mites Oribatida, Araneae. The subdominants (DI 1 – 9.99 %) include Myriapoda such as millipedes and centipedes, Arachnida are represented by harvest spiders Opiliones. Insects of this group include Aphidoidea, Heteroptera, Carabidae, Staphylinidae, Silphidae, Curculionidae, Hymenoptera and Diptera. Recedents (DI ≤ 1,00 %) are earthworms Lumbricidae, crustaceans Malacostraca, in particular woodlices Oniscidea, false scorpions Pseudoscorpiones. Among the insects, that occasionally fell into soil traps were Lepismatidae, Blattellidae, Neuroptera, Cicadellidae, Forficulidae, трипси Thysanoptera, Psocidae, Cerambycidae, Geortupidae, Elateridae, Chrysomelidae, Buprestidae, Raphidioptera, Hystrichopsyllidae from the genus Palaeopsylla and Lepidoptera. The greatest faunal diversity according to the Margalef index (3,74 та 3,72) is characteristic of the illuminated areas of the spruce forest within the dry area and the "window". The highest index of fauna similarity is found in areas of spruce forest with oak admixture and in the spruce forest "window".