Biological pollution of the flora of Volyn’ Polissya in Ukraine by alien plants

Vitaliy Volodymyrets,Lyubov Savchuk,Serhiy Hutsman,Larisa Oytsius

doi:10.35513/botlit.2021.1.8

Abstract

This study aimed to analyse biological pollution of the native flora of Volyn’ Polissya in Ukraine by alien plant species. According to the research results, 364 alien plants belonging to 228 genera and 68 families were identified in the spontaneous flora of Volyn’ Polissya. The spectrum of the most species-rich families of the alien fraction of the region’s flora includes Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Poaceae, Rosaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, Solanaceae, Caryophyllaceae. As a result of the phytopollution, at least 16 families were included in the region’s flora. Four species currently in a stage of expansion were identified (Reynoutria japonica, Impatiens parviflora, Echinocystis lobata, Bidens frondosa). By origin, the species of the alien fraction of the region’s flora are dominated by the immigrants from the Mediterranean, Iranian-Turan and Atlantic-North American floristic regions. Over the past 30–50 years, at least 80 new species of alien plants have been introduced into the territory of Volyn’ Polissya. Over the past 5–7 years, the speed of the spread and naturalisation rate of species such as Quercus rubra, Asclepias syriaca, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Prunus cerasifera, Hippophae rhamnoides, Oenothera biennis has increased. These species intensively invade the native plant communities. Phytopollution of Volyn’ Polissya is promoted by the migration of alien species from agricultural lands and escaping from cultivation. This process is also facilitated by urbanisation and the development of transport infrastructure.

Highlights

The spread of alien, known as non-native, plant species has acquired a global character and has covered all continents (Protopopova et al, 2002)
According to the research results, 364 alien plants belonging to 228 genera and 68 families were identified in the spontaneous flora of Volyn’ Polissya
This process determines the biological pollution of the territories and is one of the main factors for transforming the native floras of different regions (Protopopova et al, 2003)

Summary

Introduction

The spread of alien, known as non-native, plant species has acquired a global character and has covered all continents (Protopopova et al, 2002). This process determines the biological pollution of the territories and is one of the main factors for transforming the native floras of different regions (Protopopova et al, 2003). Under the influence of phytopollution, the floristic proportions change, species of native plants are displaced from the composition of regional floras. As a result, such floras gradually lose their specific features, their unification occurs (Protopopova et al, 2002). Naturalisation processes initiate the development of plant invasion and should be considered one of the main directions of modern florogenesis (Protopopova et al, 2002; Volodymyretset al., 2013)

Objectives

Methods

Results