Botanical and habitat characteristics of the Emerald Network object «Roganka» (Kharkiv region)

Abstract

The environmental importance and significance ofthe emerald object «Roganka» (UA0000278) in thebotanical and general ecological aspects are shown.Its place is 2387.45 hectares and it includes the mainparts of the valleys of three left-bank branches (therivers Studenok, Rudka and Roganka) of the UdaRiver, which belongs to the basin of the SiverskyDonets River in Kharkiv region. The studied objectnow represents a complex of various biotopes thatdeterminated by natural and historical and geomorphological conditions. For the emerald object «Roganka» the list of the identified habitats, its areasand main ecological and biotic features of thesehabitats from Resolution 4 of the Berne Convention(C1.222, C1.32, C1.33, C2.34, D5.2, E1.2, F3.247,E2.2, F3.4, F9.1 + G1.11), which are best representedin this area. The largest areas here are occupied bymeadow steppes habitats (E1.2), floodplain-terrace,meadow-swamp-shrub and forest biotopes (D5.2;E2.2; F3.4; F9.1 + G1.11). In addition, the Emeraldobject includes two botanical reserves of local significance of Kharkiv region — «Kovylovyi Step» and«Ryazyanova Balka» with an area of 78 hectares and10 hectares, accordingly. Populations of some species of vascular plants occur in the study area, which, having other sozological statuses, are included in Addition I to Resolution 6 of the Bern Convention (Jurinea cyanoides (L.) Rchb., Ostericum palustre (Besser) Besser, Paeonia tenuifolia L.). A number of species have the appropriate conservation status in Ukraine (Adonis vernalis L., Paeonia tenuifolia, Pulsatilla pratensis (L.) Mill, Stipa capillata L., S. lessingiana Trin & Rupr., S. pennata L., S. pulcherrima C. Koch., S. tirsa Stev.) and at the local level (Adonis wolgensis Stev., Сarexhumilis Leys., Clematis integrifolia L., Cotinus coggygria Scop., Crataegus pentagyna Waldst. et Kit., Galatella linosyris (L.) Rchb.f., Inula helenium L., Iris pumila L., Hyacinthella leucophaea (C.Koch) Schur., Ornithogalum gussonei Ten., O. kochii Parl., Salvia nutans L., Valeriana tuberrosa L., V. оfficinalis L., Viburnum opulus L., Vinca herbacea Waldst. et Kit.). Also, the greatest value are groups of meadow and shrub steppes, which include rare groups listed in the Green Book of Ukraine, namely the formation of four species of Stipa lessingiana, S. pennata, S. pulcherrima, S. tirsa and Сarexhumilis. The main threats to the existence of the natural complex of this area, which may arise in the event of increased economic impact, are drainage and plowing of floodplains, terracing and reforestation of meadowsteppe slopes of beams.