Developing the GIS-based maps of the geomorphological and phytogeographical division of the Ukrainian Carpathians for routine use in biogeography

Andriy Novikov

doi:10.21426/b636052326

Abstract

The paper introduces GIS-based maps of the geomorphological and phytogeographical division of the Ukrainian Carpathians (a part of Eastern Carpathian Mts.), which were developed for routine use in biogeography and based on the consolidation of the existing publications. The map of geomorphological division includes 57 OGUs (operational geographic units), and the map phytogeographical division – 18 OGUs of the lowest rank. Geomorphological units are supported with available synonyms, which should help in work with different topic-related Ukrainian publications. Both maps follow strict hierarchical classification and are briefly discussed.

Highlights

The Ukrainian Carpathians (UC) is part of the Eastern Carpathian mountain province (Kondracki 1989), artificially delimited by the western border of Ukraine and covering about 24,000 km2
Tsys (1962, 1968) published the first complete geomorphologic division of the UC. This division included adjacent foothills and lowlands (Ciscarpathia and Transcarpathia) and comprised 36 districts. Such regionalization of the UC was further developed by many Ukrainian scientists (Herenchuk 1968, Marynych et al 1985, 2003, Voropay & Kunytsia 1996, Melnyk 1999, Slyvka 2001, Kravchuk 1999, 2005, 2008, Rudenko 2004), including those working in the field of biogeography (Kruhlov 2008, 2012, Korzhyk et al 2015, Cherepanyn 2017, Korzhyk 2018)
operational geographic units (OGUs) of the same hierarchical level can differ by area by orders of magnitude (e.g., Skolivski Beskydy or Transcarpathia), have no clearly argued limits (e.g., Krayovi Gorgany and Zovnishni Gorgany), are delimited without reason (e.g., Chyvchyny Mts., which are consistent with Marmarosh Mts., are often delimited in Ukrainian papers), or are excessively split, even in the same publication (e.g., Tasenkevich 2004, Kruhlov 2012, Chopyk & Fedoronchuk 2015)

Summary

Introduction

The Ukrainian Carpathians (UC) is part of the Eastern Carpathian mountain province (Kondracki 1989), artificially delimited by the western border of Ukraine and covering about 24,000 km. This division included adjacent foothills and lowlands (Ciscarpathia and Transcarpathia) and comprised 36 districts Such regionalization of the UC was further developed by many Ukrainian scientists (Herenchuk 1968, Marynych et al 1985, 2003, Voropay & Kunytsia 1996, Melnyk 1999, Slyvka 2001, Kravchuk 1999, 2005, 2008, Rudenko 2004), including those working in the field of biogeography (Kruhlov 2008, 2012, Korzhyk et al 2015, Cherepanyn 2017, Korzhyk 2018). These divisions cover only the part of the Ukrainian Carpathian Region (UCR) that includes the mountainous part (the UC) and adjacent territories

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Conclusion