Ecological features of floristic structure of devastated lands of the RightBank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

Abstract

In the proposed article we highlight the features of the floristic structure of the devastated lands of the Right Bank forest-steppe on the example of the Andriikovetskyi sand quarry. The research was conducted using general scientific methods (analysis, synthesis, monitoring), field study and in-house research, herbarium specimens were collected and a summary of quarry flora was compiled. Ecological conditions within the mining facilities are formed individually, which is associated with the degree of anthropogenic disturbance and natural conditions of the region. It was found, that after the decommissioning of the study facility, the initial stages of plant succession within the quarry was influenced by such factors as unstable hydroclimatic conditions (significant influence is the availability of moisture for plants), elemental composition and structure of sand substrate, uneven terrain. During three years of research, 71 species of plants were identified by the collected herbarium material, the leading families are Asteraceae (14 genuses), which is typical for holarctic flora; Rosaceae (10 genuses); Fabaceae (5 genuses). It has been determined that according to Raunkier’s classification, hemicryptophytes predominate in the quarry territory, according to Serebryakov’s classification — grass polycarpics. It was found, that the structure of aboveground shoots is dominated by rosetteless species, the structure of the root system — species with a taproot. Were analyzed, that ecological structure of flora displays the adaptation of plants to environmental conditions and affects their distribution in ecotopes: the ratio of plants to light is dominated by heliophytes distributed in the most illuminated areas (for example, Galiummollugo L., Medicago sativa L., Trifolium pratense L.); to moisture — mesophytes, to temperature — megatherms, to nutrition — mesotrophs. The presence of a significant number of mesophytic and mesotrophic species indicates the beginning of the accumulation of elements and humic compounds necessary for the development of a stable phytocenosis. Among cenomorphs, the most numerous are ruderants (22.5% of the total number of species), silvants (11.3%), stepants (11.3%) and transitional types: pratant — ruderants (11.3%) and pratant-silvants (8.4%). According to the degree of adaptation to anthropogenic changes, autochthonous and allochthonous fractions were distinguished, and the share of apophytic species (23 species) prevails over adventitious (14 species). Among the apophytes, has been identified the most numerous group — aboriginal species that have completely switched to anthropogenic habitats (13 species); among the adventitious faction predominate species that are fully naturalized on anthropogenic ecotopes (11 species), at the time of settlement there are species listed before and after the XVI century. This differentiation of floristic composition confirms the need for renaturalization measures to stabilize edaphic conditions, which will accelerate the formation of zonal flora and increase biodiversity