Habitat’s diversity of RLP «Stil’ske horbogirya»

Abstract

The habitats of «Stilske Gorbohirya» RLP and adjacent territories were studied, their sozological value was assessed. 34 types of habitat have been identified in the study area, which by origin can be divided into 2 groups: anthropogenic (15) and natural (19). Anthropogenic habitats are represented by permanent mesotrophic lakes, ponds and pools (C1.2), highly artificial broadleaved deciduous forestry plantations (G1.C) and coniferous plantations (G3.F), scattered residential agrocultural and public buildings (J2.1), rural industrial and commercial sites still in active use (J2.3), trampled areas (Н5.6), active opencast mineral extraction sites, including quarries (J3.2), recently abandoned above-ground spaces of extractive industrial sites (J3.3), disused underground mines and tunnels (Н1.7) as well as agricultural land: mixed crops of market gardens and horticulture (І1.2), anthropogenic herb stands (Е5.1), unttendent fruit and nut tree orchards (G1.D) permanent mesotrophic pastures and aftermath-grazed meadows (Е2.1). The vegetation of anthropogenic settlements is represented by the classes: Molinio-Arrhenatheretea TX. 1937 – on fallow lands, Galio-Urticetea Passarge ex Kopecký 1969 – in old gardens and on paths; Artemisietea vulgaris Lohmeyer et al. in Tx. ex Von. Rochow 1951 – on the territory of quarries. Natural habitats are represented by springs and spring brooks (С2.1), permanent non-tidal, smooth-flowing watercourses (C2.3), temporary running waters (C2.5), water-fringing reedbeds and tall helophytes other than canes (C3.2), sparsely vegetated shores with soft or mobile sediments (C3.6), beds of large sedges normally without free-standing water (D5.2), inland sand and rock with open vegetation (E1.1), moist or wet eutrophic and mesotrophic grassland (E3.4), thermophile woodland fringes (Е5.2), Pteridium aquilinum fields (Е 5.3), temperate thickets and scrub (F3.1), riverine scrub (F9.1), riverine willow woodland (G1.1), mixed riparian floodplain and gallery woodland (G1.2), beech woodland (G1.6), scots pine woodland south of the taiga (G3.4), open cave entrances (Н1.1), calcareous and ultra-basic screes of warm exposures (H2.6) basic and ultra-basic inland cliffs (H3.2). 17 species of vascular plants were identified in the Red Book of Ukraine and 5 regionally rare species, also among mosses - 13 regionally rare species and two new ones for the Opillia region. The habitats of wet mesotrophic (floodplain) meadows, thermophilic edges, and beech forests have the greatest conservation value, where the largest number of rare plant species of European importance, the Red Book of Ukraine, and regional nature conservation lists are concentrated.