Abstract
The research was carried out for 3 years in the steppe biotopes of the bottoms of the Ahaymany, Barnashivsky, Green, Big Chapelsk, and Small Chapelsk depressions of the Dnipro — Molochna interfluve. Based on visual inspection and processing of space images, the degree of anthropogenic transformation of these ecosystems is analyzed. The highest percentage of plowing is characteristic of the Ahaymany depression, which occurred in the last 10 years. Among the factors that significantly affect the nesting birds of the steppe complex are also the continuous low mowing of grass (Green depression) and overgrazing of livestock — Small Chapelsk depression. The nesting density of background steppe species was determined, the highest density of Alauda arvensis in different years is characteristic of Ahaymany (245,2 pairs/km2) and Barnashivsky depression (211,2 pairs/km2), and Melanocorypha calandra — for the Big Chapelsk depression (140,1 pairs/km2). Stable is only the territory of the Big Chapelsk depression the protected regime under moderate grazing load of wild ungulates. A positive correlation was established between the values of steppe habitat area and Alauda arvensis nesting in the Ahaymany, Barnashivsky, Small Chapelsk, and Green depressions and, accordingly, a negative dependence for Melanocorypha calandra.
Highlights
In recent decades, the southern steppe region of Ukraine has again undergone significant changes, the activation, the decline of human impact on the remnants of natural ecosystems
Natural processes in the southern steppes, which have formed the modern fertility potential of the agroecosystems, are entirely disrupted. This is accompanied by the loss of quantitative and qualitative characteristics of species biodiversity, which has shaped the mechanisms of sustainable functioning over the centuries
Its largest depression ecosystems are included in the objects of the Emerald Network [1–4]
Summary
The southern steppe region of Ukraine has again undergone significant changes, the activation, the decline of human impact on the remnants of natural ecosystems. Natural processes in the southern steppes, which have formed the modern fertility potential of the agroecosystems, are entirely disrupted. First of all, this is accompanied by the loss of quantitative and qualitative characteristics of species biodiversity, which has shaped the mechanisms of sustainable functioning over the centuries. For species diversity that is not used by humans, leaving only those areas that its characteristics are unsuitable for intensive agricultural production. One of such territories is depressions in the interfluve of the Dnipro — Molochna. Its largest depression ecosystems are included in the objects of the Emerald Network [1–4]
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