The oak forest of the Dendropark “Оlexandria”. Part 1. From indigenous to anthropogenically transformed plantation

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the level of preservation of primeval forest criteria and the extent of anthropogenic transformation in the old-growth oak forest of the Dendropark “Оlexandria”. This age-old oak forest of natural origin covers an area of 31.8 ha with 1413 oaks. Another 8.8 ha of the oak plantations with 462 oaks belong to artificial landscape compositions.For over 200 years of existence since the creation of the Dendropark “Оlexandria”, the oak forest has preserved a number of criteria characteristics of virgin forests. In particular, it kept the complex mosaic-tiered forest structure. The indigenous associations of oak forests of hazel-ash (Quercetа (roboris) coryloso-aegopodiosum) and Tatar maple-stellar (Quercetа (roboris) acerioso (tatarici) stellariosum) remained. The dominant species, Quercus robur, retained the function of a unifier with a share in the first tier of 70–100 %. The floristic core of the main forest-forming species has been preserved too.The oak forest is a habitat for many woody and herbaceous plants of the local flora, including threatened species. The oak forest is characterized by high structural complexity, particularly a diverse epiphytic lichen flora, the presence of rare species, and 15 indicator species of old-growth forests and virgin forests. The oak forest is a habitat for 62 species of birds, mostly inhabitants of forests. A large part of the oak forest contains dead wood of the uniflorus species and its companions in various stages of decomposition.The anthropogenic interference in the oak forest has been long and varied. Since the foundation of the park and subsequently, the oak forest has been subjected to excessive fragmentation and introduction of introductions, creating decorative landscape compositions within the oak forest, mainly in the central part. This caused significant ecotonisation of the oak forest and displacement of Q. robur.Current research has revealed a number of criteria that classify the oak forest as a successor to the primeval forest, which gives the oak forest an exceptional value.