Alder Forest Research Articles

Mites from the Suborder Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata) in Bory Tucholskie National Park—One of the Youngest National Parks in Poland

The state of research into acarofauna in Polish national parks is very uneven. One of the least examined areas in this regard is Bory Tucholskie National Park (BTNP), established in 1996. The aim of the current research was to explore the species diversity and community structure of mites from the suborder Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata), inhabiting different forest, open, and unstable microhabitats in the area of BTNP. Based on the analysis of over 300 samples collected in BTNP between 2004 and 2024, 29 taxa of Uropodina were identified, with 3839 specimens found in the analyzed material. The highest species diversity has been observed in different types of pine forests (19 species), in transformed alder and alder forests (15 species, each), and in reeds (12 species), while the lowest diversity occurred in peat bog areas (8 species) and inland dunes (5 species). The spatial distribution analyses for Uropodina in the area of BTNP have been made and distribution maps for each species have been drawn. Moreover, the Maturity Index (MI) was also calculated to compare the species diversity of the Uropodina communities in BTNP with those in other Polish national parks. The Uropodina community in BTNP ranked eighth in terms of species richness among 13 national parks explored in Poland so far. Finally, the comparative analysis of the MI for the selected Polish national parks has revealed that BTNP could be ranked fourth in terms of the faunistic value for the discussed mite group.

Species Diversity and Spatial Distribution of Some Oribatid Mites in Bory Tucholskie National Park (N Poland)

There are 23 national parks in Poland, and only a few of them have been studied thoroughly with regard to acarofauna so far. One of the least-examined areas in this regard is Bory Tucholskie National Park (BTNP), established in 1996. The aim of this research study was to explore the species diversity, community structure, and spatial distribution of mites from the order Oribatida: ptyctimous mites (Acari: Oribatida) and species from the families Nothridae and Camisiidae (Acari: Oribatida: Crotonioidea) inhabiting different forests open and unstable microhabitats in the area of Bory Tucholskie National Park (BTNP). In the case of ptyctimous mites, the communities were compared to those in other Polish national parks. Based on the analysis of 285 samples collected in BTNP between 2022 and 2024, 8 species of Crotonioidea with dominant Heminothrus peltifer (C. L. Koch, 1839) and 21 species of ptyctimous mites with the most numerous Atropacarus (Atropacarus) striculus (C. L. Koch, 1835) were identified in the analyzed material. The highest species diversity was observed in different types of pine forests (25 species) and in alder forests (24 species), while the lowest diversity occurred in areas with reeds (11 species). The comparison of the number of ptyctimous mites in Polish national parks revealed that BTNP can be ranked second in terms of species diversity among 12 national parks examined in Poland so far.

Mycolichenological portrait of alder forest: alpha diversity revealed in 1ha plot in the Samursky National Park (Republic of Dagestan, Russia)

Aim. Xylobiont fungi and lichens determine the sustainability of forest ecosystems, but their species richness and taxonomic diversity depend on the forest type and the degree of its disturbance. Alder forests, characterised by a specific set of ecological conditions, represent poorly studied habitats in terms of myco‐ and lichenobiota. The aim of this work was to determine the species composition of aphyllophoroid fungi and epiphytic lichens on a 1 ha sample plot in a lowland floodplain forest dominated by Alnus glutinosa in the Delta Samura area of the Samursky National Park.The authors collected basidiomata of lignicolous fungi and lichen specimens on a sample plot of 1 ha during field studies. The surveyed forest area is represented by a community dominated by Alnus glutinosa and lianas. The material was identified using light microscopy techniques and a standard set of chemical reactions.Thirty‐three species of aphyllophoroid fungi (Basidiomycota) and 53 species of lichens and allied fungi (Ascomycota) were identified. Among them, 16 species (48 %) of aphyllophoroid fungi were recorded for the first time for the Samursky National Park, including six species revealed for the first time for the Republic of Dagestan, of which three species (Donkia pulcherrima, Phanerochaete cumulodentata and Sertulicium granuliferum) were new to the Northern Caucasus. Lichen species Arthothelium ruanum, Bacidia arceutina and Graphis pulverulenta are listed for the first time for the Republic of Dagestan. At the same time, 21 species of lichenized fungi were recorded for the first time on Alnus glutinosa within the region.The taxonomical structure of aphyllophoroid fungi revealed reflects the spring period of basidiomata‐based field study. The predominance of corticioid fungi and revealing hydnoid species among morphological groups may be indicative of the generally wetter habitats of alder forests in comparison to other forest types distributed in the studied area. Most of species were recorded on dead wood of Alnus glutinosa as the main forest‐forming tree. At the same time, each of other substrates (Carpinus betulus and Corylus avellana) turned out to be the habitat of species new to the region. The group of fungal species developing on large‐scale substrate units, represented by fallen trunks, was the most prevalent and is to be considered as more vulnarable in a case of anthropogenical habitat disturbance. The majority of epiphytic lichens discovered on alder are not specific to this woody substrate, except for single findings. These species belong to epiphytes inhabiting the Samur forest, the core of the lichenobiota of which is composed of thermophilous lichens of lowland deciduous forests. In our opinion, the relict character of the forest, which is an isolated and rather small forest massif with relatively homogeneous climatic conditions, causes a high similarity between the species composition of lichens revealed in the surveyed sample plot with Alnus glutinosa and previously studied plots dominated by Carpinus betulus, Populus alba, and Quercus robur.

Diversity of Birch and Alder Forests in the Kostanay Region of Kazakhstan

This study delves into the phytocenotic structure and biodiversity of forest ecosystems dominated by species of the family Betulaceae (Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, and Alnus glutinosa) in the Kostanay region of Kazakhstan. The research is a significant step toward understanding the influence of environmental factors, particularly hydrological regimes and soil conditions, on the formation and functioning of these forest communities. Field studies were conducted across multiple plots, where detailed geobotanical descriptions and analyses of species diversity were performed. The results underscore the significant species diversity, with 146 vascular plant species identified across various forest types, and are of great importance. Birch forests exhibit higher species diversity than alder forests, with the highest diversity observed in plots with favourable moisture conditions. The study concludes that the hydrological regime is critical in shaping these forest ecosystems’ phytocenotic structure and productivity. These conclusions underline the importance of biodiversity conservation and sustainable forest management in the region, making the implications of this research significant and far reaching.

Features of the modern distribution of 137Cs in soils under overmoistened growth conditions of black alder forests in Zhytomyr Polissia, Ukraine

Research on the modern distribution of 137Cs in soils of different forest site types in black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaerth.) stands was conducted. In forest litter, there is not a high percentage of its total activity in soil: in moist fairly fertile site type (C3) – 13.4 %, damp fairly fertile site type (C4) – 16.3 %, and wet fairly fertile site type (C5) – 3.8 %. The mineral part of the soil in moist and damp fairly fertile site type is characterized by decreased density of radioactive contamination of soil layers with depth. In wet fairly fertile site type, this indicator increases to a depth of 6 - 8 cm and decreases with further deepening. A 10-cm layer of moist fairly fertile site type (C3) contains 61.8 % of the total radionuclide activity in soil, damp fairly fertile site type (C4) – 68.1%, and wet fairly fertile site type (C5) – 70.1 %, correspondingly; a 20-cm layer has 75.4, 78.3, 91.9 % and a 30-cm layer – 80.9, 82.2, 96.0 % of the total radionuclide activity.

Environmental thresholds for plant species richness of black alder (Alnus glutinosa) forests in Central Europe

The diversity of vascular plants in temperate floodplain forests varies between biogeographical regions of Europe. Our study aims to identify the key environmental drivers of plant species richness in forests dominated by black alder (Alnus glutinosa) in Central Europe with four regions: Pannonian lowland, Matricum as the southern part of the Western Carpathians, High Western Carpathians and Polish Plain. We analysed plant species richness and quantified 15 environmental characteristics (soil, climatic and landscape characteristics) in 140 vegetation plots (35 per region). We used model-based regression trees to test the influence of predictors on the richness of both native and alien species. The regression tree analysis identified eight significant variables controlling species richness in three regions and all bioregions together but found no significant predictor in Matricum. The analysis of the joint dataset indicates that native plant richness was controlled by the effects of catchment slope, soil reaction and precipitation of the warmest quarter. In contrast, the richness of alien species was influenced by the precipitation of the warmest quarter, soil phosphorous and temperature. The species richness of native plants in the High Western Carpathians was driven by soil reaction and the presence of artificial surfaces around the plots, while the richness trend in the Pannonain lowland was determined by annual temperature. Alien richness was affected by the proportion of agricultural areas in the High Western Carpathians, by the stream power index in the Polish Plain and by soil reaction in the Pannonian lowland. The explanatory power of the tree models ranged from 22 to 36%. Our results suggest that the predictability of the richness patterns is contingent upon the specific regions, which differ in the length of environmental gradients.

Alder expansion stimulates nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from southern Eurasian permafrost peatlands

AbstractNitrogen oxides (NOx) play an important role for atmospheric chemistry and radiative forcing. However, NOx emissions from the vast northern circumpolar permafrost regions have not been studied in situ due to limitations of measurement techniques. Our goals were to validate the offline analytical technique, and based on this, to widely quantify in situ NOx emissions from peatlands in the southern Eurasian permafrost region. To this end, we conducted a comparison of online and offline flux measurements in 2018 and 2019 using the synthetic air flushing, steady‐state opaque chamber method. With differences in annual average and cumulative fluxes less than 0.1 μg N m−2 h−1 and 0.01 kg N ha−1 year−1, the online and offline fluxes were in good agreement, demonstrating the feasibility of conducting offline measurements in remote regions without power supply. The flux measurements over 2 years showed obvious NOx emissions of 0.05–0.14 and 0.13–0.30 kg N ha−1 year−1 in the hollow and hummock microtopography of permafrost peatlands, respectively. The rapid expansion of alder (Alnus sibirica) in the peatlands induced by permafrost degradation significantly increased soil mineral N contents and NOx emissions depending on the age of alder (0.64–1.74 and 1.44–2.20 kg N ha−1 year−1 from the alder forests with tree ages of 1–10 years and 11–20 years, respectively). Alder expansion also intensively altered the thermal state of permafrost including the sharp increases of soil temperatures during the non‐growing season from October to April and active layer thickness. This study provides the first in situ evidences of NOx emissions from the northern circumpolar permafrost regions and uncovers the well‐documented expansion of alders can substantially stimulate NOx emissions and thus, significantly affect air quality, radiative forcing, and ecosystem productivity in the pristine regions.

Holocene Vegetation Dynamics Revealed by a High-Resolution Pollen Record from Lake Yangzonghai in Central Yunnan, SW China

Long-term regional vegetation dynamics is essential for the understanding of past land cover changes. High-resolution pollen analysis of a 1020 cm core from a large lake, Lake Yangzonghai (YZH), in central Yunnan, SW China, was conducted to reveal regional vegetation dynamics in the lake catchment over the past 13,400 years. Pollen record, principal component analysis (PCA) of pollen percentages of major arboreal taxa, and plant abundances estimated from the “Regional Estimates of VEgetation Abundance from Large Sites” (REVEALS) model show five successional stages of vegetation dynamics since 13,400 cal. a BP: regional vegetation with high coverages in the lateglacial (13,400–11,400 cal. a BP) was dominated by evergreen broadleaved forest (EBF) and deciduous broadleaved forest (DBF), together with some grass meadows and marshes; pine forest and alder forest expanded in the early Holocene (11,400–9000 cal. a BP) when vegetation coverages were still high; regional vegetation with low coverages was dominated by sweetgum forest, together with some pine forest during the mid-Holocene (9000–4200 cal. a BP); more pine forest, grass meadows and marshes occupied the lake catchment during the late Holocene (4200–800 cal. a BP), when vegetation coverages were higher than the average of the past 13,400 years; regional vegetation with low coverage was dominated by grass meadows and marshes, great deforestation happened in the last 800 years. Regional vegetation dynamics over the past 13,400 years in the Lake YZH catchment was the result of regional vegetation response to climate changes during the lateglacial and early–mid Holocene, and to human activities mainly during the late Holocene.

Indicating landslide hazard from tree rings – Ecosystem service provided by an alder forest in the hengduan Mts, Sichuan, China

Landslides are destructive geomorphological processes that cause economic and social losses. This stimulates the development of new tools related to landslide hazard. Recently, trees, their growth rings and dendrochronology have become widely used in landslide studies. Thus, this study aims to explore the potential of trees in providing landslide-monitoring ecosystem services through dendrochronology. In our opinion, establishing such an idea would help promote empirical evidence on the efficiency of tree-ring-based tools to decision-makers. We use the example of a landslide in the Moxi basin, Sichuan, China and present results of dendrochronological analysis of growth eccentricity in 48 Nepalese alder (Alnus nepalensis) trees. This analysis provided data on event timing and magnitudes, average frequency and recurrence interval for reactivation of the study landslide, as well as spatial variability of landslide active. Based on dendrochronological data we were also able to determine the current slope balance and general hazard of landslide reactivation on the study slope. Our study shows that trees and dendrochronology can provide data on the activity of landslides that can complement and improve the results of standard engineering methods. Moreover, dendrochronology itself can provide the full information needed for landslide hazard assessment, monitoring and prediction.

Breeding success of passerine birds in the forest steppe of European Russia

In the period from 1985 to 2023, the breeding success of 15 bird species was studied in the Voronezh Nature Reserve (50°21ʹ-52°02ʹ N, 39°21ʹ-39°47ʹ E), where there has been no economic activity for 100 years. The plant cover consists of pine (32.3% of the total area), oak (29.3%), aspen (19.3%), birch (5.7%) and alder (5.2%) forests. 2004 nests were monitored. Low breeding success (25.4-27.9%, determined by the modified Mayfield method) was found in the Blackbird Turdus merula , the Song Thrush T. philomelos , the Finch Fringilla coelebs and the Greenfinch Chloris chloris. From 1.6 to 1.8 fledglings fly out for one breeding attempt. The average level of breeding success (38.7-50.4%) was found in the Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita , the Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio , Redwing Turdus iliacus , Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla , Garden Warbler S. borin and Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes . From 2.1 to3.4 fledglings fly out for one breeding attempt. A high level of breeding success (60.6-82.5%) was found in the Great Tit Parus major , the Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus , the Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca , the Collared Flycatcher F. albicollis and the Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata . From 3.7 to 7 fledglings fly out for one breeding attempt. Due to the increased pressure of nest predators, the breeding success of birds in the Voronezh Nature Reserve is often lower than in other areas. The greatest breeding success is typical for birds that place nests in hollows and other shelters. Breeding success is significantly lower in openly nesting species, especially in birds that begin nesting before the leaves bloom on trees and shrubs.

Vegetation affinity of Epipactis albensis (Orchidaceae) in central Europe

Epipactis albensis is an obligate autogamous orchid species which is widely distributed in central European countries. However, its phytocoenological affinities are not well known. They were investigated in this study based on 17 phytosociological relev?s from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland obtained from the available literature and database sources, where the species has its centre of occurrence. The cluster analyses revealed three groups of vegetation types belonging to the hardwood floodplain forests of the Fraxino-Quercion roboris alliance, the riparian alder forests of Alnion incanae and the beech forests of Fagion sylvaticae. Brachypodium sylvaticum, Circaea lutetiana, Geum urbanum, and Urtica dioica (frequency 76%), followed by Dactylis glomerata agg. and the alien plant Impatiens parviflora (65%) are the most co-occurring species. This phytosociological study has highlighted the need for further and more detailed research supported by the collection of new vegetation data from across the range of E. albensis.

Моделирование ценности ландшафтов Полярного Урала для летних стоянок оленеводов

Introduction. The purpose of the study was to assess the capacity of the Polar Urals eastern macroslope geosystems (the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug) to be used as summer camps for reindeer herders. To do that, a set of tools for geoprocessing of spatial data, including remote sensing data were employed. Materials and methods. The algorithm for modeling the site suitability for reindeer herder camps consisted of several stages: formulation of criteria significant for the camp placement; the transformation (formalization) of each criterion values to the unified scale of suitability; the comparison of criteria and their combining to built a suitability map; the preparation of a digital elevation model (DEM); the preparation of a land cover map based on remote sensing data and field descriptions; the construction of partial (factorial) maps of suitability for reindeer herder camps locations; the construction of a resulting map of suitability for reindeer herder camps location based on a combination of private (factor) maps; the model reliability verification through the comparison of simulation results with actual data on the camps location. In the developed model, we accepted three significant criteria identified from the interviewing of reindeer herders during field studies: a surface slope, a distance to watercourses, and a proximity to forest areas. For the first two criteria, a binary assessment-based scale with two possible options (“suitable” and “unsuitable”) was used. For the third criterion (forest proximity), we applied the fuzzy set function MSSmall. In this case, the related transformation resizes the input data by means of the mean and standard deviation where smaller values in the input raster have a higher preference. Results. In the Polar Urals, the optimal conditions for reindeer herder camps are formed in wide glacial valleys and due to a combination of favorable relief conditions with the presence of numerous water bodies, spread of larch small woods and alder forests. The simulation results are well-supported by the actual data. Suggestions for practical application and direction of future research. The logical structure of the developed model may serve as a basis for repeated step-by-step analysis via original variables replacement. This could be an expansion/replacement of the study area, a time interval extension, an introduction of a number of clarifying criteria, an empirical selection of limiting parameters, the criteria used based on a more in-depth sociological and geographical analysis.

JAPANESE ALDER IN VICINITY OF THE OLGA BAY (Primorye Territory)

The plant communities with the participation of Alnus japonica near the northern limit of the distribution of this species in Primorye Territory (the mouth part of the Avvakumovka River in the Olginsky District) are described in this article. Their floristic composition and the coenoflora of Japanese alder forests in Southern Primorye are discussed.

Pathogenicity of Phytophthora and Halophytophthora species on black alder and the host histological response

Riparian alder forests are threatened by Phytophthora across Europe. Comparative studies of the pathogenicity of Phytophthora species are crucial for developing effective management strategies. Although only a limited number of species, particularly P. × alni, lead to tree decline in natural environments, many species demonstrate pathogenicity in inoculation trials. Phytophthora species vary in their ability to infect different tissues, such as phloem and xylem, and trigger defence responses in the host through the formation of tyloses and callose. By comparing the histological responses of alder to various Phytophthora species, we can gain insights into the success of P. × alni and the potential damage that could be caused by other species. To investigate the defence strategies of black alder (Alnus glutinosa) against attack by Phytophthora and Halophytophthora species present in Catalonia (NE Spain), we conducted inoculation trials on saplings using nine potentially pathogenic species and compared the histological responses. Phytophthora × alni and P. plurivora were the most aggressive species followed by other exotic species such as P. × cambivora and P. cactorum. Phytophthora × alni and P. plurivora were equally damaging despite the higher prevalence of P. × alni in declining alders in natural settings. Although P. × alni mainly invaded the phloem, P. plurivora also invaded the xylem and triggered the production of tyloses. Histological analyses revealed a diverse range of plant responses to infection by Phytophthora species, providing a better understanding of their adaptability in natural environments compared with solely observing lesions. The low level of callose production in saplings inoculated with P. × alni compared with callose production in saplings inoculated with less pathogenic species suggests that P. × alni can evade recognition by the host and, hence, could partially explain its success.

Changes of alder forest after girdling in Kushiro Wetland

Changes of alder forest after girdling in Kushiro Wetland

STUDIES ON CENTIPEDE ECOLOGY (MYRIAPODA: CHILOPODA) A BIBLIOMETRIC REVIEW

As predatory soil macroinvertebrates, centipedes are often considered groups used for soil community studies. However, research explicitly targeting centipede ecology remains relatively scarce. This paper addresses this gap by conducting a formal literature review and scientometric analysis of worldwide publications on the ecology of centipedes, specifically focusing on research studies conducted in Romania. We utilized articles published after 1990 and available in Web of Science collections under Ecology Research Area. As supported by the authors’ keywords co-citation networks, classical aspects of centipedes ecology, such as environmental requirements and tolerances of a particular species, seem to be hidden mainly within taxonomy and faunistic papers. Community ecology approaches are better delimited under the umbrella of biodiversity. Among these, ecotoxicology and food webs topics stand out, the latter being the subject of some of the most cited papers. The study also investigated collaboration groups and the countries supporting research in the field of centipede ecology. In Romania, Zachiu Matic studied the altitudinal distribution of centipedes in two mountain ranges, providing valuable insights into elevation limits for certain species. Additionally, Matic discussed synecological data on centipede communities in oak forests. Another researcher, Radu Gava, compared centipede diversity in different forest types, including oak, beech, and alder forests. Overall, the analysis revealed that the growth of articles on the ecology of centipedes had not followed a growing trend over the years, both internationally and locally. This stagnation suggests that certain limitations may still hinder research development in this field. However, the study sheds light on the existing research landscape and highlights specific areas for further investigation.

Geoprzestrzenne cechy układu historycznego i geograficznego oraz stan obecny masywów leśnych leśnictwa Busk (Ukraina)

The purpose of this article is to investigate the species composition, age structure, and economic utilization of forest plantations in the Busk forestry. The practical importance of such research increases in the context of administrative reform and land resource management in newly created communities and announced consolidations of forestry enterprises in 2021. The research used various time-based cartographic materials, which allowed to trace the development of typical forest massifs from the end of the 18th century to the present day. The study was conducted for four time periods. The proposed study was carried out by processing statistical materials of the Busk forestry. Based on this data, cartographic schemes of species composition, age structure, and timber stock were constructed and analyzed by forestry. It was established that the characteristic features of forestry in the region are: uneven forest cover of the studied territory; significant fragmentation of the forest fund in the southern part of the forestry territory; location of large forest massifs in the northwestern part of the forestry; dominance of such tree species as pine, oak, and alder in the forest stands; insignificant increase in forest cover in individual territories due to the creation of pine tree cultures on unproductive lands and active expansion of black alder forests in over-moistened pastures. The division of the forest fund into categories has been studied. It has been established that the largest share of the forest fund of the Busk forestry is occupied by exploitable forests. Protective forests account for 1.5% of the total forest area in the studied region. The forest supply per capita in the Krasne territorial community is on average 0.12 ha/person, while in Busk it is 0.61 ha/person.

The Alder Forests in the East Mecsek Mountains (SW-Hungary)

The Alder Forests in the East Mecsek Mountains (SW-Hungary)

The Mycelial Component of Eutrophic Peat Soils in the Zone of Active Organic Detritus Decomposition

The analysis of structural indicators (abundance, diversity) of fungal and actinomycete complexes of eutrophic peat soils in the zone of active organic detritus decomposition, represented by litter (layers L and F) and eutrophic peat horizon (TE) was carried out. Samples were taken in swamp forests (black alder forest, pine forest, birch forest, mixed forest) of Tver and Tomsk regions (Russia) in the summer period of 2021.The abundance of mycelial organisms was analyzed by fluorescent-microscopic and plate methods. Species identification of culturable representatives was conducted basing on their phenotypic features. In the litter, the length of fungal mycelium (by 2‒10 times), the number of culturable fungi (by 2‒3 orders), and actinomycetes (by 1‒2 orders) were higher than in the eutrophic peat horizon. The litter enzymatic layer (F) was characterized by the maximum carbon content of the mycelial component (3‒10 mgC/g). The stocks of actinomycete biomass in the zone of active organic detritus decomposition varied from 23 to 60 kg/ha, fungal biomass from 1593 to 3718 kg/ha. The share of litter in the profile stock of mycelial biomass was greater in deciduous forests. Culturable fungi by 70 species of 43 genera and actinomycetes by 42 species from 12 series and 4 sections were isolated from the zone of active organic detritus decomposition. Representatives of genera Penicillium, T-alaromyces, and Trichoderma dominated in the fungal complex, and Streptomyces dominated in the actinomycete complex. The litter was not inferior to the eutrophic-peat horizon in terms of species diversity of fungi and actinomycetes. The species similarity of fungi complexes of the litter and TE horizon was 0.68, and that of actinomycetes was 0.27.

Aconitum lasiocarpum and A. variegatum (Ranunculaceae) populations near the eastern limits of their ranges in the lowlands of Ukraine

The study of the ranges, habitats and current state of rare and threatened species of plants is a relevant task of ecological research. The paper presents the results of the study of habitats and current state of populations of two rare species of Ukrainian flora Aconitum lasiocarpum (Rchb.) Gáyer and A. variegatum L. (Ranunculaceae) in the lowlands of Ukraine. These species are members of the mountain element of the flora of lowlands of Ukraine and glacial relics, which descended from the Carpathians Mountains to the lowlands of Ukraine during glaciation. Aconitum lasiocarpum is a rare species of European flora, included to the Red Data Books of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Poland and Ukraine. Unlike the well studied A. lasiocarpum populations in the main part of the range in the Carpathian Mountains, local populations of this species near the eastern limit of the range in the lowlands of Ukraine remain undescribed. In these exclaves of the range in the lowlands of Ukraine A. lasiocarpum is a glacial relic. Here it grows in alder forests Ribo nigri-Alnetum ordo Alnion glutinosa alliance. Lowland A. lasiocarpum populations consist of 1000–10000 adults with a significant number of young individuals. In the past lowland A. lasiocarpum populations occupied a much large area. Deforestation and drainage melioration led to reduction of the populations. Taking into account the low number of glacial relic populations at the eastern limit of the range of A. lasiocarpum, all localities of this species in the lowland part of the range in Ukraine must be taken under protection in situ. Aconitum variegatum L. grows in wet alder and oak forest and in areas with hazel shrubs. The populations of this species in lowlands of Ukraine occupy a very small area and are characterized by low numbers of individuals. In the past populations of this species in the lowlands of Ukraine occupied a larger area. As a rare species of the Ukrainian flora A. variegatum deserves to be included to the Red Data Book of Ukraine. We propose to protect the unique population of A. variegatum near Susk village in Rivne region as a botanical reserve.