Coenotic Diversity Research Articles

The vascular plant species of different protection levels in the ecosystems of the regional landscape parks of the Ukrainian Polissia

The Ukrainian Polissia is a distinctive region in terms of biodiversity, with a significant number of northern and boreal species and communities, as well as Central European species in the Western Polissia. The research region stretches from west to east for 750 km, and from north to south for 120–150 km. In the northeast direction, its territory gradually narrows to 50–80 km and constitutes a significant part of the important ecological corridor of Eastern Europe. Background. The natural conditions of the Ukrainian Polissia are favorable for the formation of coniferous, broadleaf and mixed forests, which are zonal communities here. The widespread distribution of fluvioglacial sediments causes the predominance of sandy sod-podzolic soils and associated pine forests. The high groundwater table and the low surface area contribute to the development of eutrophic peat bogs. All this leads to the formation of a diverse vegetation cover, which contributes to the representativeness and significant preservation of floristic and coenotic diversity. One of the key roles in the protection of rare species of phytodiversity in the Polissia region of Ukraine belongs to multifunctional protected areas, including the category of “regional landscape parks”. They cover more than 200 species of vascular plants of the Polissia region, with diffe­rent conservation statuses – from the international level of protection to the regional one. Materials and Methods. The study was conducted using conventional field (route-based, geobotanical descriptions of key areas) and desk methods. The species names are given according to the International Plant Names Index, and their belonging to the protected categories is based on the conservation criteria and protection levels accor­ding to the regulatory documents. Results and Discussion. The materials of the research of phytodiversity of five regional landscape parks (Prypiat-Stokhid, Nadsluchanskyi, Ptashynyy Rai, Mizhrichenskyi, Yalivshchyna), in particular rare species, are presented, as evidenced by their diversity, including a number of glacial relics, endemics and borderline species located at the southern or eastern border of the distribution area. Conclusions. The study has revealed that the rare vascular plant flora of the Polissia regional landscape parks is represented by 56 species included in the Red Data Book of Ukraine, 145 species under regional protection of three oblasts of the Polissia region, nine species from Appendix I of the Bern Convention, four species from Appendix II of CITES, and three species included in the European Red List. Two RLPs are the most sozologically representative in the study area: Nadsluchansky (six species of international protection statuses, 30 species of the Red Data Book of Ukraine, 107 species of regional protection level) and Mizhrichynsky (14 species with international protection statuses, 28 species of the Red Data Book of Ukraine, 51 species of regional protection level), which is determined by the peculiarity of natural conditions, habitat diversity and area of the territories. regional landscape parks as a category of nature reserve fund of regional status within the Polissia region of Ukraine cover most of the representative habitats, which include a corresponding number of rare species of different levels of protection, namely: forest (87 species), herbaceous (85 species), marsh (36 species) and aquatic (30 species) habitats.

Unknown localities and new species of flora Chechen Republic (North-Eastern Caucasus)

The paper presents data on unknown localities and new species of flora of the Chechen Republic, which we discovered during expeditionary research in 2022-2023 on the territory of the Makazhoi semiarid basin. The study area belongs to arid ecosystems with unique species and coenotic diversity. Nearby there is a unique natural monument and tourist attraction - the alpine lake Kezenoy-Am. In recent years, the tourism industry has been actively developing here, which inevitably leads to anthropogenic transformation of the flora and increases the risk of losing the uniqueness, originality, and characteristic features of the flora and vegetation of mountain landscapes. For the first time, we provide information about the discovery of 11 new species, previously unknown for the republic, belonging to 9 genera and 8 families. In our research, we strive to emphasize the need for in-depth study and conservation of the biodiversity of these ecosystems for future generations.

Coenotic diversity of aquatic vegetation of Altai: a preliminary assessment and a list of white spots

The relevance of fundamental hydrobotanical research in the Altai-Sayan ecoregion is due to poor hydrobiological knowledge and the lack of regular monitoring studies of lakes, which are currently actively used for recreational and fish breeding purposes. Within the framework of the project “The current state of the macrophytobenthos of the Altai lakes (ecological and geographical patterns of distribution and threats)”, supported by the Russian Science Foundation, the author began a work on the systematization and interpretation of information on the current state of the vegetation of lakes of various altitude levels in the foothill and mountainous regions of Altai in the Republic of Altai and Altai Territory. A preliminary list of the coenotic diversity of the aquatic vegetation of Altai was compiled within the Brown-Blanquet approach, which includes 6 associations of the class Lemnetea, 21 associations of the class Potamogetonetea and 8 associations of the class Littorelletea uniflorae. A list of syntaxa, first indicated for the region, is given. The main “white spots” in the study of aquatic and semi-aquatic vegetation are listed. These are the lack of information about the communities of macroalgae and bryophytes, the lack of reliable data on communities formed by hybrids of aquatic and semi-aquatic plants, confirmed by molecular taxonomy data, and the lack of information on the long-term dynamics of macrophytobenthos in Altai lakes.

Species and Coenotic Diversity of the Floodplain Forest Communities in Northeast Russia

Species and Coenotic Diversity of the Floodplain Forest Communities in Northeast Russia

COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE OF HYDROPHYTE COMMUNITIES IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF WATER BODIES IN THE CITY OF POLTAVA

The article highlights the results of studying the composition and structure of the true aquatic plant communities in different types of water bodies of the city of Poltava (artificial and natural reservoirs, the urban section of the middle River Vorskla), where, according to the ecological and floristic classification, 21 associations (including 8 subassociations) of eight alliances, three orders and two classes were identified. Of these, only association Ceratophylletum demersi is the most typical in urban area. The class POTAMETEA differs in the relatively higher coenotic diversity (13 associations), and the class LEMNETEA differs in the lower diversity (8 associations). 
 The studied plant associations are characterized by a low species richness, the absolute majority of them represents a simplified version of the original natural associations. Communities of class POTAMETEA, observed in urban reservoirs, are especially depleted (1–3 species in the descriptions). There is a general tendency to increase the coenotic activity of the floristic elements that are tolerant to anthropogenic load and eutrophication.
 In the rank of associations there are 18 communities in urban lentic water bodies and 9 communities on the urban section of the middle river. Most of the identified associations (12) are confined exclusively to urban reservoirs, while only 3 associations are specific to the urban section of the river. Of those 6 associations found both in urban reservoirs and in the urban section of the middle river, it is the river coenoses that are more diverse and better developed.
 In the conditions of an urbanized environment, the middle river ecosystems show a higher resistance to anthropogenic influence compared to ecosystems of artificial urban water bodies, which is evidenced, in particular, by a more complex coenotic structure of common associations, as well as the presence of sozologically valuable communities specifically in the river hydroecotopes.

Регіонально рідкісні види тварин Львівської області

Growing anthropogenic pressure and changing climate conditions create new reality in which more and more native fauna species require our attention. That is the reason for scientists to compile Red Lists or Red Data Books on different levels. The main factors of negative impact on animals nowadays are as follows: destruction and/or transformation of natural ecosystems (habitats), illegal removal from nature, commercial overuse, natural disasters and climate change, as well as military actions. The Red Data Book of Ukraine includes 140 species of animals which appear in Lviv region. However, there are also other species within the region that deserve protection. The latest Lviv region list of rare species was approved in 2007 – two years before the publication of the third edition of Red Data Book of Ukraine, and is somewhat outdated. For more than 15 years the animal habitats have changed, and the list of species in the new edition of the Red Data Book of Ukraine (2021) has changed significantly. According to this, a new list of regionally rare animal species is objectively needed. Such a list has been compiled and is presented in the article. The main species criteria for being included into it are: vulnerability to the environmental changes, a sharp decline in the number of individuals or rapid population area shrinkage, low occurrence frequency within the region, relic origin, endemic or sub-endemic status, species on the edge of their distribution ranges or with the complex life cycles, etc. We believe that our knowledge about regionally rare species and their distribution can be one of the reasons for the establishing of new protected areas. This will help to preserve rare ecosystems in the structure of national ecological network and strengthen the conservation of species and coenotic diversity both in some separate territories or regions, and in Ukraine as a whole. After additional, detailed scientific research some of the regionally rare animal species will obviously be recommended to be included into the next edition of the Red Data Book of Ukraine. Thus, at least 106 animal species are proposed to became regionally protected in Lviv region. 64 of them are already under the protection of Bern Convention, 26 – under Bonn Convention, and 13 under the protection of Washington Convention.

Ranunculetum mongolicin — новая ассоциация водной растительности из Республики Алтай

In the framework of the project “Classification of Vegetation of the Russian Federation” (Plugatar et al., 2020; Kipriyanova et al., 2021), a revision of the modern coenotic diversity of Russia, including aquatic vegetation, is being carried out. It turned out that the types of some plant communities have not yet been described, including the association with the dominance of the Ranunculus mongolicus (Krylov) Serg. Ranunculus mongolicus was first reported in the Flora of West Siberia (Flora..., 1931) by P. N. Krylov as a subspecies of the water buttercup R. aquatilis ssp. mongolicus Kryl. (Krylov, 1931), L. P. Sergievskaya raised the taxon rank to species (Sergievskaya, 1964). In the modern monographic treatment of aquatic buttercups, this taxon is given at the species rank (Wiegleb et al., 2017). It indicates that Ranunculus mongolicus is habitually similar to R. aquatilis, although smaller in all parts. Lamellar leaves are deeply dissected, peduncles are long, all parts of the plant are densely hairy. In arid regions, it behaves like an annual (Wiegleb et al., 2017). In the course of expedition work in 2020 in the Ulagan district of the Republic of Altai, five geobotanical descriptions of communities dominated by the Mongolian buttercup (see Table) were performed, and it was decided to describe a new association. The classification was carried out on the principles of the ecological-floristic approach of J. Braun-Blanquet in accordance with the Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature (Theurillat et al., 2021). Ass. Ranunculetum mongolici ass. nov. unites the communities dominated by the Mongolian buttercup (Fig. 1, 2). The diagnostic species is Ranunculus mongolicus (= Batrachium mongolicum (Krylov) Krecz.). Nomenclature type of association (holotypus hoc loco) — relevé No 5 in the Table. Republic of Altai, Ulagan district, vicinity of the mouth of the Chulyshman River, the oxbow lake of the Chulyshman River, 21.08.2020, 51.33130 N 87.73750 E. Author — L. M. Kipriyanova. We attributed the new association to the alliance Batrachion aquatilis Passarge 1964 of the order Callitricho hamulatae–Ranunculetalia aquatilis Passarge ex Theurillat in Theurillat et al. 2015 of the class Potamogetonetea Klika in Klika et Novák 1941. The range of the community apparently coincides with the range of the species. In Asia, R. mongolicus is found in Siberia, the Russian Far East, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Mongolia, China, and Nepal (Wiegleb et al., 2017). It is found along the west coast of North America where it is confused with R. aquatilis (as R. aquatilis var. aquatilis and R. aquatilis var. hispidulus); likewise, most South American “R. aquatilis” refers to R. mongolicus. (Wiegleb et al., 2017). In Eastern Siberia, R. mongolicus is rare and does not form communities (Chepinoga, 2015). In addition to the Mongolian buttercup communities from Ulagan district, there are publicly available photographs of cenoses with R. mongolicus taken by A. I. Pyak in the Kosh-Agach district of the Republic of Altai (valley of the Kyzylchin (Buguzun) River, 49.992579° N, 89.088472° E, 15.07.2007, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/99636689) (see Fig. 3). There are also photos of Yu. O. Kopylov-Guskov with thickets of Mongolian buttercup from the Republic of Tuva (Mongun-Taiginskiy district, 50.180458° N, 90.136025° E, 15.07.2016, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/65270151) (see Fig. 4), such as A. L. Ebel photo from the Krasnoyarsk Territory (Kuraginskiy district, near the village of Kuragino, muddy bank of a channel of the Tuba River. 18.07.2018, 53.85932° N, 92.60829° E, https://www.plantarium.ru/page/image/id/719518.html) (see Fig. 5) In addition, R. mongolicus forms communities on the Taimyr Peninsula (Krasnoyarsk Territory, Khatanga River valley, Malaya Balakhnya oxbow lake, 22.08.2001, http://byrranga.ru/ranunculaceae/batrachium_aquatile/index.htm) (see Fig. 6). Thus, at the moment it is possible to speak about the communities of the Mongolian buttercup from the Republic of Altai, the Republic of Tuva and the Krasnoyarsk Territory. In the Republic of Altai, association communities are confined to flooded ecotopes, mainly with mineral (clay and sandy) silty substrates and depths from 20 to 60 cm in oligomesotrophic and mesotrophic cold-water reservoirs in the low-mountain and high-mountain belts of Altai, which makes it possible to attribute the association to the alliance Potamogetonion graminei Westhoff et Den Held 1969 combining the vegetation of rooted macrophytes of nutrient-poor (oligo-mesotrophic, sometimes dystrophic) shallow-water fresh water bodies of mountainous regions (Westhoff and Den Held, 1969; Mucina et al., 2016). However, the features of the ecology of communities throughout all the distribution area are not known yet, so for the time being we leave it in the alliance Batrachion aquatilis of the order Callitricho hamulatae–Ranunculetalia aquatilis.

COMMUNITIES OF POTAMION MILJAN 1933 UNION ON THE TERRITORY OF NATIONAL NATURE PARK «РYRIATYNSKYI»

The communities of higher aquatic plants of National Nature Park (NPP) “Pyriatynskyi” have a high level of cenotic diversity, occupy large areas and ensure the sustainability of the ecosystem of the Uday River valley. Their inventory, classification and study of the structure are important for the development of effective protection measures and that is an urgent task of modern botany. We have investigated the plant communities of Potamion union (class Potametea Klika in Klika et Novak 1941, order Potametalia Koch 1926) on the territory of NPP “Pyriatynskyi” in 2012–2022 by carrying out the geobotanical descriptions within their natural boundaries. Projective coverage was recorded as a percentage with subsequent transformation into points. Their further processing was carried out by the capabilities of the JUICE software package. The nomenclature of syntaxons was consistent with the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature. The results of research showed that Potamion union on the territory of NPP “Pyriatynskyi” is represented by 7 associations: Potametum natantis Hild 1959, Potametum graminei Lang 1967, Potametum lucentis Hueck 1931, Potametum perfoliati Miljan 1937, Elodeetum сanadensis Nedelcu 1967, Potamo pectinati–Myriophylletum spicati Rivas Goday 1967 and Potametum crispi von Soό 1927. Phytocoenoses of Potametum crispi, Potametum perfoliati, and Potametum natantis associations are the background communities of higher aquatic vegetation, while Potametum graminei and Potametum lucentis are rare in the studied area and do not occupy significant areas. Elodeetum sanadensis community is a reservoir for the spread of an invasive adventive species of North American origin Elodea canandensis with the ability to naturalize in natural ecosystems. Monitoring of their structure, chorology and dynamics is an important task for maintaining and preserving the species and coenotic diversity of NPP “Pyriatynskyi”.

РАЗНООБРАЗИЕ И ДИНАМИКА РЫБНЫХ СООБЩЕСТВ В БАССЕЙНАХ ГОРНЫХ ПРИТОКОВ АМУРА

Between 1975 and 2021 the diversity of fish communities of mountain rivers was studied in seven areas of the river Amur drainage: “Onon”, “Upper Zeya”, “Upper Bureya”, “Upper Amgun”, “Lower Amgun”, “Khingan”, “Lower Amur and Ussuri”. In these areas, various reaches of typical mountain watercourses were surveyed: 1) upper reaches (24), 2) “middle” (17) and 3) “lower” (10); 9 small mountain tributaries of lowland rivers – Amur and Ussuri, 5 mountain lakes and 6 floodplain reservoirs. According to the results of the research, 6 main types of communities were identified, including river ones: 1) upper reaches, 2) “middle” parts, 3) “lower” parts, 4) small mountain tributaries of large lowland rivers. Lake communities are represented by two main types of communities: 5) mountain lakes and 6) floodplain water bodies. In river communities, 30 fish species and one lamprey species were found; river communities are dominated by Barbatula toni, Cottus szanaga, Brachymystax tumensis, species of the genus Thymallus, as well as Rhynchocypris lagowskii and Phoxinus phoxinus. Upper reaches communities include from 4 to 12–13 species. Barbatula toni, Cottus szanaga, Brachymystax tumensis, and species of the Thymallus dominate here. In the communities of the middle parts of the rivers, there are from 7 to 17 species. Up to 23 species and one lamprey species are found in the lower parts. In the upper reaches and middle sections of the rivers, the composition of the community changes during the year as a result of seasonal migrations. In communities of mountain lakes 6 species of fish were found; three species are most common: Barbatula toni, Cottus szanaga, Brachymystax tumensis. 8 species inhabit floodplain water bodies, dominated by Rhynchocypris percnurus, Perccottus glenii, Misgurnus mohoity. The specificity of the region's coenotic diversity is determined by its position in the Amur basin, the presence or absence of mountain and floodplain lakes, as well as geomorphological and paleogeographic features.

РОСЛИННІСТЬ СОЮЗУ NYMPHAEION ALBAE OBERDORFER 1957 НАЦІОНАЛЬНОГО ПРИРОДНОГО ПАРКУ «ПИРЯТИНСЬКИЙ»

National Nature Park “Pyryatynsky” is a valuable reserve of flora and vegetation of the Left-Bank Dnipro. The extensive hydrological network of the Udai River and the wide representation within this nature reserve of floodplain reservoirs are the reason for the high diversity of plant communities of higher aquatic vegetation. In this article, we classified the communities of alliance Nymphaeion albae Oberdorfer 1957 in the National nature park "Pyryatynskyi" and identify the features of their syntaxonomic and ecological differentiation. The literature on this type of vegetation is fragmentary, without any geobotanical information and detailed characteristics of the structure of phytoceonoses, synecology and synchorology. All obtained results are based on original field data. In total, 46 geobotanical relieves were performed during the period 2010–2017. The description of communities was carried out within their natural boundaries. Treatment of fitosociological data was performed with the JUICE software package. The nomenclature of syntaxons was consistent with the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature (ICFN).The alliance Nymphaeion albae Oberdorfer 1957 on the territory of NPP "Pyriatynsky" is represented by 4 associations Nymphaeo albae–Nupharetum luteae Nowinski 1927, Nymphaeetum albae Vollmar 1947, Nymphaeetum candidae Miljan 1958 and Potamo natantis–Persicarietum natantis Knapp et Stoffers 1962 nom. mutat. propos.This is first prodrome of alliance Nymphaeion albae Oberdorfer 1957 for the territory of National Nature Park “Pyryatynskyi”. The communities of this syntaxon occupy small areas and have a limited distribution in the region. Most of them are rare and vulnerable to changes in environmental conditions. Monitoring of their structure, chorology, and dynamics is an important task to maintain and preserve the species and coenotic diversity of NPP "Pyryatynsky".

Phytostroma transformation of «Rechitsia» hydrological reservoir as a consequence of amber mining

As a result of illegal amber mining on the territory of «Rechitsia» hydrological reserve, 97.0 hectares or 80.8% of its area was damaged during 4 years (2014– 2017). Including on the area of 59.2 hectares (49.3% of the area of the reserve), catastrophic changes took place — the complete destruction of natural ecosystems; on 37.8 hectares or 31.5% of the area of the reserve, gradual negative changes are taking place — there is a strong impact on natural ecosystems from the side of the surrounding quarters, disturbed by amber mining. As a result of the illegal mining of amber on the territory of «Rechitsia» hydrological reserve, all protection priorities were lost both at the species and coenotic levels. On its territory, mesooligotrophic ancient, 130-year-old pine-sphagnum bogs (unique reference areas), treeless oligotrophic sedge-sphagnum bogs, and areas of ancient, 110-yearold dryland pine-oak acidophilic, floristically rich forests had the greatest value. Prior to anthropogenic disturbance of the natural ecosystems of the reserve on its territory, the priorities of protection at the species level were 8 species of vascular plants listed in the «Red Book of Ukraine», as well as 5 species of animals listed in the «Red Book of Ukraine». At the cenotic level, rare coenoses of forest-swamp meso-oligotrophic and oligotrophic swamps of the reserve were protected, listed in the «Green Book of Ukraine». In 8 areas bordering heavily disturbed areas, a strong impact on natural ecosystems from the surrounding disturbed quarters is now manifested, due to negative changes in the general hydrological regime of the territory — as a rule, significant drying, which results in the degradation of natural vegetation. The total area of such plots in «Rechitsia» reserve is 37.8 hectares or 31.5% of the area of the reserve. These gradual changes are manifested, first of all, in the loss of ecological stability of ecosystems, the loss of the most moisture-loving species at the first stage, the thinning and gradual dying of the crowns of the tree stand, the reduction of species and coenotic diversity of flora and fauna. On the territory of the former reserve, disturbed by illegal amber mining, it is necessary to carry out engineering reclamation, after which — biological, namely — planting of birch and pine crops.

Biological diversity as an object of environmental legal relations in the field of conservation and sustainable use

Peculiarities of legal regulation of legal relations in the field of conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity are considered. The provisions of national and international legislation in this area have been studied, as well as the meaning of the terms «biological diversity» and «sustainable use of biological diversity» from the point of view of law. From the standpoint of law, the program documents are analyzed, based on the provisions of which the state policy in the field of conservation and use of biodiversity is formed, as well as the place of norms on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in the environmental legislation of Ukraine. The necessity of developing a single categorical-conceptual apparatus in the field of regulation of relations on conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity is substantiated. It is established that the legal regulation of conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity is provided mainly by national programs, strategies and other policy documents, and ensuring the requirements of conservation and sustainable use of natural, spatial, species, population and coenotic diversity of biodiversity components. It is noted that the term «biological diversity» and its species (spatial, species, population and coenotic diversity (depending on the level of organization)) are used mainly in setting legal requirements for the protection, use and reproduction of certain natural resources. in order to uniformly apply the term «biodiversity» and understand its meaning, its definition should be introduced into national legislation at the level of natural resource laws. It is also considered necessary to include basic terms, including the concept of «biological diversity», in the future Environmental Code. At the same time, relations in the field of biodiversity (its components) should be considered in the context of its sustainable use as part of a more global concept of sustainable development, where the principle of rational use of natural resources is a key condition for sustainable economic and social development.

Phytosozological study of natural monuments to determine the ecological status of specially protected natural areas

The article gives a phytosozological assessment of natural monuments of regional importance in the Penza region, based on a number of phytosozological criteria that characterize the vegetation cover and their ecological state. The assessment is based on such criteria as the degree of study of the vegetation cover of the territory, the demonstration (reference) value, the area occupied, the anthropotolerance of the vegetation cover, the coenotic diversity of the territory, the total number of species diversity of vascular plants, the number of species listed in the Federal and regional Red Books, the degree transformation and recovery potential. The assessment used is of interest as a test express system that allows you to quickly assess the dynamics of the main qualitative and quantitative indicators of natural complexes. On the territory of the Penza region, located mostly on the western slope of the Volga Upland, and geobotanically located within the forest-steppe zone, in order to preserve biological and landscape diversity, 90 natural monuments of regional significance were identified on an area of 627.4 km2, which is 1.44% from the territory of the region. The highest concentration of natural monuments is noted in the north-east of the region, the most elevated and wooded part of the region. The largest area of more than 40 thousand hectares was noted in the Vyshe-Moksha botanical-geographical region. The largest number of monuments, of which 70% are botanical, are noted in the Prisursky botanical-geographical region with an average rating score of 62.2. The maximum score was noted at the natural monument Ardymsky Shikhan. The largest number of hydrological monuments of nature are located in the Zasursky and Prisursky botanical and geographical regions, which is associated with the location of the Sura River basin in these regions. The largest number of zoological monuments is located on the territory of the Vyshe-Moksha botanical-geographical region. The results obtained are necessary to determine the dynamics and directions of the processes of conservation and restoration of the composition of the flora and fauna of unique communities of regional natural monuments, as well as to increase the level of representativeness and ecological status, which in the future will allow monitoring changes in ecosystems.

PLANT COVER OF THE LOCAL LANDSCAPE RESERVE «HARIACHYI URBAN» (CHERNIVTSI CITY)

The results of the studies of forest communities on the local landscape reserve «Hariachyi Urban» (Chernivtsi city) are presented. It was established that forest vegetation divided into 2 alliances, and 2 orders of the class Carpino-Fagetea sylvaticae Jakucs ex Passarge 1968. These communities represent 2 habitat types from the Annex I of the Habitats Directive: 9130 Asperulo-Fagetum beech forests and 9170 Galio-Carpinetum oak-hornbeam forests, and 2 biotope types from the Resolution 4 of the Bern Convention: G1.6: Beech forests (Fagus woodland) and G1.A1 Quer-cus – Fraxinus – Carpinus betulus woodland on eutrophic and mesotrophic soils, respectively. Also, coenoses men-tioned in the «Green Book of Ukraine» (2009), e.i. common oak forests (Querceta roboris) with common ivy (Hedera helix) domination, are presented here. So, it confirms an important role of this local reserve for biodiversity conserva-tion. According to the literature and herbaria (CHER) data, since the 2nd half of the 19th century, 18 rare plant species listed in the «Red Data Book of Ukraine» (2009) were noticed for this area. For 13 species, the current localities have not been confirmed. Among them, 8 species were associated with grassland, that have not been preserved here, and 5 species were sylvatic. During the last 50 years, 5 plants species from the «Red Data Book of Ukraine» (2009) have been found on the studied area, and only 3 species were confirmed in this study. In studied plant communities, 8 alien plant species were noticed, which indicate the increasing of adventitization rate. Therefore, changes in forest plant communities can be traced in direction of the disappearance of rare plant spe-cies caused by the destruction of landscapes, fragmentation and degradation of preserved natural biotopes, and in-tensification of recreational activity. In addition, increasing of the synanthropization rate and expansion of alien plant species, including species with a high invasive potential, are observed. The initiated inventory studies of the floristic and coenotic diversity in the local reserve will serve as the basis for organizing its phytodiversity state moni-toring.

Разнообразие сообществ водной растительности озер Обь-Иртышского междуречья (Западная Сибирь)

The information on the syntaxonomic diversity of aquatic vegetation in the Ob-Irtysh interfluve (south of West Siberia), which was revealed using the ecological-floristic approach (Braun-Blanquet, 1964) is summarized. Lake ecosystems of the studied region are exposed to cyclical changes in accordance with the cyclicity of the hydrological regime of the lakes. Periodic fluctuations in the water level in lakes are accompanied by changes in mineralization, and therefore the biological regime of the lakes is unstable. The studies were carried out from 2001 to 2014 in Novosibirsk Region and Altai Territory. 164 complete geobotanical relevés made by the author on 80 lakes are used (Fig. 1, table 1); a list of studied lakes is given. Field work was carried out during the period of the lowest water level (summer dry season) — July–August. The following scale was used for abundance estimation: r — the species is extremely rare; + — rare, small cover; 1 — the number of individuals is large, the cover is small or individuals are sparse, but the cover is large; 2 —cover of 5–25 %; 3 — 26–50 %; 4 — 51–75 %; 5 — more than 75 %. Computer programs Turboveg for Windows 2.117 (Hennekens, Schaminée, 2001) and Juice 7.0.45 (Tichý, 2002) were used for data treatment. The syntaxonomic affiliation of phytocenoses was determined using modern literature (Bobrov, Chemeris, 2006; Vegetace…, 2011; Chepinoga, 2015; Landucci et al. 2015; Mucina, 2016). The coenotic diversity of aquatic vegetation in the studied lakes is 43 associations and 2 communities from 12 alliances, 6 orders, 5 classes (Tables 2–11). Eight associations belong to the class Lemnetea; 18 associations — Potamogetonetea; 3 associations and 2 communities — Stigeoclonietea tenuis; 9 associations — Charetea intermediae; 5 associations — Ruppietea maritimae. This rather high value of phytocenotic diversity is due to the high diversity of ecological conditions of specific lakes, in turn, determined by the different origin of lakes, the nature and composition of soils, salinity and chemical composition of waters, and temperature regime. Two new associations – Najadetum majoris ass. nov. and Ranunculetum subrigidi ass. nov. — are described. Table 10 shows the values of the frequency of associations (aquatic communities) in the lakes of the Novosibirsk region. We have identified phytocenotic complexes on the basis of data on the ranges of halotolerance of associations and in accordance with the frequency of associations in the lakes of different mineralization. Four phytocenotic complexes can be distinguished for the studied lakes of the Baraba Lowland and Kulunda Plain: freshwater, oligo-mesohaline, meso-hyperhaline, and euryhaline (Fig. 12). As for the ranges of halotoleration of lake communities, it is obvious that it is impossible to establish the universal ranges of halotolerance of species and communities of macrophytes for a number of reasons 1) regional differences in the salt composition of waters, 2) seasonal fluctuations in water salinity; 3) varying methods of mineralization measuring (ionometrically or analytically and also different analytical methods — by the sum of ions, and by the dry residual). However, several general trends can be distinguished. The main trend is a decrease in the species and coenotic diversity of aquatic and semi-aquatic vegetation with mineralization growth (Hammer, 1988; Williams, 1998; our data, etc.) This universal pattern is true for all groups of biota (Hammer, 1986; Williams, 1998; Kipriyanova et al., 2007, etc.). Communities of the assosiations Lemnetum trisulcae, Lemno–Utricularietum vulgaris, Potamogetono–Ceratophylletumsubmersi, Najadetum marinae, Potamogetonetum perfoliati were more resistant to high mineralization (up to 5 g/dm3 according to our data). The highest halotolerance among aquatic plant communities is found for the associations Ruppietum maritimae and Ruppietum drepanensis, as well as for Cladophoretum fractae. Based on the results of our research, it has been shown that in the continental lakes of the southeast of Western Siberia, such specific cenoses of continental water bodies of Siberia, as the communities of the assosiations Stuckenietum macrocarpae and Cladophoro fractae–Stuckenietum chakassiensis (Kipriyanova, 2017), mainly occur in oligo- and mesohaline waters in the range of mineralization 0.5–18.0 g/dm3. Stratiotetum aloidis, Nymphaeo–Nupharetum luteae, Nymphaeetum candidae associations were common in the freshwater lakes (up to 0.5 g/dm3), another ones were met moderately and less frequently. Associations Lemnetum trisulcae, Lemno minoris Ceratophylletum demersi were common in the β-oligohaline (0.5–1 g/dm3) lakes. Lemno–Utricularietum vulgaris, Myriophylletum sibirici, Potamogetonetum pectinati, Potamogetonetum perfoliati, Stuckenietum macrocarpae were moderately frequent, the rest were rare and solitary. Associations Lemnetum trisulcae, Lemno minoris–Ceratophylletum submersi, Stuckenietum macrocarpae, and Cladophoro fractae–Stuckenietum chakassiensis were common in the α-oligohaline lakes (1–5 g/dm3). The rest were moderately and less frequent. In mesohaline waters (5–18 g/dm3), associations Cladophoro fractae–Stuckenietum chakassiensis and Ruppietum maritimae were common. The rare in the studied lakes communities of the associations Najadetum marinae, Ruppietum maritimae, Ruppietum drepanensis, Charetum tomentosae, Nitellopsidetum obtusae are need in protection, since they include the species listed in the Red Data Book of the Novosibirsk Region (Krasnaya ..., 2018).

Problems of biotic and landscape diversity conservation in the Ukrainian Carpathians highlands

Introduction. The highlands of the Ukrainian Carpathians belong to the territories with the highest concentration of rare species and coenotic diversity in Ukraine. Due to highland ecosystem transformation, a large number of populations and communities of rare species are under the threat of degradation and elimination. Climate change. At present, effective growth and development of plants begins 2–3 weeks earlier compared to the 1980–90s. Sharp seasonal distribution of precipitation causes negative changes in the highland water-body hydrology regime affecting freshwater populations of plankton crustaceans and amphibians. Demutative successions. During the first 10–20 years of the succession its influence on the structure and vitality of the majority of rare species populations is mostly positive, but 30–40 year-long demutations usually cause negative dynamics. Overgro­wing results in the simplification of spatial structure and fragmentation, as well as decreasing of population density, disappearing of rare species from the community structure. Active protection measures should be locally implemented in protected territories: traditional type of grazing, mowing, and shrub or tree cutting in the cases of protection of extremely rare phytocoenoses and populations. Anthropogenic impact. Intensive recreation pressure causes digressive changes in numerous communities, which are located along the popular tourist paths to the glacial lakes, mountain summits etc. Unfortunately, the systematic violation of the protection regime in the highland zone of the Ukrainian Carpathians is obvious nowadays. Gathering medicinal and ornamental species poses a serious threat. Uncontrolled increase in the number of recreants in the highland areas for the last 5 years has destroyed its aquatic ecosystems more than in the previous 30–40 years. Usage of vehicles for recreation purposes (4×4, quads and motorcycles) refers to significant destructive factors for highland ecosystems. Protection measures. Population conservation and revival of communities is usually possible under the condition of moderate and short-term anthropogenic pressure. The visiting regime of the most popular highland sites must be put under control immediately, while mass ascensions must be completely forbidden.

Ruderal vegetation of Ukraine: syntaxonomical diversity and territorial differentiation

На основі 8382 геоботанічних описів та із використанням сучасних методів статистичної обробки даних встановлена синтаксономічна різноманітність рудеральної рослинності України. Вона репрезентована 8 класами, 16 порядками, 36 союзами і 205 асоціаціями, з яких 29 для території України наводяться уперше. Найбільшим синтаксономічним багатством відзначаються класи Stellarietea mediae, Artemisietea vulgaris та Galio-Urticetea. Установлені провідні фактори територіальної диференціації рудеральних рослинних угруповань та виявлені особливості їхнього біогеографічного розподілу. Синхорологічна специфіка класів Stellarietea mediae і Artemisietea vulgaris проявляється на рівні союзів. Ценози Scleranthion annui, Salsolion ruthenicae, Malvion neglectae, Arction lappae поширеніші у лісовій і лісостеповій зонах; термофільні і ксерофільні фітоценози Hordeion murini, Lactucion tataricae, Dauco-Melilotion і Onopordion acanthii – частіше трапляються у степовій. Регіональна специфіка класів Robinietea, Polygono-Poetea annuae та Plantaginetea majoris, які виявлено у всіх ботаніко-географічних зонах, відображена на рівні асоціацій. Переважно у антропогенних екотопах лісової та лісостепової зон зафіксовані нітрофільні мезофітні та мезогігрофітні угруповання класів Galio-Urticetea та Bidentetea. Географічним приуроченнням виключно до Карпатського регіону, Українського Полісся та північного Лісостепу характеризуються ценози Epilobietea angustifolii. На основі аналізу змін синтаксономічної структури рудеральної рослинності України упродовж останнії 30 років установлено, що рівень її ценотичного різноманіття значно підвищився, насамперед за рахунок збільшення інтенсивності та різновидів антропогенних навантажень на природні екосистеми.

Biotopic diversity and ecomorphic analysis of the Gryshkiv lis tract (Poltava)

The study of ecosystem and biotope biodiversity of park ecosystems allows to identify the most valuable plant objects in their composition, to assess the degree of stability of existing groups and to identify current threats of anthropogenic impact on them. Gryshkiv Lis tract (Poltava, Kyiv region) is one of the centers of natural phytodiversity conservation and is an array of deciduous forests with an area of ​​about 50 hectares, located adjacent to residential areas of the city. Research materials were collected during field expeditions in August–September 2021 using generally accepted geobotanical methods. The list of higher plants found on the territory of the Gryshkiv Lis tract includes 154 species belonging to 3 classes, 51 families. The most numerous of them are Asteraceae – 19%, Poaceae – 14%, Rosaceae – 11% and Lamiaceae – 10%. There are two species of plants listed in the Red Book of Ukraine and seven species are regionally rare plants. One plant group was identified in the Green Book of Ukraine. Ecomorphic analysis of species showed that mesophytes, sciogeliophytes and mesotrophs predominate in the study area. Thus, the proportions of hygromorphs, heliomorphs and tropomorphs are close to the structure of the typical flora of the forest-steppe zone, which indicates favorable development conditions for zonal forest vegetation. However, in the spectrum of cenomorphs the share of ruderants is quite significant – almost 20%, the percentage of adventitious species is close to 3%. This indicates a significant anthropogenic transformation of the flora of the surveyed object. Habitat classification was carried out in accordance with the structure of the National Catalog of Habitats of Ukraine. Studies have shown that in the tract "Grishkiv Lis" there are at least 7 habitats, including forest (Eastern European mesophilic eutrophic deciduous forests of forest-steppe and steppe zones), swampy (reedbeds normally without freestanding water, beds of large Carex spp.), shrubbery (lowland and collinar riverine willow scrub, Central European subcontinental thickets), grassy (mesophile fringes), synanthropic (ruderal biotops of perennial nitrophilic type grasses). The dominant habitat of the Gryshkiv Lis tract is natural deciduous forests. The studied object represents a characteristic type of vegetation for the forest-steppe zone – maple-linden oak wood (anthropogenically transformed) with elements of waterlogging. Its central areas are represented by stands with a high degree of preservation of the structure and have good prospects for preservation and restoration with moderate efforts. Recommendations for the preservation of floristic diversity and vegetation of the Gryshkiv Lis tract include the introduction of a system of biotechnical measures to support ecosystems, including restrictions and regulation of recreation, elimination of natural landfills, sewage disposal and elimination of unauthorized buildings. The territory has environmental, scientific, aesthetic and recreational significance. Creation here of a protected area will help preserve the coenotic, landscape and biological diversity of Poltava region.

Physiological-biotechnological aspects of drought resistance of narrow-leaved lavender (Lavandula angustifolia mill.)

National Nature Park “Pyryatynsky” is a valuable reserve of flora and vegetation of the Left-Bank Dnipro. The extensive hydrological network of the Udai River and the wide representation within this nature reserve of floodplain reservoirs are the reason for the high diversity of plant communities of higher aquatic vegetation. In this article we classified the communities of order Callitricho-Batrachietalia in National nature park "Pyryatynskyi" and identify the features of their syntaxonomic and ecological differentiation. Fragmentary and non-comlete information about this type of vegetation are existed in literature, however, without geobotanical releves and detailed characteristics of the structure of phytoceonoses, synecology and synchorology. All obtained results based on original field data. In total, 22 geobotanical releves were performed during the period 2010–2017. The description of communities was carried out within their natural boundaries. Treatment of fitosociological data was performed with the JUICE software package. The nomenclature of syntaxons was consistent with the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature (ICFN).The order of Callitricho-Batrachietalia on the territory of NPP "Pyriatynsky" is represented by alliance Batrachion aquatilis Gehu 1961 and 4 associations (Batrachietum aquatilis Gehu 1961, Potameto perfoliati–Batrachietum circinati Sauer 1937, Hottonietum palustris Sauer 1947, Veronico beccabungae–Callitrichetum stagnalis (Oberdorfer 1957) Th. Müller 1962). This is first prodrome of order Callitricho-Batrachietalia for territory of National Nature Park “Pyryatynskyi”. The communities of this syntaxon occupy small areas and have a limited distribution in the region. Most of them are rare and vulnerable to changes in environmental conditions. Monitoring of their structure, chorology and dynamics is an important task to maintain and preserve the species and coenotic diversity of NPP "Pyryatynsky".

Vegetation of Callitricho-Batrachietalia passarge 1978 in National nature park «Pyryatynskyi»

National Nature Park “Pyryatynsky” is a valuable reserve of flora and vegetation of the Left-Bank Dnipro. The extensive hydrological network of the Udai River and the wide representation within this nature reserve of floodplain reservoirs are the reason for the high diversity of plant communities of higher aquatic vegetation. In this article we classified the communities of order Callitricho-Batrachietalia in National nature park "Pyryatynskyi" and identify the features of their syntaxonomic and ecological differentiation. Fragmentary and non-comlete information about this type of vegetation are existed in literature, however, without geobotanical releves and detailed characteristics of the structure of phytoceonoses, synecology and synchorology. All obtained results based on original field data. In total, 22 geobotanical releves were performed during the period 2010–2017. The description of communities was carried out within their natural boundaries. Treatment of fitosociological data was performed with the JUICE software package. The nomenclature of syntaxons was consistent with the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature (ICFN).The order of Callitricho-Batrachietalia on the territory of NPP "Pyriatynsky" is represented by alliance Batrachion aquatilis Gehu 1961 and 4 associations (Batrachietum aquatilis Gehu 1961, Potameto perfoliati–Batrachietum circinati Sauer 1937, Hottonietum palustris Sauer 1947, Veronico beccabungae–Callitrichetum stagnalis (Oberdorfer 1957) Th. Müller 1962). This is first prodrome of order Callitricho-Batrachietalia for territory of National Nature Park “Pyryatynskyi”. The communities of this syntaxon occupy small areas and have a limited distribution in the region. Most of them are rare and vulnerable to changes in environmental conditions. Monitoring of their structure, chorology and dynamics is an important task to maintain and preserve the species and coenotic diversity of NPP "Pyryatynsky".