Desna River Research Articles

Особливості руслових процесів та форм руслового рельєфу в долині р. Десна на території Новгород-Сіверського району

The study of channel processes and corresponding relief forms is important and relevant because the current state of river systems largely determines the economic and hydroecological state of regions. In recent decades, the research of channel processes has acquired qualitatively new elements of development, accompanied by the expansion of the theoretical and methodological basis and the scope of scientific research. An important aspect of channel studies as a complex hydrological-geomorphological scientific field is the study of new factors that influence the formation of river valley elements, in particular climatic changes and anthropogenic activity. The practical significance of the study of channel processes lies in the need of taking into account their specifics in river navigation, when conducting engineering and construction works and organizing water management activities. The issue of environmental safety is also important. It became especially relevant due to the sudden manifestation of the instability of the water regime of rivers as a result of climate change, the consequence of which is the occurrence of floods and freshets of a catastrophic nature.Taking into account the information available in the publications of well-known researchers and relying on the results of our own field research, we analyzed the peculiarities of channel processes in the valley of the Desna river within the territory of the Novhorod-Siverskyi district of the Chernihiv region. Their relief-forming role as well as the morphological and morphometric features of water-erosive, water-accumulative and gravity relief forms were studied. In particular, a variety of channel landforms such as floodplains, sand strands and ridges, shoals, riffles, underwater sandbars, islands, areas of development of landslides and scree processes, bifurcation sites, erosion ledges, cliffs, basins, ravines, potholes and erosion furrows were researched. It has been established that the natural conditions of the Novhorod-Siverskyi district are favourable for the intensive development of channel processes and the formation of channel topography in the valley of the Desna river. It was determined that among the channel processes that take place within the studied territory, free movement, lateral and deep erosion and accumulation are the most widespread. They play an important role in relief formation and are the reason for the appearance of the final relief forms present here. It is worth noting that the results of this research can be used in the engineering and technical spheres, it will be useful to apply them during the construction and preventive maintenance of hydrotechnical constructions, river navigation and water management activities.

ЧАСОВА ОЦІНКА ВОДНОГО РЕЖИМУ ТА РУСЛОВИХ ПРОЦЕСІВ В НИЖНЬОМУ Б’ЄФІ КАНІВСЬКОЇ ГЕС

After the construction of the cascade of reservoirs on the Dnieper River, the over-regulation of water runoff caused significant changes in its water regime. In particular, this applies to the Kaniv Hydroelectric power station (HPP), which was the last to be built in the cascade. In addition, the rivers of Ukraine have a low-water phase of the water regime, which leads to a decrease in their runoff. This, in turn, affects the dynamics of channel formation processes. That is why the current assessment of water regime and channel processes in the lower reaches of the Kaniv HPP is important, because they depend on effective water management activities, operation of reservoirs throughout the Dnieper cascade. The dependence of water inflow to Kaniv HPP on discharges from Kyiv HPP and water runoff of the Desna River has been established. The paper analyzes the current changes in the water regime in the lower reaches of the Kaniv HPP and identifies the main factors of runoff formation in the study area. Hydrological information for 45 years (1977 – 2021) is taken as a basis for research of the regime of daily levels and water consumption in the lower reaches of the Kaniv HPP With the help of statistical analysis, the tendencies to decrease the levels and change of water consumption after the construction of Kaniv HPP were determined. According to the difference integral curves, the cyclicity of water runoff in the lower reaches of the Kaniv HPP was studied and the water phases for average, minimum and maximum water consumption were identified. Graphs of empirical curves of daily supply levels and water consumption are constructed. To obtain the closest approximation of the empirical estimate of the probability of exceeding its analytical value, taking into account the variability of variable random variables of the variational series, the formula of Kritsky and Menkel was used. Water flow curves are constructed and changes in subsidence and rising water levels over different time periods are determined. Significant changes in water content and its impact on the processes of channel formation in the lower reaches of the Kaniv HPP were shown by graphs of relationships between levels and costs for 45 years of its operation. For further calculations, 15 representative curves were selected. The process of channel formation is multifactorial, which mainly depends on natural and anthropogenic factors of channel processes. The calculation of channel formation costs was carried out according to the method of M.I. Makkaveeva and supplemented by O.G. Obodovskyi and set their time dynamics.

The water caltrop (Trapa natans L.) in Ukraine: new areas of expansion in the north of the country and contradictions in concepts of its protection and population management

This paper reviews data on the distribution of the water caltrop Trapa natans L. in Ukraine. This relict species (listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine) had strongly declined in the early 1979s, but has now locally recovered and even excessively spread in the upper reaches of the Kaniv and Kyiv reservoirs on the Dnipro River. Therefore, both protection and regulation of its local abundance are on the agenda today in the country. Work is currently underway to monitor the population of the species and search for new habitats. Previously the presence of the water caltrop in Sumy Oblast has been documented only in floodplain waterbodies of the Desna River. On 18 June 2017, we found four new record localities of Trapa natans in the Psel River within the city boundaries of Sumy (north-eastern Ukraine). All of them were located along the right bank of the river. The four groups of plants were comprised of 8, 70, 2, and 100 individual plants, respectively, growing at a depth of 0.5–3.2 m and about 5–15 m far from the riverbank. A second visit to the location on 15 August 2017 revealed a total of 591 rosettes. Three years later (visited on 28 August 2021), the number of individual caltrop plants in this location increased as many as eight times (total of 4766). The plant spread 3 km further downstream and its mats (variable in size) could be found at both banks of the river. The transformation of the Psel River from one of the fastest tributaries of the Dnipro into a cascade of numerous channel reservoirs led to a slowdown in water flow and the continuous siltation of the bottom created favourable conditions for the water caltrop. Most likely, seeds of this plant were artificially introduced into the river (possibly by aquaculture enthusiasts) a few years prior to the first finding and the plant spread downstream. This was facilitated by the spring flood, which carried the fruit down the river. In summer, the current carries plants that were uprooted by vacationers. Leaves of the water caltrop were seen consumed by the mallard Anas platyrhynchos L., whereas seeds of the plant were eaten by the European water vole Arvicola amphibius. The newly discovered occurrence spot of the water caltrop is currently the only one on the Psel River and it complements the information on the current distribution of this rare plant species. It is located about 145 km south-east from the closest population on the Desna River, which described the presence of this species in Sumy Oblast.

New Complex Investigations of the Novhorod-Siverskyi Upper Palaeolithic Site

In the article the materials of the Novhorod-Siverskyi site research both in the 1930's, and relatively recently, are analyzed. First of all, attention is paid to the faunal collection. The faunal associations from old excavations are coherent, typical of a cold steppe environment from the glacial period, near a riparian forest. However, it seems to result to a mix between natural taphonomic complexes and animal remains associated with human activity. Judging by the flint collection from the old excavations, the site was inhabited by representatives of the Pushkari type. New research yielded two archaeological layers that are very poor in flint artefacts. Concerning fauna, the faunal spectrum is restricted in both layers, with the woolly mammoth, the woolly rhinoceros, the horse and the reindeer in the lower and upper layers. In the upper layer there are also the bison, the fox and the hare. According to taphonomic observations, the bones had remained for a long time at an open air before being buried, in subsurface in a wet environment but few submitted to precipitations in link with permafrost activities. Particularly in the lower layer (2) some remains appear to be in place, while others seem to have been imported by hydraulic phenomena, either from the top of the promontory or from the Desna River. In the upper layer (1), some bones show possible anthropogenic impacts of breakage, linked to marrow recovery. In both layers we have some cranial and postcranial elements, mainly from adults sensu lato which could correspond to human predation. They could correspond to temporary camps of quite small human groups, potentially occupied at the end of the cold season/beginning of the warm season.

Water resources of the Desna river basin under future climate

AbstractClimate change impact on water resources has been observed in Ukraine since the end of the 20th century. For now, only large-scale climate impact studies cover Ukraine's territory, having low credibility for a specific catchment. This study aims to calculate future changes in river discharge, water flow components, and soil water within the Desna basin and evaluate vulnerability trends on this basis. The framework assembles the process-based SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model and eight high-resolution regional climate models (RCMs) driven by RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 emission scenarios. The climate models are provided by the Euro-CORDEX initiative and based on three RCMs (RCA4, HIRHAM5, and RACMO22E) forced by five general circulation models (CNRM-CM5, EC-EARTH, IPSL-CM5A-MR, HadGEM2-ES, and MPI-ESM-LR). The results preferably show a moderate increase in the annual discharge until the end of the 21st century. The intra-annual changes of water balance components negatively affect the vegetation period because of higher dryness and temperature stress but reduce flood risk, diffuse pollution, and water erosion in the far future. In the river basin management plan, the highest attention should be paid to adaptive strategies in agriculture because of possible water deficit in the vegetation season under future climate scenarios.

SPECIES COMPOSITION AND RELATIVE POPULATION SIZE OF FISHES IN THE OSTER RIVER (THE DESNA RIVER BASIN): 50 YEARS ANALYSIS

Inroduction. Changes in the species composition and population size of freshwater fihes are determined by deformations of the habitat in Ukraine and are characterized by a pronounced negative dynamics. Deformation of ichthyofauna is caused by extinction of a number of aboriginal fihes and emergence of alien species.Aim. To establish the current species composition and relative population size of fih species in the Oster River and the dynamics of these characteristics over a 50-yearlong period in the context of negative transformations of the ichthyofauna of the rivers of Ukraine.Results. Comparative study of the species composition and relative population size of fih species in the fih catches by small-river fihing gear in the Oster river was conducted during the period since 1971-72 till 2019. During this time considerable changes in species composition took place. The following species disappeared from the catches: Leuciscus leuciscus, Leuciscus idus, Chondrostoma nasus, Carassius carassius, Blicca bojerkna and Neogobius flviatilis, they were replaced by three invasion species (Percottus glenni, Pseudorasbora parva, Proterorhinus marmoratus). The changes in the dominant species took place, thus, in the Oster ichthyocene the species with the short life cycle started to prevail, the share of invasion species increased from 1.4 to 37%, and the share of initial marine fih among them is very low. The comparison with the river systems of the Stugna and the Lower Dnipro represents the fact that the mentioned negative tendencies are common for the whole Dnipro system, however the situation in the Lower Dnipro must be considered less critical than in the Oster and the Stugna rivers. The fact that the catches of industrial fih decreased more than 10 times in the Desna river during this period of time gives the reason to consider that the dramatic reduction of the absolute number of their populations occurred in the Oster river as well. That is why even relatively safe species (Abramis brama, Rutilus ritilus, Scardinius erythrophthalmus, Esox lucius, Perca flviatilis, Alburnus alburnus, Squalius cephalus) are in critical situation in this transformed river system.Сonclusions. In the ichthyocene of the Oster River over a 50-year period there have been signifiant changes in species composition, relative and absolute population numbers associated with the extinction and reduction of population sizes of rheophilic species and fih that are adapted to life in the flodplain. The modern Oster River is dominated by invasive and short-cycle species. The obtained tendencies in the dynamics of the ichthyofauna of the Oster River are similar to the nature of changes in other river systems of Ukraine, although they occur at a faster pace, which is characteristic of the smallest plain rivers.

ЕКОЛОГІЧНИЙ СТАН ПРИРОДНИХ ВОД СУББАСЕЙНУ ВЕРХНЬОГО ДНІПРА ТА ДЕСНИ: ПОКАЗНИКИ ЯКОСТІ ВОДИ І МОЖЛИВІ ПРИЧИНИ ЇХ ПОГІРШЕННЯ

Novelties of this study include a synthesis of water quality parameters for the upstream sub-basin of the Dnieper River. This upstream sub-basin includes the Desna River. The synthesis revels new insights on the sources of the water pollution and the status of the water quality for different purposes such as drinking, aquaculture and recreation. The main research objective was to identify the main sources of water pollution and how those sources could decrease the water quality. As a result of our analysis, we conclude the following. The levels of ammonium-nitrogen and nitrite-nitrogen in the Desna River (upstream sub-basin) are by 2-43 times and up to 53 times higher than the water quality thresholds, respectively. This poses a risk for recreational activities since too much nutrients often lead to blooms of harmful algae. We also find an increased level of biological oxygen demand in the river for drinking purposes. For aquaculture, decreased levels of dissolved oxygen are found. Climate change has an impact on water quality. For example, extreme floods caused by too much precipitation can bring pollutants to nearby waters. Monthly average temperature has increased by +2.7 degrees contributing to increased microbiological processes that could stimulate blooms of harmful algae. Main sources of water pollution are sewage discharges in cities, agricultural runoff and erosion activities after floods.

Paleobotanical materials from the Slavic site of Sverdlovske 1 on the Desna River (9–10th cent. CEE, Ukraine)

This article presents the analysis of paleoethnobotanical and anthracological materials from the Slavic Sverdlovske 1 Hillfort (9th—10th cent.). The materials of botanical origin were obtained by flotation during archaeological excavations in 2016–2017. The material comes from dwellings, ovens and utility pits of the Romny Culture. In addition, ceramics of the Romny Culture were examined for grain imprints. The material under study included residues of cultivated plants (proso millet, barley, emmer wheat, soft wheat, rye, peas and lentil), weeds (field bindweed and bristle grasses) and charcoal (pine, oak, birch and poplar or aspen). The high rates of rye, together with almost complete absence of weeds, most likely indicate a slash-and-burn farming. The fuel wood from the site is traditional for forest zone; it is oak, pine, birch and aspen. Construction timber is represented by oak and pine. These types of wood are typical for construction purposes in the region in question. The importance of the obtained data is due to a scanty amount of materials from the Romny Culture sites in the Desna River area. The flotation method allows us to replenish substantially the existing database on paleoethnobotany and wood resourses.

Новий для флори України вид роду Aulacoseira Thw. (Bacillariophyta)

In this study, scanning electron microscopy images of valves of the centric diatom algae Aulacoseira subborealis (Nygaard) Denys, Muylaert et Krammer from from the Kaniv Reservoir and the Desna River are analyzed. The quantitative (colony size, valve diameter and mantle height, the ratio of mantle height to valve diameter, number of areola rows and areolae in 10 µm on the mantle, ring-shaped diaphragm size) and qualitative (short pointed spines, areolae arrangement on the valve face and the mantle) morphological characteristics correspond to the diagnosis of A. pusilla (F.Meister) A.Tuji & A.Houki, a new species for the flora of Ukraine. In the analyzed material, minimum values of the mantle height and the height/diameter ratio are lower than in the published data.

THE SETTLEMENT OF VYSHENKY 1 ON DESNA RIVER

In 2013, the Livoberezhna Archaeological Expedition made the rescue excavations at the Vyshenky 1 settlement near the Vyshenky village Korop district of Chernihiv region. The settlement is located on the edge of the high right bank of the Desna River. In the excavation area of 120 m2 more than 20 ancient household pits, a number of post-holes and the part of building 1. In addition to some finds of the Bronze Age and Kyiv Rus the main materials date to the 1st millennium AD.
 The lower horizon (building 1, pits 4, 12, 20, 21, 23) belongs to the Kyiv culture of the Late Roman period. The building was probably square semi-dwelling house with a central pillar. Pottery is represented mainly by pots of weakly profiled and ribbed forms. The flattened biconical spindle whorls with a large hole, as well as single fragments of pottery were occurred in the objects. In addition to fragments of typical Chernyakhiv pottery, the fragment of a red slip bowl of the second half of the 4th and the beginning of the 5th centuries, unique for Desna basin region, was found. Obviously, this is t the possible final date for the layer of Kyiv culture.
 The upper horizon of the settlement belongs to the sites of the Sakhnivka-Volyntsevo circle. Pits 6, 17—19, 22 contained the fragments of convex-sided pots with bent rims, usually ornamented with finger impressions on the edge, and frying pans. The flattened-rounded spindle whorls and fragments of clay ovoid blocks belong to the same period.
 The hand-made pottery from sites of the Sakhnivka type is practically indistinguishable from significant part of the ceramics of the Volyntsevo culture, so the pottery of different types which often occurs in complexes with the hand-made ceramics usually becomes the diagnostic sign. In Sakhnivka sites there are sometimes pottery of the Pastyrske type, and in the Volyntsevo sites dating a little later there are so-called “pots of the Volyntsevo type”. However, in the settlement of Vyshenky 1 the household pits of this horizon contained only hand-made pottery, so it is difficult to draw a final conclusion about its cultural and chronological identification.

TYPOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF FORESTS IN THE DESNA CATCHMENT AREA

A general characterization of the catchment area of the River Desna is given. The Desna catchment area is located in two forest zones of Ukraine - Polissia, and Lisostep. According to the results from the analysis of the forest inventory database of PA Ukrderzhlisproekt, the planted areas of the Desna catchment area have been distributed by forest site types, forest types, tree species. To analyze the typological structure of the Desna catchment area, the sites belonging to the catchment area have been selected from the standwise forest inventory database of PA Ukrderzhlisproekt. The total area of the stand sample is 395.3 thousand hectares. The catchment area boundary has been determined using MapInfo Professional 12.5 and a vector map of Ukraine. The forest areas are distributed by administrative regions as follows: Chernihiv Region (62 %), Sumy Region (31 %), Kyiv Region (7 %). The forest resources of the Desna catchment area are characterized by a wide variety of types of forest sites covering almost the entire Ye.V. Alekseev’s and P.S. Pogrebnyak’s edaphic grid. In each group of forest site types, the foresters have identified different numbers of forest types. Pine forests (bors) are represented by five, pine – fir/oak forests (subors) - by eight, pine forests with birch, aspen and oak participation (composite subors) – by twenty eight and oak groves (dubravas) – by eighteen types of forest. In total, 59 types of forest are identified, including four - arid, thirteen - fresh, eighteen - sodden, nineteen - wet and five - bog. The most common types of forest within the area of the study subject are as follows: fresh fir/oak forest (subor) (40 %), fresh lime/oak/pine forest (composite subor) (9 %), sodden fir/oak forest (subor) (7 %), fresh pine forest (bor) (7 %). Among the tree species, the following species predominate common pine (60 %) and common oak (15%). The weighted average forest inventory indicators of natural and artificial pine forests in the conditions of fresh oak/pine forest (subor) in the Desna catchment area have been determined and analysed. It has been established that natural pine forests, as pertaining to reserves (per 1 m3•ha-1) up to the 5th age class, predominate over artificial pine forests, and, in contrast, as for the 6th to the 13th and further age classes, the artificial pine forests predominate over the natural ones. While planning, organization, and forest management in compliance with watershed and landscape principle, one should take into account the following varieties: forest types, types of forest stands, categorization of forest protectability in the watersheds of Desna River.

The population of Crataegus ucrainica (Rosaceae) in the Valley of the River Svydnya, Eastern Ukraine (Desna basin)

Abstract A new locality for Crataegus ucrainica in the ravine-valley system of the River Svydnya valley (Desna basin) near the town of Krolevecz (Sumy region) has been reported. This article presents the results of a study of C. ucrainica within the species’ distribution. Based on a survey of the identified population, its ecological and coenotic features, and the ontogenetic state of the population are presented. The species is confined to areas with steep slopes, which are inaccessible for grazing, where clay deposits are exposed. The complexity of these ecotopes provides a good preservation of individuals in open meadows, forest edges, as well as in thickets of Robinia pseudoacacia and Populus alba. The coenotic affiliation of some individuals and thickets of this species to meadow-steppe, natural forest and spontaneous tree-shrub vegetation is noted. The state of the studied population in the Desna river basin is stable and sufficient for its preservation, its existence is due to the optimal hydrological regime of the slopes, which is associated with the presence of accumulated water at the bottom of valley s and a low groundwater level. The map shows the peculiarities of the distribution of the identified populations of C. ucrainica in Ukraine. A comparison of biotopes, ecotopes, soils, and vegetation types, in which populations of C. ucrainica in the area of their distribution are presented. Analysis of the seed products of this species according to analysis from different habitats allows us to assert the existence of favourable conditions for its distribution in the presence of optimal habitats.

State and quality of water in the Desna river basin (within the Chernigiv region)

The Desna River is a tributary of the Dnieper with a total length of 575 km within Ukraine. 468 km of them flows through the Chernihiv region. The main pollution sources of the water bodies in the Chernihiv region are utilities. Continuous monitoring of the surface water state is relevant and necessary, as it allows to give a reliable water quality assessment, to identify the anthropogenic impact factors and to assess the technogenic loading in order to establish the level of water use and to develop a set of measures to improve the state of water and the environment in general. The materials of monitoring observations of the water quality indicators of the Desna river for a long-term period, as well as the materials of the Ecological passports of the Chernihiv region concerning the water use indicators, were used as the initial data in the work. The analysis of the hydrochemical regime of the Desna River over a long period was performed using a graphical method. The assessment of the technogenic impact on the water bodies of the region was performed using the method of assessing the efficiency of water use based on the water consumption and sewerage efficiency coefficients. The analysis of the content of the water quality indicators showed that constant exceedance of the MPC (Maximum Permissible Concentrations) in the waters of the Desna River within the Chernihiv region was observed in the content of phosphates and nitrites, as well as total iron and manganese. The results of the assessment of the technogenic impact on the water basin of the Desna River showed that the drainage coefficient underwent certain changes with the best indicators in 2015–2016. No sharp fluctuations in the values of the water supply coefficient were observed. The best values of the water use efficiency complex coefficient were noted in 2015–2016. In general, in recent years the efficiency of water using indicators of the Desna River water in the Chernihiv region has corresponded to the average indicators. The results of the assessment of the technogenic impact on all components of the environment in the Chernihiv region showed that in recent years there has been a tendency to reduce the technogenic impact complex indicator. In general, the Chernihiv region can be attributed to the second ecological district with a moderate technogenic loading level.

СТРУКТУРА ЧАСОВИХ РЯДІВ РІЧНОГО СТОКУ ВОДИ РІЧОК БАСЕЙНУ СІВЕРСЬКОГО ДІНЦЯ НА ОСНОВІ СТОХАСТИЧНОГО АНАЛІЗУ ЙОГО БАГАТОРІЧНИХ КОЛИВАНЬ

To detect the cyclic component in time series of annual water runoff of rivers of the Siverskyi Donets River Basin structure, it is necessary to have a hydrological gauge, which closes a large river basin and has long continuous observations of water runoff. The only hydrological gauge that meets these conditions is the Siverskyi Donets – Lysychansk – the catchment area is 52,400 km2 and the beginning of observations of water runoff since 1892. The Siverskyi Donets – Lysychansk is quite intermittent. Analysis of annual water runoff data of “neighboring basins” for the Siverskyi Donets Basin showed that the longest series of continuous observations has a hydrological gauge the Desna River near Chernihiv – since 1895, the catchment area is 81400 km2. So, we can consider this basin as basic for calculations and determination of patterns of long-term variability of annual water runoff of rivers of the Siverskyi Donets Basin. The study used data from eight hydrological gauges: the Desna – Chernihiv, intermediate river basins – the Sula – Lubny, the Psel – Zapsillya, the Vorskla – Kobeliaky, within the study basin – the Siverskyi Donets – Lysychansk, the Bakhmut – Siversk, the Aidar – Novoselivka, as well as the Southern Bug – Oleksandrivka. To confirm the spatial consistency of the annual water runoff of the studied rivers, a correlation matrix between the time sequences of the water runoff of neighboring basins was determined. To obtain a generalized characteristic of long-term water runoff variability of the studied rivers, chronological graphs of changes in modular coefficients were constructed, initial time series smoothing was performed, graphical analysis of difference integral curves was applied. In the course of the research regularities in long-term variability of average annual water runoff of rivers of the Siverskyi Donets Basin were identified, cyclic component was identified, duration and nature of water runoff cycles and within them low and wet phases were identified. The prediction of annual water runoff in the near future was done. Joint autocorrelation and spectral analysis allowed to identify a mutually confirmed cycle lasting 19-24 years for the rivers of the Siverskyi Donets Basin. According to the criterion of series, it is established that the periods of low phase can be 9±2 years. Knowing the length of the cycles, water-specific phases were identified. As a result, for the rivers of the Siverskyi Donets Basin it was found that the runoff in the wet phase exceeds the norm by an average of 18%, and the runoff in the low phase is lower by an average of 17% than normal. Therefore, the difference in river water phases is ≈ 35%. Forecast estimates show that by 2020±2, the rivers of the basin will have a low phase, which began in 2008. A wet phase is expected from 2020±2 to 2029±2, then in the period 2030±2 – 2038±2 years – low phase. In the period from 2039±2 to 2048±2, we should expect an increase of annual water runoff of the rivers of the Siverskyi Donets Basin.

СУЧАСНИЙ СТАН ІХТІОЦЕНОЗУ, ВИДОВОГО СКЛАДУ ТА ПОПУЛЯЦІЙ РИБ У БАСЕЙНАХ МАЛИХ РІЧОК ПРИП’ЯТСЬКОГО ПОЛІССЯ УКРАЇНИ — ШЛЯХИ РЕАБІЛІТАЦІЇ ТА ВІДНОВЛЕННЯ

Purpose. To study ichthyocenosis, species composition and current state of fish populations in small river basins from Pripyatske Polissiya of Ukraine, to propose the ways of their rehabilitation and restoration. Methodology. The study analysed data for last 60 years on the results of monitoring catches of fish wintering grounds of the first-order tributaries of the Pripyat River — right-bank rivers (rivers Slovechna, Sluch, Tina), as well as more than 300 flood plain lakes of the Desna River. Fish were caught by expeditionary methods using boats, seines and gill nets before ice formation in November-December. Methods generally accepted in ichthyology and ecology as well as surveys of anglers were used. Findings. The study showed the crisis state of the Upper Dnipro region, which was confirmed by the data on a significant decrease in fish productivity. The reasons for this are: non-observance of the basin approach in nature management, ineffective nature conservation measures, lack of measures for the rehabilitation of "natural localities" for the reproduction of native ichthyofauna. It should be noted that the creation of National Reserves and NaturalParks (Shatskyi, Pripyat-Stokhid, Rovenskyi, Polesskyi, Menskyi, etc.) did not significantly affect the general state of the problem, and rather has a declarative meaning. Since, although they still have some places with good reproduction conditions for native flora, fauna and valuable natural landscapes, however, this does not affect the general ecological situation in the river network. This is due to the fact that the surface runoff from territories without destructive human impact, which form the hydrochemical regime, is a fraction of a percent of the total amount. Accordingly, the following is observed: shallowing of river channels, smoothing of the bottom, siltation of wintering grounds, decrease in breeding stock number, degradation of spawning grounds and a lack of artificial stocking measures. This leads to a 10-fold decrease in fish catches in small rivers from Pripyatske Polissiya of Ukraine over the past 20 years. Originality. The study examines the problem of the relationship between the accessary river network and the fish productivity of rivers, including the Kуiv (receiving the flow of the DniprоRiver) and the upper reaches of the Kaniv (receiving the flow of the DesnaRiver) reservoirs. It outlines their role in the functioning of the trilateral natural complex located on the territory of Ukraine, Belarus and Poland. The possibility of creating the ichthyo-ecological reserve "Verhniy Dnipro on the territory of Ukraine on the base of existing protected areas within the Pripyat and Desnyansky hydroecological corridors is analysed. Practical Value. It has been proved that the creation of the "Verhniy Dnipro" will allow not only creating a stable base for the natural reproduction of native ichthyofauna in the upper reaches of the Dnipro reservoir cascade but providing high-quality water to the population of Kyiv and the Kyiv region. The concept of rehabilitation of reproduction and conservation of biodiversity of native ichthyofauna in the river network is proposed to maintain the stability of the biosphere, the implementation of which requires little funds. Keywords: ichthyofauna, ichthyocenosis, ichthyoecosystem, restoration of spawning grounds, PripyatRiver, DniproRiver, DesnaRiver.

Phytocenotic and hydrochemical conditions of the new localities of Aldrovanda vesiculosa (Droseraceae) in Chernihiv Polissya

Aldrovanda vesiculosa is a rare stenotopic species threatened due to destruction of its biotopes. Since the species is protected nationally and internationally, monitoring of its populations is required. Information on growth conditions of A. vesiculosa in three new localities recorded in 2019 and 2020 in lentic (standing water) reservoirs with muddy sediments in the Chernihiv Polissya region is provided. All populations were found in communities of the alliance Utricularion vulgaris. In the first locality (Snovsk, an artificial pond with an area 0.6 ha), the population of A. vesiculosa (projective cover of 10%) occupied an area of 0.5 m × 1.5 m within the shoreline community of the Spirodelo-Aldrovandetum vesiculosae association. In the second locality (Lake Perekop, area 7 ha, in the floodplain of the Desna River) the species was found in an area of 1.5 m2, with projective cover of 25%, also within the Spirodelo-Aldrovandetum vesiculosae communities. In the third locality (Lake Nizhniy Bolhach, floodplain of the Dnipro River), this species was found in an area of 0.5 m2 within the communities of the Lemno-Utricularietum vulgaris association, with projective cover of 3%. The comparison of hydrochemical conditions of biotopes in the found localities and hydrochemical indicators of habitats of this species in the Czech Republic and Poland was carried out. In the first and second localities, the hydrochemical indices are optimal for A. vesiculosa. In Lake Nizhniy Bolhach, some quantitative characteristics of the water chemical composition are beyond the ecological optimum for this species, in particular, exceeded values of hydrogen index (pH 7.0), hardness (12.1 mmol/L), concentrations of calcium (163.039 mg/L) and magnesium ions (49.025 mg/L), while organic carbon content (1214 mg/L) is reduced. A short-term existence of A. vesiculosa in this locality is predicted.

The Cultural and Chronological Variability of the Epigravettian of the Middle Dnieper Basin

The cultural subdivision of the Mid Dnieper Epigravettian is based on the typological peculiarities of stone insets of projectile weapons from 22 stratified assemblages. The Mezhyrich, Mizyn, Yudinovo and Ovruch industries, as well as the number of assemblage’s types were defined (Nuzhnyi 2008). The insets of Mezhyrich industry are represented by lanceolate-backed points and rectangular microliths. Both were made on bladelets and micro-blades, sometimes by inverse and alternate retouch (Fig. 1: 1-18). The lanceolate points made on flakes, blades and bladelets by abrupt/semi-abrupt retouch and “atypical rectangles” produced on blades and bladelets are the characteristic feature of Yudinovo industry (Fig. 1: 19-33). The micro-points on bladelets and micro-blades with straight back and obliquely retouched/truncated base are common for Mizyn industry (Fig. 2, 1-18). The Ovruch industry is represented by backed lanceolate points made on blades and bladelets (Fig. 2: 19-26). Often, the bases of these points are obliquely retouched. The rectangles  are not common for Mizyn and Ovruch industries, as well as inverse and alternate types of retouch are rare in the assemblages of Yudinovo and Ovruch industries. The chronological studies are based on 135 radiocarbon dates from 16 sites (Table 1; Fig. 3). The earliest manifestation of Epigravettian at the Mid Dnieper basin was found in Barmaky, 2 (19195-18743, av. 68 % range cal BP) in Volhynia; the latest appearance is known from Pushkari IX, 1 (13672-13066, av. 68 % range cal BP) at the Desna River. That is, at the territory of the Mid Dnieper basin the Epigravettian techno-complex stretches from 20/19 to 14/13 kyr cal BP. In general, the most number of occupations with Mizyn, Yudinovo and Mezhyrich Epigravettian industries assemblages co-exist during 18,5-17,0 kyr cal BP (Fig. 4). The radiocarbon dates for sites of Ovruch industry haven’t been available, yet. On the base of typological studies and chronological data analysis the hypothesis about the Epigravettian evolution at the territory of the Mid Dnieper basin has been proposed. The evolution of local Gravettian industries was interrupted about the beginning of LGM time. The latest manifestations of Gravettian industries from the Desna River basin and from Volhynia are dated to about 28,4-24 and 33-30 kyr cal BP, respectively. That is, the Mid Dnieper basin was depopulated during as minimum as 5-6 thousands years, from 25/24 to 20/19 kyr cal BP. That time corresponds with LGM climatic deterioration. About 19 kyr cal BP the recolonization of this territory begins from the western part of the basin. The Mizyn and Ovruch industries show the number of common techno-typological features with Epigravettian assemblages from the Eastern Carpathian and the Prut/Dniester basins. The problem of Yudinovo and Mezhyrich industries origin is more complicated. Some technological features and shells import suggest possible connections with inhabitants from more southern territories of the steppe zone. The proposed paper is a part of the studies conducted in the frames of the Archaeology Institute state projects and Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft grant DFG-392605832 “Social networks and environmental conditions before, during and after Last Glacial Maximum in Volhynia, Western Ukraine”.

Studies of Shestovytsia Barrows

Shestovitsa archaeological complex consists of the hill-fort, the upper town, the lower city and of the large mound necropolis, which D. Blifeld divided into six mound groups. Burial mounds have been investigated since 1920’s. More than 160 of them have already been excavated till nowadays. In 2017, scientific workers of the Institute of Archaeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine took a new detailed plan of the necropolis, where the investigated and remaining mounds were identified. In total, the remains of 20 embankments were counted in the third mound group. The third mound group of the Shestovitsa necropolis is situated in the Dibrova boundary 750 m to the west from the hill-fort Korovel, at a low elevation, which in ancient times was washed by a small stream of the old channel of the Desna River. Two mound embankments in the northern part of the third mound group were excavated by Ukrainian-Polish archaeological expedition in 2018. Burial mounds were investigated together, their total area of the excavation covered 220 m2. The remains of 12th century inlet burial, which was located in the upper part in the center of the embankment, were investigated in the first mound situated in the northern part of the excavation. The skeleton belonged to a teenager and preserved partially. No related equipment or traces of the grave pit were fixed. The burial of 10th century was not found. There was a mound ditch around the embankment. The diameter of the mound was 7.0 × 9.0 m. Fragments of 12th century ceramics were found in the western part of the embankment and partially in the upper layers of the ditch filling. The mound no. 2 was situated to the south of the previous one. Before the beginning of the investigations it was 0.39 m high. The mound had an oval shape and was extended from west to east by 7.2 × 8.2 m. Man’s burial in a grave pit with the head oriented to the west, was found in it. The skeleton laid in anatomical order with legs bent at the knees. There was an iron knife near the right thigh bone of the buried, and an iron octagonal tip of the knobstick under his right knee. The diameter of the mound was 9.5 × 10 m. Thus, in the 2018 season, two burial mounds in the third group of the Shestovitsa archaeological complex were excavated. The burial of the man of 10th century and the inlet burial of 12th century in one of 10th century mounds, where the burial was absent or not preserved, were found here.

СИСТЕМАТИЧНА, ЕКОБІОМОРФОЛОГІЧНА СТРУКТУРА ТА СОЗОЛОГІЧНА ЦІННІСТЬ ФЛОРИ ВОДНИХ І ПРИБЕРЕЖНОВОДНИХ ЕКОСИСТЕМ РІЧКИ ЗОЛОТИНКА (ЧЕРНІГІВСЬКА ОБЛАСТЬ)

The results of the study of the species composition of higher aquatic and coastal-aquatic plants of the Zolotynka River within the Chernihiv region are presented. The surveyed parts of the river revealed an increase in 42 species from 33 genus and 24 families.
 Small rivers serve as water storage for big rivers, they are of high ecological status which calls for improvement. One indicator of the status of small rivers is higher water and coastal-water plants, which react first to changes in the quality of the water body. By their species composition, projective cover, indicative properties and other characteristics it is possible to assess the ecological status of the river.
 The study was conducted in the course of 2017–2019. The material was collected during expeditionary studies of the valley of Zolotynka river (Chernihiv district, Chernihiv region).
 Zolotynka river belongs to Desna river basin and is its left tributary of the first order, its length is 13 km, the slope is 0.23 m/km, the area of the basin is 31.8 km². The river originates in the west of the village of Ivanivka, Chernihiv district of Chernihiv region. It flows southwest through the village of Zolotynka and joins Desna river.
 According to the results of expeditionary field research into the flora of Zolotynka river there are 42 species of higher water and coastal-water plants belonging to 33 genus, 24 families, 3 classes (Equisetopsida, Liliopsida and Magnoliopsida) and 2 divisions (Equisetophyta and Magnoliophyta).
 According to the classification of V.H. Papchenkova higher water and coastal- water flora of Zolotynka river belongs to 5 ecotypes, the largest of which is represented by a group of coastal- water plants – 27 species belonging to two ecotypes - gelophytes, or air-aquatic plants - 6 species and hygrogelophytes - 21 species.
 Analysis of the areological structure showed that species with a wide range of distribution make up almost 85%, according to the structure of life forms perennial herbaceous plants make up 90%, according to K. Raunkier’s classification hemicryptophytes predominate.
 According to the research findings there are 2 species that are subject to regional protection in Chernihiv region and a species recorded in the Red Data Book of Ukraine.

VYPOVZIV — THE MILITARY, TRADE AND CRAFT CENTER IN LOW DESNA REGION

The materials of the excavations of Vypovziv Archaeological Complex of the late 9th—10th centuries which existed as one of the military, trade and handicraft points of the Low Desna region are analyzed in the paper. Also the chronology and functions in the region are determinated here.
 Vypovziv is located on a narrow long cape that «creeps out» for 700 m into the flood plains of the Desna river near the village of Vypovziv, Kozelets district, Chernihiv region. It is placed between Chernihiv and Vyshgorod — on the route of the so-called «Monomakh Road» which connected the capital of Rus — Kyiv with the center of the largest principality on Desna river — Chernihiv. The site consists of a settlement, suburb and hem. The remains of wood and earth fortifications, twice burned during the 10th century, were explored on the site. Foundation pit of pithouse and remains of donjon of the 10th century have been discovered on the site.
 Open settlement was located to the west of the site. The building of the same period was situated there. The peculiarity of building of Vypovziv settlement is the high concentration of constructions. Dwellings were built one above the other, sometimes in the same foundation pits. The end of the mass building of the site was reasoned by local fire synchronous with the destruction of the fortifications of the settlement which dates back to the middle of the 10th century. It is well traced by remains of burned-out buildings and allows to highlight the simultaneous constructions.
 Vypovziv archaeological complex was formed in accordance with all Rus tendencies of development of the cities and settlements in the early phase of state formation. They arose at the end of the 9th — beginning of the 10th centuries as a result of active military, political and trade activity of the Rus people. Frequent finds of dishes, decorations, objects of everyday life in the cultural layer of the site and in the objects of the 10th century indicate the probability of the movement of small populations from the right bank of the Dnieper to the Low Desna region. It is possible that part of the population (representatives of the Luka-Raykovetsky culture) was used to settle in such points, possibly as slaves for sale in the markets of the East at the end of 9th — the beginning of 10th century.