Southern Bug Research Articles

ЗНАХІДКИ РАРИТЕТНИХ ВИДІВ РОСЛИН У ПІВДЕННІЙ ЧАСТИНІ БАСЕЙНУ РІЧКИ СИНЮХА

Introduction. The Sinyukha river basin, in particular its southern part, is an area with a high level of anthropogenic pressure and a significant level of agricultural development (the proportion of agricultural land is more than 80%), with fragmented natural habitats. Detailed chorological study is needed to supplement the pattern of the distribution of rare plant species, to develop measures for their conservation, to optimize the existing network of protected areas in the region.Рurpose of the study isto analyze the current distribution and describe new finds of some rare plant species in the southern part of the Sinyukha river basin.Methods. The research was conducted in April-June 2021. We surveyed the area of the Sinyukha river valley from the village of Kalamazovo (Vilshansky district, Kirovohrad region) to its confluence with the Southern Bug River in Pervomaisk (Mykolayiv region), as well as – the valleys of its tributaries – Chorny Tashlyk, Malyi Tashlyk and Sukhyi Tashlyk. When locating a rare species, the plants were photographed and georeferenced at a point with GPS-navigator. Species cover is given according to the Broun-Blanquet scale. The distribution maps were performed by free QGIS software.Results.We revealed new and confirmed known localities of 20 rare species:Adonis vernalis, Asplenium septentrionale, Astragalus dasyanthus, A. odessanus, Bellevalia sarmatica, Clematis integrifolia, Crocus reticulatus, Dianthus hypanicus, Ephedra distachya, Hyacinthella leucophaea, Iris pontica, Iris pumila, Ornithogalum boucheanum, Pulsatilla pratensis, Primula veris, Sedum borissovae, Stipa capillata, S. lessingiana, S. pennata, Tulipa hypanica. Among the 20 identified rare species one has the category VU (Vulnerable) in the IUCN red list and belongs to the list of Resolution 6 of the Berne Convention; three species are narrowly local endemics of the Dnieper Upland; 11 are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine (5 of them have the status vulnerable, 1 – rare, 5 – insufficiently known); 5 species are regionally rare in Kirovohrad and 8 – in Mykolayiv regions. Most of the revealed species have a cover less than 5%. Only 9 of the 20 registered rare species characterized by more than five localities within the studied area. Originality. New localities of 20 rare species of plants of different levels of protection have been revealed. Prospects for conservation valuableof their habitats are offered.Conclusion. We have identified a significant number of new localities of rare plant species that are not covered by proper protection. This indicates the need for more detailed chorological research to elucidate the current distribution of rare species and the creation of new protected areas. Key words:rare species; threat category; red lists; natural habitats; chorology.

The water quality integrated assessment of the Southern Bug River in the context of climate change

The water quality integrated assessment of the Southern Bug River in the context of climate change

Water Quality Assessment of the Surface Water of the Southern Bug River Basin by Complex Indices

Water Quality Assessment of the Surface Water of the Southern Bug River Basin by Complex Indices

МІНЛИВІ РИТМИ В РЕЖИМІ ҐРУНТОВИХ ВОД ТА ЇХНІЙ ЗВ'ЯЗОК З КЛІМАТИЧНИМИ ЧИННИКАМИ

Due to the anomalous changes in the groundwater regime over the past 5 years, the question arose about the adequacy and effectiveness of existing methods for predicting their level. The data of monitoring observations from 1951 in the upper part of the Southern Bug river basin are analyzed. The specific underground runoff to the river in the site of Khmilnyk was calculated by the finite difference method. It is established that at the end of the 80s of the last century a 7-8 year cycle began to appear in the fluctuations of the groundwater level (GWT) and groundwater runoff. It correlates well with the cyclicity of the air temperature, and, to a lesser extent, with the cycles of the monthly amount of precipitation. Instead, such rhythms are not at all typical of solar activity, which is characterized by 11-year and 5-6-year cycles. It is in connection with them that the heliosynoptic method of long-term prediction of RGV is based. It is likely that temperature changes occurring on Earth may change the "sun-induced" cyclicity of GWT, so this method of forecasting becomes ineffective. As there is no clear link between temperature changes and solar activity, it is possible that temperature changes are caused by human activity.From 2013-2015, with the beginning of the low water cycle in the study area, the anomalous minima in the GWT mode became more frequent and the cycles were transformed in the direction of their reduction (up to 5-6 years), which may indicate sharp changes in the nature of groundwater storage recovery. Deviations from 8-year cycles and differences in their duration in different parts of the same catchment area are primarily related to differences of GWT. Wavelet analysis was used as the main method of cyclic selection. Using multiple correlation analysis, it was found that in recent decades the temperature has reached a dominant position in terms of the impact on the groundwater regime (at their levels from 1.5 to 4.0 m). As a result, it was noted that our 7-8 year cycles are well traced during the relatively multi-water period caused by increased infiltration of groundwater due to increasing winter thaws (one of the most significant manifestations of global warming), and 5-6 year cycles correspond to low water periods.

Технологія побудови експертної інформаційної веб-системи виявлення та верифікації пріоритетних екологічних проблем у масивах вод басейну річки

The article considers the collection, verification and generalization of a large number of expert assessments of the current state of waters, existing environmental problems and influential factors that increase the risk of failure to achieve environmental goals of each volume of water during the development of river basin management plans (RBMPs) or stabilization of good ecological status of water in the water bodies of this basin. The task is complicated by the large number of such volumes of water, as it is extremely difficult to gather reliable information about the objects located in each of them. Creation of a web system with a map of water volumes and the involvement of a large number of experts from among locals who are not indifferent to the problems of their environment will help to solve this problem. However, then there is the problem of verifying the assessments of these experts, taking into account their different qualifications, experience, different views of the objectives of the RBMP, and the problem of how to compare them to identify the most vulnerable regions by different criteria. It is proposed that experts will be required not only expert assessments on the basis of single directories of possible answers, but also - links to text web resources that confirm their assessments to solve this problem. And then it will be analyzed if these sources really confirm each assessment of the appropriate type of problem for a given region. The authors consider various approaches for comparing expert assessments both based on the basis of fuzzy sets and with the help of machine learning and natural language processing (NLP) technologies. Analogues of the system developed by the authors are considered. A method has been developed to identify and verify priority of environmental problems in water bodies of the river basin based on fuzzy expert estimates, taking into account the probabilities that the text materials cited by the expert do correspond to this problem. These probabilities are determined to use models of NLP technologies. The stages of functioning of the expert information web system for the implementation of the proposed technology are described, which will simultaneously collect the most reliable and detailed information about the objects of water bodies and accelerate its processing and ranking. An example of the implementation of an information web system for identifying priority environmental problems in the water bodies of the Southern Bug River basin is given. Examples of calculating the reliability of expert estimates using the author’s program in Python based on NLP-model BERT and logistic regression which were applied to real text information are given.

Integrated Assessment of the Southern Bug River Basin Water Quality and Calculation of their Self-Cleaning Capacity

Purpose. To carry out the surface water quality assessment of the Southern Bug river basin and to investigate the ability of surface water to self-purify. Methods. Statistical calculations, system analysis. Results. The long-term dynamic of the integrated quality index values of the Southern Bug during 2000-2016 was heterogeneous, but the general trend indicated a slight increase due to the sanitary-ecological index and pollution index. The highest level of water pollution was observed in Khmelnytsky city and Alexandrovka settlement. To assess the self-purification capacity of surface waters, the hydrological zoning of the basin was taken. According to it three regions were identified by the types of intra-annual runoff distribution: Verkhnyobuzky, Serednyobuzky and Nizhnobuzsky. The obtained results of EC coefficient calculations for mineral nitrogen compounds show the inability of rivers to self-purify for Verkhnyobuzky and Serednyobuzky regions. Instead, the ability to self-purify is preserved for phosphorus compounds.Using the nonparametric Mann - Kendall test allowed to estimate the long - term trend of nutrients for the Nizhnobuzsky hydrological region. Trends N-NO3-, N NH4+and Р-РО43- are characterized by positive values of the statistical parameter, which means the increasing of these elements’ concentrations. Conclusions. Rivers of the Southern Bug basin are classified as "good, clean enough". The main ecological and hydrochemical problems of the river are pollution by nutrients and indicators of toxic action. The results of the self-purification criterion calculations indicate their inability (in the upper and middle parts of the basin) to self-purification. Using of the nonparametric Mann-Kendall test for determining changes in nutrient compounds shows an upward trend, that means increasing of their concentrations.

Approaching the Unification and Diversity of Pottery Assemblages

This paper questions the cycling nature of the unification and diversity of pottery forms through a case study of ceramics of the Western Tripolye culture in the Southern Bug and Dnieper interfluve in modern Ukraine. We identified the cultural cycle representing the transition from more unified ceramic assemblages to more diverse ones, and then back to more unified assemblages. This cultural cycle is disturbed by the increase in the diversity of pottery sets at three of ten subsequent time periods we have analysed. The obtained results are discussed in frames of deterministic explanations and the dynamic behaviour of complex systems.

Climate change impact on water availability of main river basins in Ukraine

Study regionEight main river basins covering the major part of Ukraine. Study focusThe main aim of this study was to provide an assessment of climate change impacts on water availability across Ukraine using global hydrological models. Six global hydrological models were evaluated for their performance in the historical period in the basins under study. Future river discharge was simulated by using the best performing model and all available models driven by bias-corrected GCM projections from the ISIMIP project under the RCP 2.6 and RCP 8.5 scenarios. New hydrological insights for the regionThe results show precipitation increase up to 10 % under RCP 2.6, and variable changes from -14 % to +10 % under RCP 8.5 by the end of the century. The projections show the decreasing mean annual river discharge in the majority of basins for the middle (2040–2070) and far future (2071–2100) periods under both RCPs, and the decrease is stronger under RCP 8.5. The seasonal changes are characterised by a decrease in summer and a small to moderate increase in winter months in most of the basins. The highest reduction of mean annual discharge was projected for the Pripyat, Southern Bug and Dniester basins, reaching up to -30 % to the end of the century under RCP 8.5.

Ritual Deposit of the Sarmatian Age from the Barrow on the Lower Don Basin

Introduction. In 2007 the archaeological expedition of the State Autonomic Cultural Facility of Rostov Region “The Don Heritage” excavated burial ground Krasny IV in Aksay district of Rostov Region. In the mound of barrow No. 13 a bronze rod-shaped frontlet plate with a hook, a bronze lunula-shaped harness pendant, six bronze bridle roundels, a bone cheek-piece, and iron fragments of the, most likely, bits have been discovered. Methods and materials. In the study the standard methods of archaeological analysis are used: comparative-typological, the method of analogies, chronological, and cartographic ones. The materials are the discovered artifacts. Analysis. According to the conditions of location and composition, the assemblage from barrow No. 13 can be identified as a ritual deposit. Such assemblages are known in special literature as “hoards”, “strange assemblages” or “votive hoards”. They have been found in mounds of barrows or in natural hills without traces of human burials. Usually they consist of cauldrons or situlae (often the rest items are put into them), bridle sets with peculiar frontlet plate with a hook, silver and bronze phalerae, helmets of Western types, weapons (most often spear- and arrowheads), expensive and socially prestigious items (silver and glassware, jewelry). The presence of all these items in the ritual deposit is not necessary. These sites are concentrated in geographically opposite regions: the basins of the Southern Bug, Dniester and Prut and in the east of European Sarmatia – in the AzovDonbass, Don and Kuban basins, the Lower Volga basin and North Caucasus. Results. Close parallels to the frontlet plate, bronze lunula-shaped pendant, and bridle roundels were found in the South Bug basin (Marievka), the Dniester and Prut interfluve (Brãviceni), Romania (Zimnicea), the North Caucasus (Prochnookopskaya, Geymanovsky, Giaginskaya), the Don and Volga interfluve (Kachalinskaya). All of these sites are identified as ritual deposits of the late 2nd – 1st centuries BC. The assemblage from barrow No. 13 should be dated to the same time. The ritual deposits of Eastern Europe could be divided into two chronologically different groups. The sites of the early group (3rd – early 2nd century BC) have appeared in the North Caucasus and concentrated in the North-Western Pontic region. It is assumed that they belong to the Хsaiai, Saudaratai and Thissamatai mentioned in the Olbian decree in honor of Protogenes. The sites of the late group (the late 2nd – 1st centuries BC) in the Northern Pontic Region, the Don basin, the North Caucasus and adjacent territories belong, most likely, to the Sarmatians.

Extreme hydrological phenomena in the forest steppe and steppe zones of Ukraine under the climate change

Abstract. Nowadays, during the period of the global climate change, scientists around the world have noticed an increased incidence of extreme natural disasters. The authors of the study suggested methods of using climate change as a part of a genetic model of maximal floods runoff. This model makes possible the introducing of “climate changes” directly through the maximal stocks of snow and precipitation during the spring flood and runoff coefficients. The object of study is the basin of the Southern Bug – one of the largest rivers in Ukraine, which flows within two geographical zones – forest-steppe and steppe. Overall results using scenario RCP 4.5 showed a decrease of runoff by the end of 2050 from 20 % in the north part of the basin (the forest-steppe zone) to 50 % – in the south (the steppe part of basin). On the other hand, the characteristics of minimal river flow in the Southern Bug basin – winter and summer low waters had been analyzed. One option for low water flow simulation is to study the connection between the drought index (e.g. SPEI) and the minimal water. Studies show that such correlation exists, so knowing the forecast of drought index it is possible to project the value of minimal water discharge, which is the object of the research.

Researches of the chemical composition of surface water in Ukraine, 1920-2020 (review)

The development of researches of the chemical composition of surface waters (rivers, lakes, reservoirs and ponds) is due to problems that are solved at one stage or another in the development of the country’s economy and are related to water quality issues. Depending on the tasks set during hydrochemical researches, attention is paid to a particular group of chemical components in water: 1) the main ions and their total amount (water mineralization); 2) dissolved gases; 3) biogenic elements; 4) organic matter; 5) microelements (including heavy metals); 6) radioactive elements; 7) specific pollutants. The article presents an analytical review of studies of the chemical composition of surface waters of Ukraine from the beginning of systematic research in the first half of the 20th century to the present day (1920-2020). The authors identified four typical chronological periods in the history of hydrochemical studies of surface waters in Ukraine. I period (1920s-1950s) – the beginning of systematic hydrochemical studies of surface waters; the appearance of regular observations of the chemical composition of water at the posts of hydrometeorological service on the Dnipro and Southern Bug rivers (1930s) and publication of these data in “Hydrological Yearbooks”; hydrochemical studies for selected large projects (Dnipro hydroelectric power station). II period (1950s-1970s) - expansion of hydrochemical research to meet the needs of water and hydropower construction, forecasting their possible impact on the country’s water resources; increasing the number of observation points for the chemical composition of water on large and medium-sized rivers; development of hydrochemistry of reservoirs. III period (1970s – at the beginning of the 2000s) – development of complex hydrochemical researches in the conditions of increasing anthropogenic load on water objects; creation of a system of hydrochemical monitoring of water bodies within the framework of the national system of observation and control of the environment (1973); application of sanitary and hygienic criteria for assessment of water quality – universal maximum acceptable concentrations (MAC); publication of quarterly “Hydrochemical Bulletins” (since 1967); development of radioecological studies of natural waters after the Chernobyl accident (1986); first publication in Ukraine of textbooks on hydrochemistry. IV period (after the beginning of the 2000s) – reformatting of hydrochemical research (monitoring system) to the requirements of the Water Framework Directive of the European Union, especially after the signing of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement in 2014; reforming the water monitoring system based on environmental rationing with the identification of reference indicators; components of state monitoring of surface waters are the monitoring of biological, hydromorphological, chemical and physico-chemical parameters. The article also describes scientific hydrochemical schools: Institute of Hydrobiology of NAS of Ukraine; Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv; Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Institute of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine and NAS of Ukraine.

Analysis of water-ecological problems of Khmelnytsk region

At the present stage, in the conditions of growing scale of anthropogenic impact on water resources, shortage of quality drinking water and climate change, priority measures should be their rational use and comprehensive conservation. The article analyzes the environmental problems of surface waters of river basins, analyzed the existing potential of water resources and the state of water use, qualitative and quantitative indicators of surface waters of river basins of the Dnieper, Southern Bug and Dniester within Khmelnytsky region. The main problems of water resources of the region are highlighted and proposals for their effective use are formulated. A feature of the Khmelnytsky region is its location in three river basins – the rivers Dniester, Southern Bug and Dnieper. The main share of water intake in the region comes from surface objects, and s unevenly distributed throughout its territory. The study shows that in the sectoral structure of general use of water in Khmelnytsky region, the largest consumer is industry (58.6 %), and among industries electricity sector is the main and largest consumer. The main environmental problem of the region is the pollution of surface water bodies with untreated and insufficiently treated return water. In the territory of Khmelnytsky region, 80 water users discharge return water into water bodies. The average annual concentrations of manganese (2–6 times), copper (4–7 times) and nitrites (2–5 times) were exceeded in all control samples from water bodies of Khmelnytsky region. There is also an increase in the total amount of discharges of pollutants, including petroleum products, suspended solids, sulfates, total iron, and copper. In addition to pollution, the problem is the current structure of land within river basins. Excessive plowing is one of the main negative factors that contributes to the deterioration of the water regime and leads to pollution of water bodies. Within the Khmelnytsky region, arable land is the dominant form of land use, their share is 50–70 %. Restoration of the quality of water bodies involves the implementation of measures to reduce the environmental risk of deterioration based on the analysis of the impact of anthropogenic factors and a set of water protection measures.

Features of Heavy Metals Accumulation in Bottom Sediments of the Southern Bug Hydroecosystem

Features of Heavy Metals Accumulation in Bottom Sediments of the Southern Bug Hydroecosystem

Multi-proxy Archaeobotanical Analysis from Mesolithic and Early Neolithic Sites in South-west Ukraine

ABSTRACT This paper presents the results of archaeobotanical studies carried out on the Late Mesolithic layer at Melnychna-Krucha (6460–6100 cal BC) and the Linearbandkeramik (LBK) site of Kamyane-Zavallia (5295–4960 cal BC), close to the Southern Bug River. Despite the relatively modest dataset presented in this paper, these preliminary results provide new data for a region where the environmental setting and the uses of plant resources during the Early Atlantic period are poorly understood. The main taxa used for firewood are quite similar at Melnychna-Krucha and Kamyane-Zavallia, although they were occupied 1000 years apart. Fraxinus (ash) and Quercus (oak) dominate both charcoal assemblages. These taxa, as well as Ulmus (elm), could have grown together in the alluvial deciduous forest, probably on the Southern Bug riverbank, close to both sites. Carpinus (hornbean) was present but probably still not abundant around Kamyane-Zavallia at the end of the 6th millennium. Macroremains and phytoliths demonstrate that the plant production economy (cultivation, cereal processing) was well developed and very similar to other European LBK sites. At Melnychna-Krucha, plant macro- and microremains did not indicate a productive subsistence.

МЛИН НА РІЧЦІ ПІВДЕННИЙ БУГ У МІСТІ МЕДЖИБІЖ

Mills located on the waterways of Ukraine still remain little-explored architectural monuments. The main waterway of Podillya is Southern Bug River, which is quite fast and overflowing. Being associated with the activities of mankind, the water mill was not only an industrial object, but also mythological and mysterious and had a distinctive architecture and bright decorated facades, which often distinguished it from other buildings in the city. The mill in Medzhibozh on the Southern Bug is the oldest building in the region. M. Hrushevsky pointed out the important fortification function of the mill during the siege of the city. F. Vovk and M. Sumtsov studied mills as an ethnographic component of people's life, and according to S. Taranushenko, mills together with bell towers and churches determined the nature of Ukrainian monumental folk architecture and were the main accents in village or city planning. Modern researches by M. Dolynska and R. Mohytych localize topography and investigate economic significance of mills. The Medzhibizh mill stands in the area of the upper Pobuzhye in the zone of flooding of the Southern Bug and Buzhok rivers in a wide swampy ravine. Iconography and cartography depicting the mill is uncommon, from the first drawing to reproduction in postcards and photographs there are about 10 fixations. The water mill in Medzhibozh, Khmelnytsky region, which is now in a terrible state, was explored in the summer of 2019 by an expedition of Kharkiv National University of Construction and Architecture led by PhD in architecture I.R. Akmen, T.D. Kutsenko, M.V. Rusanova. Research of the object aw well as architectural and archeological measurements are stored in the archives of the State Historical and Cultural Reserve "Mezhibizh". According to the existing appearance of the dilapidated mill with the remains of industrial culture, carrying out historical and architectural-archaeological research, as well as looking at the iconographic material, it was determined that from its inception to the state of the XXI century. the construction of the mill went through four stages: the period of active construction of the city by Mykola Senyavsky and the time of the Polish-Turkish wars (1540–1699); the period of activity of the Senyavsky family, who restored the castle and fortifications (1699–1727); the period of the Czartoryski economy and the transfer of Medzhibozh to a military unit of the Russian Empire (1730–1941); period of perestroika in the postwar period to the end of the XXbeginning of the XXI century.

Микобиота пелагиали Одесского региона северо-западной части Чёрного моря

Mycobiota of the marine area of Odessa region was studied (30°70′00′′-31°00′00′′N, 46°23′00′′-46°60′00′′E) (See Fig. 1). Hydrological and hydrochemical regimes of the marine area of Odessa region in the northwestern Black Sea are affected by the discharge of the Dnieper (93.4%) and the Southern Bug (5.7%) rivers, the permanent anthropogenic discharges of the cities of Odessa, Chernomorsk (Ilyichyovsk), Yuzhnyi and their ports, shipping, dredging, and the open sea. The aim of this work was to study the species composition, the number of colony forming units (CFU) and the dynamics of the spatiotemporal distribution of reared microfungi as a function of abiotic factors and the trophic level of seawater in this area. Water samples were taken in summer and autumn 2008-2012 in the surface (1 m depth) and bottom (7-24 m depth) layers. The samples were taken, at least, in three replicates. The results of processing 258 samples from 22 stations were analyzed. The effects of environmental factors (water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, five-day biochemical oxygen demand, petroleum hydrocarbons, dissolved metals Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd and suspended particulate matter) were studied in 140 samples (See Table 1). Micromycetes were isolated on Czapek’s medium prepared in sea water. 1 ml of sample water was added to a Petri dish and filled with medium cooled to approximately 36-40 °C. To suppress the growth of bacteria, 0.03% chloramphenicol was added to the medium (by volume of the medium). Cultivation was carried out at a temperature of 18-20 °С for 2-8 weeks. Micromycetes were identified by morphological and cultural characteristics according to Vera Bilay and Eleonora Koval’ (1988) and GS De Hooh ea tl. (2000). Nomenclature, and taxonomy of fungi correspond to The Index Fungorum database. The ecological analysis of mycocomplexes was carried out according to: species composition, the number of species in complexes, frequency of occurrence of a species and the number of colony-forming units (CFU / L). In this research, 50 fungal species of 19 genera, 14 families, 9 orders, 4 classes of the division Ascomycota were revealed. Fungal taxa from Odessa region were grouped into families. The family Aspergillaceae included the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium and Talaromyces (27 species); the family Pleosporaceae included the genera Alternaria and Stemphylium (8); and there were 3 species of the genus Cladosporium from the family Cladosporiaceae. In total, 76.0% of species found were from the three families (See Table 2). Using Average Taxonomic Distinctness index, AvTD (Δ+), and Variation in Taxonomic Distinctness index, VarTD (Λ+), features of the taxonomic diversity of mycocomplexes were revealed. These indices were calculated from a matrix of micromycete species from the region under study combined with the fungi list (master list, 219 species) of the Black Sea pelagic zone. In the analysis, the taxonomy levels from Species to Kingdom were included. For the indices Δ+ and Λ+, 95% probability funnel graphs were plotted, and their mean expected values were calculated for mycobiota of the region under study and for mycocomplexes from each station. It was found out that the mean expected values of the index Δ+ for mycobiota of the marine area of Odessa region and the stations are considerably lower, and index Λ+ values are higher than those for the sea as a whole (See Fig. 2 and 3). According to literature sources, no significant seasonal and inter-annual changes in the trophic status of the region occurred in 1992-2010. It was transitional between mesotrophic and eutrophic. The long-term mean TRIX value was 5.3 (4-5: medium trophic level; 5-6: high trophic level and poor water quality). In the species composition and numerical structure of mycocomplexes of the mesotrophic and eutrophic zones, no significant differences were detected. Over the entire period of this research, a relatively uniform distribution of the mean abundance of fungi over the area and depth was noted (See Table 3). No significant correlation was found between abiotic parameters under study and micromycete abundance over the horizons, seasons, sampling dates, location of stations, as well as mesotrophic and eutrophic zones. In the region, 44% of fungi-indicators of different kinds of pollution were registered. In the areas of stormwater runoff and wastewater treatment plant discharges, the indicator value (IndVal) was the largest for melanin-containing fungi Cladosporium cladosporioides (28.3%), Alternaria alternata (17.5%), and Aspergillus niger (12.3%), which are resistant to several adverse environmental factors. In the eutrophic zone, large values of the indices were found in Aspergillus clavatus (21,2%), Penicillium expansum (17,7%), Penicillium citrinum (16,1%), Al. tenuissima (12,5%), and in A. fumigatus (60%), Al. alternata (40%) and A. niger (35,7%) in places of local oil pollution. It is established that in the entire marine area of Odessa region, the formed mycocomplexes have a high similarity in species and numerical structure, and therefore, they can be considered as a single community.

The Study of Condition of the South Bug River Basin with Using Geoecological Methods

Purpose. Assess the current state of the Southern Bug River basin and the degree of anthropogenic impact on it (transformation) Methods. The methodology of complex field geographic research (according to S. Kurlov) was chosen for the research. On its basis, water samples were taken at the appropriate points of the river basin, which directly covered the Southern Bug River itself, as well as its tributaries, and the composition of coastal soils was analyzed. Laboratory experiments were performed on the basis of a licensed laboratory of the Uman National University of Horticulture Results. Based on the analysis of the data set of the main hydrochemical indicators of the surface water quality of the Southern Bug river basin and the analysis of the soil, it was found at some experimental points that the MPC content of the studied indicators was exceeded. The content is exceeded at all sampling points, due to the high content of complexes with humic acid salts, secondary waterlogging of reclaimed lands. The nitrite content is exceeded in the following places: r. Southern Bug (Vinnitsa and Ladyzhin), r. Ustya (Nemyriv), r. Udych litskiy district) and r. Dohna (Bershad district). The main reason for the intake of nitrates into the water is the washout of fertilizers from fields and vegetable gardens. All surface water bodies have increased water hardness, its acidity is within normal limits. The soils adjacent to the streams under consideration bear clear signs of hydrogenic accumulation of substances (carbonates, gypsum, salts) and deltaic conditions of formation (horizontal stratification, horizons buried, remnants of freshwater fauna). Conclusions. The concentration of pollutants increases with the approach of the tributaries of the Southern Bug River and the relief formed by them to their base of erosion. Excess concentrations of alkaline hydrolyzed nitrogen, as well as phosphorus and potassium compounds at the sampling points indicate a high level of intensity of the farming system, in which the use of agrochemicals is given priority. However, long-term ingress of these compounds into the water body will accelerate the process of eutrophication in the near future. The loss of humus in the soils of agricultural lands adjacent to the rivers Sob, Dokhna, Ustya was revealed. In general, the geosystem of the Southern Bug River suffers from a complex anthropogenic impact, the main source of which is agricultural production.

СУЧАСНА ГІДРОГРАФІЧНА ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКА СТАВКІВ В УКРАЇНІ – РЕГІОНАЛЬНІ І БАСЕЙНОВІ АСПЕКТИ

The aim of the study described in the article is to establish the total number of ponds in Ukraine and to analyze the territorial patterns of their distribution in administrative areas, as well as in river basin areas (Dnieper, Dniester, Danube, Southern Bug, Don, Vistula, Crimea rivers, rivers of the Black Sea and rivers of the Azov region), as the main hydrographic units of water management. For the study, cadastral information was used on the ponds of the regional offices of the State Agency for Water Resources of Ukraine as of 2019. It was established that out of the total number of 50793 ponds in Ukraine, many ponds are located in Vinnitsa (10.5%), Dnepropetrovsk (6.5%) and Kiev (6.3%) regions. In river basin districts – 48.5% of ponds are concentrated in the river basin. Dnieper; 19.6% – in the area of the river basin Southern Bug). According to our research, the vast majority of ponds in Ukraine are very small (up to 2 ha) and small (from 2 to 10 ha) by water surface area. In certain regions of the country, their total share is from 75.1 to 92.6% of the total number of ponds. The proportion of medium-sized ponds (with an area of 10–25 ha) varies from 6.2 to 16.2% in certain regions. Large (with an area of 25-50 ha) and very large ponds (over 50 ha) account for a total of 1.7 to 8.4% of the total number of ponds in certain regions. By the volume of accumulated water, the vast majority of ponds in Ukraine are very small (up to 10 thousand m3) and small (10 to 50 thousand m3). The total share of these two categories ranges from 41.9 – 56.1% in the southern regions to 53.1 – 73.2% – in the northern. The share of ponds average in volume (from 50 to 200 thousand m3) in individual regions ranges from 19.1 to 39.2%. From 7.3 – 11.6% in the northern regions to 12.2 – 20.2% – in the southern regions the total proportion of large (volume from 200 to 500 thousand M3) and very large (from 500 thousand m3 in 1,0 million m3) ponds. As of 01.01. 2019 in Ukraine 71.7% were owned by territorial communities, 28% were leased out. Most ponds for rent in the Transcarpathian region – 100%. In Rivne region, 55% of ponds are leased, 54% in Cherkasy, and 50% in Volyn. Least of all – in Kherson (2%) and Chernihiv (7%) regions. In order to identify the real state of ponds (both quantitative and qualitative), their recreational role, environmental impact and regulation of the hydrographic network in Ukraine, it is necessary to increase attention to comprehensive monitoring of ponds.

Plastic of the Solid Domestic Waste on the Coastal Zone of the Northwestern Part of the Black Sea as a Component of Marine Littre

Purpose. The goal of the study is estimation the scale of the plastic waste’s area in the coastal zone of the Northwestern part of the Black Sea and their role of the of polution formation. Methods. The base of methods is system analyses. Results. The annual volume of solid waste in the North-Western Black Sea region can reach 2.5 million tons per year, and the volume of plastic littre - up to 323 thousand tons per year. In spite of of plastic littre as the resource, at present there is no definite system for handling them, and under these conditions they are disposed of at numerous dumps (including unauthorized ones) of solid household waste. A significant part of plastic (up to 80%) from unorganized landfills and from the other coastal pollution sources is carried out by air and water flows in the water area of the Northwestern part of the Black Sea. Approximatly 83% of marine littre in the Black Sea is plastic. In turn, the presence of marine littre links with the imperfection of the solid waste management system. The dominant way of manage is remains their removal and disposal in landfills. As of 2019, in the Odessa region there were 528 landfills, in the Nikolaev region - 267, in the Kherson region - 54. Almost 17% of landfills in the Odessa region and 26% in the Nikolaev region do not comply according to environmental hazard standards. Significant part of the plastic littre, first of all from unauthorized of the solid waste dumps, is carried by air flows into the river network, and if they are close to the beach area, directly into the Black Sea. Plastic littre is carried out from the catchment areas of the large rivers (Danube, Dniester, Southern Bug and Dnieper), as well as water intakes of numerous medium and small rivers. Almost the whole beach area of the Northwestern part of the Black Sea is actively used for recreational purposes and, therefore, is a source of beach waste. In addition, the coastal sources of garbage can be settlements, marine complexes and agricultural lands located along the coastal line. An insignificant share of plastic littre is generated within the sea area (from shipping, fishing, etc.). Conclusions. The main component of marine littre is plastic, as it accounts for 83% of marine littre founded in the Black Sea. Macroplastics can be subject to long-term movement by the sea currents, winds, waves and poses a direct threat to the marine ecosystem. Directions of movement of marine littre depends on the processes of general circulation in the surface layer (0-500 m) of the Black Sea. The processes of biodegradation of macroplastic are hindered in the marine environment, and therefore its transformation is limited by the processes of destruction and dispersion in micro- and nanoparticles. Taking into consideration the environmental hazard of microplastics, it is advisable to create a system for monitoring in the marine environment. To improve the environmental situation in the coastal zone of the Northwestern part of the Black Sea, it is necessary to significantly increase the volume of recycled plastic littre, as well as to eliminate numerous landfills for solid household waste that do not accord to environmental safety requirements.

Current issues of search of gold placers in the south of Ukraine

The main gold ore territory of Ukraine is Ukrainian shield, mainly its central and eastern parts. Currently, the potential of Ukrainian shield is estimated at 2.4 thousand tons of gold. Gold ore deposits are insufficiently studied and not brought to development. The same can be said about the development of gold placers. But in the case of shallow deposits its study and development may be economically justified, it does not require large capital investments and allows to recoup costs in a short time. This is especially true given the extremely favorable situation on the world gold market in recent years. Erosion and denudation of native deposits certainly led to the formation of deposits of native placer gold in the sedimentary cover on the territory of the Ukrainian shield and its slopes. Significant amounts of geological information on the widespread distribution of placer gold in loose sediments, in the modern basins of the Dnieper, Southern Bug, Don, Black and Azov Sea shelf, have been accumulated. This corresponds to the location of indigenous sources of gold and the general direction of unloading of river systems. Previous geological studies in this area have revealed numerous manifestations of placer gold of various scales, but no industrial facilities have been recorded. Placer gold in the south of Ukraine is characterized by a high mass fraction of gold of small and thin size classes and significantly aleurite-clay composition of gold-bearing deposits. Such characteristics complicate the geological search and real assessment of gold-bearing objects and, provided that standard sampling and processing methods are used in geological works, lead to underestimation of the real gold content. Studies conducted on the most studied placer sites convincingly show that gold is lost when washing samples, even under careful control. And this is a typical situation for many objects (not only Ukrainian), which were studied using the standard method of extracting free gold by gravity. That is why there are reasonable doubts about the reliability and quality of the current assessment of placer gold deposits. In our opinion, the prospects for the search for loose gold on the Ukrainian shield and its slopes are significantly underestimated. The presence of indigenous sources with great resource potential and at the same time numerous known manifestations of different ages and scales of placer gold clearly indicate the possibility of the formation of placers with industrial characteristics in the sedimentary stratum of southern Ukraine. The use of modern technologies for the gold enrichment and extraction, high-precision analytical research and the favorable state of the world gold market force to urgently review the results of previous geological work. The problem of conducting new comprehensive research aimed at auditing the accumulated data, identifying, and studying of placer deposits namely with gold of small and thin size classes is becoming urgent. The result of such work should be the discovery and industrial development of gold placers, which can be the basis of gold production in Ukraine.