Numeric syntaxonomical analysis of communities of the Molinia caerulea complex in Southwestern of Ukraine

The aims of the paper are: i) to establish the coenotic affinity of each species of the Molinia caerulea complex in the southwest of Ukraine, ii) to present the results of a comparative analysis of the syntaxa in which include Molinia, iii) to explain possible reasons for the expansion of Molinia caerulea in the studied area. The study area ranges from the basins of the Upper Prut River to the Upper Siret River in Ukraine. To determine the coenotical affinity of the studied species, 134 relevés were analysed. The data analysis was carried out using the Modified TWINSPAN algorithm provided by the JUICE software. Ecological features of the communities were analyzed by means of a DCA-ordination and phytoindication assessment. It was revealed that in the studied region the species of the Molinia caerulea complex are characterized by a relatively wide coenotic and ecological range and that they can be attributed to different communities of 4 vegetation classes: Molinio-Arrhenatheretea (Polygono bistortae-Trisetion flavescentis, Molinion cearuleae, Arrhenatherion elatioris alliances), Festuco-Brometea (Bromion erecti alliance), Mulgedio-Aconitetea (Calamagrostion villosae alliance), Oxycocco-Sphagnetea (Sphagnion magellanici alliance). This paper presents the results of the floristic composition analyses outlines some ecological peculiarities and discusses the conservational values of the identified syntaxa.

Distribution of Pedicularis exaltata Besser (Orobanchceae Vent.) in Chyvchyny-Hryniava Mountains (Ukrainian Carpathians)

New information on the distribution of one of the rarest species of flora of Ukraine – Pedicularis exaltata Besser in the Chyvchyny-Hryniava Mountains (Ukrainian Carpathians) is presented. The trend of reducing a number of locations is confirmed and the need for active protection measures is noted

Distribution of species of Thymus L. (Lamiaceae) genus on the territory of Chernivtsi region (Ukraine)

The study of plant species distribution using the grid mapping method is an important information source in the modern period of development of floristics, phytogeography and phytosozology. This method appears highly perspective for distribution mapping of taxonomically difficult plant groups to which Thymus L. (Lamiaceae Martinov) genus belongs. The details of distribution of five Thymus species on the territory of Chernivtsi region are determined, mapped and analyzed. Each species is characterized by its distribution within the main natural-geographic areas of the region, list of the examined herbarium specimens, schematic grid distribution map, and additional notes regarding its general range and ecological features. The majority of cited localities of thyme species are based on the herbarium specimens collected during the last century. Thus, the present study might become a precondition of new expeditions intended to confirm the old chorological data and detect previously unknown localities of the studied species in Chernivtsi region

Cirsium heterophyllum (L.) Hill (Asteraceae) In the Carpathian mountains of Ukraine

Coenotic peculiarities of the Cirsium heterophyllum (L.) Hill. population found in the Carpathian Mountains of Ukraine have been presented. The community of C. heterophyllum is located within the National Nature Park “Verkhovynskyi” on Mt. Gnetesa and occupies an area of about 40 sq. meters. It is distributed on the slope of south-eastern exposition with inclination of 15° and located on the altitude of 1,600 m above sea level. Total cover of community is 100 %, C. heterophyllum is dominant and its cover is 90–95 %. There are 19 species growing in the studied community. The community with participation of the C. heterophyllum occupies a small area, borders with coenosis of the Hyperico alpigeni-Calamagrostietum villosae Pawł. et Wal. 1949 association of the Calamagrostion villosae Pawł. 1928 alliance, Calamagrostietalia villosae Pawł. 1928 order, Mulgedio-Aconitetea Hadač et Klika in Klika and Hadač 1944 class and is distributed along the upper border of the forest. At present, this is the only known habitat of this species in the Carpathian Mountains of Ukraine. The revealed population of C. heterophyllum belongs to the category of small isolated populations. Thus, the constant monitoring of its state and, possibly, active protective measures are required in case of negative dynamic tendencies caused by demutational changes in a vegetative cover at the habitat

Association of Brachypodio pinnati-Molinietum arundinaceae Klika 1939 on the territory of Pidokruh tract (Bukovinian Precarpathia)

The article presents data on floristic composition, coenotical structure, syntaxonomic position, and sozological features of grass-mixed meadow-steppe complexes with high floristic richness on the territory of Pidokruh area (Bukovinian Precarpathia). They belong to the Brachypodio pinnati-Molinietum arundinaceae Klika 1939 association of the Festuco-Brometea Br.-Bl. et Tx. ex Soу 1947 class. It was revealed 146 species of higher vascular plants in the species-rich communities of the association. 4 of them are included in the current edition of the Red Data Book of Ukraine. These are Gymnadenia conopsea (L.) R. Br., Lilium martagon L., Pulsatilla grandis Wender, and Chamaecytisus albus (Hacq.) Rothm. Some species on this territory need protection at the regional level, for example Aster amellus L., Crepis praemorsa (L.) Tausch and Ferulago sylvatica (Besser) Rchb. According to the data received by synphytoindication method using of unified phytoindication scales, the association communities are formed in the submesophytic (Hd – 10.40), hemihydrocontrastophilic (fH – 6.36), neutrophilic (Rc – 8.36), semieutrophic (Sl – 7.67), hemicarbonatophilic (Ca – 8.27) and heminitrophilic (Nt – 5.04) conditions. These communities need a preservation with the approp­riate regime of management (regular cutting). They belong to the Natura 2000 settlements, in particular 6210 “Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calca­reous substrates (* important orchid sites). Some small fragments of the described communities are protected on the territory of “Malyovanka” botanical reserve of local value. It is necessary to expand the area of the existing object by incorpora­ting the nearest meadow complexes and establishing the status of national significance for the “Malyovanka” botanical reserve

Chorological, ecological and coenotic characteristics of symphyotrichum Ciliatum (Lindl.) Nesom (Asteraceae) in the Bukovinian Cis-Carpatian

The results of study on distribution, ecological and coenotic characteristics of alien species Symphyotrichum ciliatum (Lindl.) Nesom (Asteraceae) in the Bukovinian Cis-Carpathian (Chernivtsi Region, Ukraine) are presented. Five associations of synanthropic vegetation species were found in the region namely: Eragrostio-Amaranthetum albi Morariu 1943, class Digitario sanguinalis-Eragrostietea minoris Mucina, Lososová et Šilc in Mucina et al. 2016, Lolio-Plantaginetum majoris (Linkola 1921) Beger and Polygonetum arenastri Gams 1927, class Polygono-Poеtea annuae Rivas-Mart. 1975, Odontito-Ambrosietum artemisiifoliae Mucina 1993 and Convolvulo-Agropyretum repentis Felföldy 1943, class Artemisietea vulgaris Lohmeyer et al. in Tx. ex von Rochow 1951. These species are noted in the anthropogenic ecotopes and in habitat of Nature 2000. The indices of main edaphic and climatic factors for the species were determined for the first time. According to the main climatic indices, such as thermoregulation, ombrorezhime and criorezhime, S. ciliatum is characterized by stenotopic amplitude and belongs to submezoterms, subaridophytes and hemicriophytes, etc. S. ciliatum in the region is characterized as potential invasive species

Impatiens glandulifera (Balsaminaceae) in Ukraine: its current distribution, ecological and coenotic features

Data on the spontaneous distribution (529 sites) of Impatiens glandulifera in the territory of Ukraine have been collected and studied comprehensively. I. glandulifera invades plant communities of the Phragmito-Magnocaricetea class (1 alliance), Salicetea purpureae (1 association), Alnetea glutinosae (1 association), Robinietea (2 associations), and Epilobietea angustifolii (2 associations). The species phytoindicative assessment, which considered 12 ecological factors, revealed that in its secondary distribution range I. glandulifera shows charactericstics of a stenotopic hygromesophyte, subacidophile and is a semi-eutrophic species. In the studied areas, the environmental niche of I. glandulifera is limited mainly by soil water response (Hd) and saline (Sl) regimes, and soil carbonate content. A thermal regime (Tm) response of the species to an increase in the average annual air temperature by 1, 2, and 30С has been predicted. A temperature increase of 20С could, lead to a critical shift in the values of soil acidity (Rc) and salinity regimes (Sl) that might cause a decline of the species’ potential niches in the studied area. The obtained data have the potential to be useful in limiting the spread of I. glandulifera into new territories and reducing its transforming effect in plant communities of river valley corridors

The dynamics of the taxonomic composition of the alien fraction of the urban flora in the Kyiv urban area, Ukraine

This article presents the results of an investigation into the recent taxonomic composition of the alien fraction of the urban flora in the Kyiv urban area (KUA). Its main dynamic tendencies over the last 20 years have been highlighted, along with the most probable phytoinvasive threats. The obtained linear regression equation allowed forecasting for the growth in the abundance of alien plant species against the background of the enlargement of the Kyiv urban area (r=0.53) and its human population numbers (r=0.87). The alien fraction of the urban flora of the KUA contains 717 taxa of vascular plants (668 species, 41 subspecies, 6 varieties, 1 form and 1 nothoform). In the past 20 years, the number of species of the urban flora of the KUA has increased by at least 166 alien taxa, some of which are representatives of new genera, families, and orders for our flora. This enrichment of the taxonomic structure of the alien fraction in the urban flora of the KUA has caused changes in the ratio of life forms, ecotypes, invasiveness of species, and other features. We specified probable invasive threats, conditioned by the formation of the group of new woody species, hydrophytes capable of rapidly accumulating their phytomass, some genera complexes involving alien and local species, which are inclined to hybridization

Growth drivers of monumental wild service tree (Sorbus torminalis) out of its natural range in Kyiv, Ukraine

Wild service tree (Sorbus torminalis) is a rare, endangered, relict species, that is protected by law in many European countries. Outside the species distribution range, the trees are usually planted in botanical gardens, parks, arboretums, and at the roadside. Such old introduced trees are an important source of knowledge about species’ acclimation process and current growth-limiting factors in the new environment. In Kyiv, the oldest live S. torminalis trees have been planted in botanical gardens and arboretums after the 1950s. In addition, some trees of this species are preserved in front of the historical building Liberman’s mansion, but the year of their planting remains unknown. Regarding dendroclimatological investigations of this species are scarce and have been provided only in Central European forests, a detailed analysis of the species growth-to-climate relationships should be performed not only the species’ natural range but also in its secondary ranges. In this article, we studied three S. torminalis trees in a historical place in Kyiv to determine their age and evaluate environmental conditions driving the growth of this rare species out of its natural range in Kyiv. To reach our goal we used the dendrochronological approaches, i.e. tree-ring dating, partial correlation analysis using stationary and moving time windows. Our results showed that S. torminalis trees were planted after the last building owner S. Liberman’s death (1917). The studied trees are the oldest of known alive S. torminalis trees in Kyiv. Dendroclimatological results revealed S. torminalis is sensitive to higher air temperature and moisture excess in the period of wood formation in Kyiv. S. torminalis trees at 2 Bankova Street are the oldest species examples in Kyiv and have important historical, cultural, and scientific values. S. torminalis species could be widely used in urban forestry, particularly in regions with projected soil moisture shortening