Bioecology and hemeroby of flora species in the Northern Steppe Dnipro Region

The information is summarized and an annotated summary of vascular plants of the flora in the Northern Steppe Dnipro Region is represented based on the materials of previous works and on our own more than 40-years research. Bioecological characteristics of the flora species within the studied region were compiled according to the Belgard ecomorph system. For the first time, the paper presented hemerobia of species for the flora in the Northern Steppe Dnipro Region. The current occurrence categories of the plant species in the studied regional flora were given, which allows us to compare changes in their abundance within a territory studied. The occurrence categories and species hemerobicity were established. Rare and endangered vascular plant species were identified using the Red Book of Dnipropetrovsk region, the Red Book of Ukraine, and the European and World Red Lists. Adventive and invasive flora species were noted. A number of vascular plant species new for the region, not previously observed, have been identified. The major families in the studied flora were: Asteraceae, Poaceae, Brassicaceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, Rosaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Scrophullariaceae, Ranunculaceae, Apiaceae, Boraginaceae. As a result of the study, the vascular plant flora in the Northern Steppe Dnipro Region was found to be characterized by significant systematic and bioecological diversity, and a high degree of rarity. It consists of 1,895 species, including 432 rare ones. At the same time, it was characterized by a fairly high degree of adventization, which indicates the modernization of the flora. A significant number of ruderal species, or species that are prone to ruderalization (619 species), and a large number of adventive species (357 species) indicates a significant anthropogenic transformation of the vegetation cover in the region. The paper presents a summary of the vascular plant flora with bioecological characteristics of the species. A detailed analysis of the flora will be presented in a further separate publication

Cities and Disturbed Areas as Man-made Shelters for Orchid Communities

Many species from the family Orchidaceae spread in anthropogenic habitats and numerous studies documenting this process are known. Unfortunately, such data are scattered throughout various papers and reports, sometimes fragmentary and hard to reach (the ‘grey literature’). Scientific elaboration on this topic still lacks a comprehensive review and summary of the scale of this phenomenon. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to gather, review and analyse such data, seeking the answer to the question whether the man-made habitats can be considered as refugee for orchids. The paper summarises data on the occurrence of orchid species in man-made habitats in Europe originating from published and unpublished sources. The particular emphasis was placed in urban habitats. For this purpose, the floristically data from 42 European cities were used. The conducted studies showed that the apohytism phenomenon in the family Orchidaceae was more widespread than had been previously reported. As a result, 70 species of orchids in the distinguished man-made habitats were found. The majority of the species grow on sand and clay pits. The most common species were Epipactis helleborine and Dactylorhiza majalis. The gathered data have confirmed that man-made habitats become refugee for many orchid species in the aftermath of the loss of their natural habitats. Thus, protection of sites transformed by man with orchid occurrence should be taken into consideration. These sites can become a source of very useful information for biogeographically and phylo-geographically analyses of many valuable and endangered species

The History of Introduction and Present Distribution of Elaeagnus angustifolia L. in the Black Sea Region of Ukraine.

Мельник, Р. П. The History of Introduction and Present Distribution of Elaeagnus angustifolia L / В. В. Протопопова, М. В. Шевера, Р. П. Мельник // Чорноморськ. бот. ж. – 2006. – Т. 2, № 2. – С. 5-14

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

Alien Species in the Pioneer and Ruderal Vegetation of Ukraine

Invasions of nonnative plants are widely recognized as one of the major threats to the biodiversity of natural ecosystems on a global scale. Pioneer and ruderal habitats are the primary locations for the penetration of alien plants. Both pioneer and ruderal vegetation are very close in their genesis and beginning of development; therefore, a comparative analysis of their alien components and historical trends would contribute to clarifying the direction of successional changes and the possible management of destructive processes caused by anthropogenic influences in different types of habitats. The results of a structural and comparative analysis of the alien fractions of the coenofloras of the pioneer and ruderal vegetation of Ukraine indicated that the systematic, biomorphological, ecological, and geographical structures of these species show a high similarity, according to many of the main indicators, which allows them to successfully implement a strategy of invasion, particularly in communities characterized by instability and weak coenotic connections. It was established that the ecotopes of both types of vegetation are very favorable to the penetration and establishment of alien species; however, disturbed habitats of the ruderal type are more prone to invasions. In the communities of both pioneer and ruderal vegetation, alien species can become successfully established at the coenotic level, forming phytocoenoses of different hierarchical ranks. The results of this study will contribute to the identification of general patterns of invasions and the optimization (management) of disturbed and unstable natural ecosystems

Alien Species in the Pioneer and Ruderal Vegetation of Ukraine

Invasions of nonnative plants are widely recognized as one of the major threats to the biodiversity of natural ecosystems on a global scale. Pioneer and ruderal habitats are the primary locations for the penetration of alien plants. Both pioneer and ruderal vegetation are very close in their genesis and beginning of development; therefore, a comparative analysis of their alien components and historical trends would contribute to clarifying the direction of successional changes and the possible management of destructive processes caused by anthropogenic influences in different types of habitats. The results of a structural and comparative analysis of the alien fractions of the coenofloras of the pioneer and ruderal vegetation of Ukraine indicated that the systematic, biomorphological, ecological, and geographical structures of these species show a high similarity, according to many of the main indicators, which allows them to successfully implement a strategy of invasion, particularly in communities characterized by instability and weak coenotic connections. It was established that the ecotopes of both types of vegetation are very favorable to the penetration and establishment of alien species; however, disturbed habitats of the ruderal type are more prone to invasions. In the communities of both pioneer and ruderal vegetation, alien species can become successfully established at the coenotic level, forming phytocoenoses of different hierarchical ranks. The results of this study will contribute to the identification of general patterns of invasions and the optimization (management) of disturbed and unstable natural ecosystems