Tree diversity and condition of A.P. Chekhov Park stands in the town of Khartsyzsk (Donetsk region)

  • Ye. Suslova
  • D. Zadorozhnaya
  • L. Kharkhota
Keywords: trees, shrubs, age, viability

Abstract

A.P. Chekhov Park in the town of Khartsyzsk is one of the newest parks in the south-east of Ukraine. The total area of this park is 28,8 hectares.Our aim was to survey the health condition of the park dendroflora. This survey was conducted by a route-visual method. We analyzed ecological and biomorphological features of plants, their dendrometric parameters. Dendroflora of the investigated parklands is represented by 82 species and forms belonging to 44 genera, 24 families. Such families as Rosaceae Juss. (18 species or 22 % of the total number of the species), Salicaceae Mirb. (10 species and forms or 12 %), Aceraceae Juss. (9 species and forms or 11 %), Oleaceae Hoffmanns. et Link (8 species and forms or 10 %) were represented by the highest number of the species. Plants belonging to Aceraceae and Oleaceae families are the most numerous (each numbering 15 % of the total plant number), and also those belonging to Fabaceae (14 %). The smallest number of plant specimens belongs to the families of Juglandaceae Rich. ex Kunth, Moraceae Link, Bignoniaceae Juss., Caprifoliaceae Juss., Anacardiaceae Lindl. Woody plant species were grouped by their biomorphs that has shown the dominating number of trees (63 species and forms or 75 %). Such genera as Acer L. (7 species and 2 forms), Populus L. (5 species, 2 hybrids and 1 form), Tilia L. (4 species) were characterized by the highest species diversity. Such species as Robinia pseudoacacia L. (14,5 % of the total tree number), Fraxinus lanceolata Borkh. (12,3 %), Aesculus hippocastanum L. (6,9 %), Quercus robur L. (6,8 %), Betula pendula Roth (5,8%) were the most numerous among tree species. Sixteen tree species and five shrub species are aboriginal (the ratio of aboriginal and introduced species is 1 to 3,9). Introduced species originate from Circumboreal region (20 species or 40 % of the total), from the North Atlantic (12 species or 24 %), from East Asia (6 species or 12 %), from Mediterranean region (2 species or 4 %), from the Iranian-Turanian region and the Rocky Mountains region (1 species). Eight species originate from several floristic regions. The ecological analysis has shown an overwhelming number of mesophytes (73 %), heliophytes (58 %) and mezotrophs (69 %) among tree species; mesophytes (35 %), heliophytes (80 %) and oligotrophs (35 %) among shrubs.The age structure analysis has revealed the presence of trees aged 7 to 80. The largest age group is that of trees aged 31 to 40 (31,5 % of the total trees present). The study has shown that there are old trees of unusually large size and older than 70 years. We also registered the oak tree grove with trees aged from 40 to 80-years, Quercus robur being an aboriginal hardy species. Among shrubs there is the most numerous age group of 11- to 15-year-old, making 31 % of the total.Viability of a most trees was assessed as 6 points at a viability scale (38.3% of the total) and 7 points (27 %). As much as 2,6 % of trees are in critical condition (1–3 points) and 1,4 % is a dry wood which needs to be removed. The presence of old trees is valuable and significant in some species which in urban conditions lose their appearance at this age and almost never occur.

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Section
Biological sciences