Rare plant diversity of the econet of steppe zone of Ukraine: representation and analysis

  • D. Dubyna
  • P. Ustymenko
  • L. Vakarenko
Keywords: steppe zone, econet, rare plant species diversity, rare plant community diversity

Abstract

creation of econet for the steppe zone of Ukraine is urgent and immediate environment protection due to its geographical location and extraordinary transformation of its ecosystems. It units to single integrated system reserve fund in this region, fragmented remnants of natural vegetation, makes conservation of storage biotic and landscape diversity, rare plant fund, ensures restoration of degraded vegetation plots and repatriation of lost species of plants and animals.The aim of the research is to elucidate rare plant species and plant communities of vegetation representation in the econet listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine (2009) and Green Data Book of Ukraine (2009) and make their sozological analysis. The research is based on generalized critical factual material by authors and literatural data. Research has been conducted by traditional field and cameral geobotanic methods.It has been established 162 vascular plants species from the Red Data Book of Ukraine are present in the econet of the steppe zone elements. Life forms analysis of the distribution of rare plant species in the econet of the steppe zone elements is similar to the one in the whole steppe zone. Hemicryptophyts (69 species) are dominated. It has been found predominant families are Fabaceae, Poaceae i Orchidaceae, which comprise 17, 18, 14 species respectively. Spectral analysis of zonal chorological groups of rare species has shown the prevalence of temperant-submeridional type (80 species). The distribution of regional chorological groups has shown the predominance of european (52 species),Black Seacoast (45) and Eurasian (21) types. Ecological analysis has shown the predominance of xerophytes (56 species).It has been established rare plant communities diversity of econet of the steppe zone includes 312 associations and 47 formations. Among the types rare steppe vegetation are dominated. It has 155 rare association. Plant communities of 15 rare associations are characterized by a unique associacion type of dominant species, 130 ones – rare type, 167 – usual. It has been found 208 associations formed by various layers dominant species from the Red Data Book of Ukraine, 41 – from IUCN Red List, 54 – from European Red List.The comparative analysis of taxonomical, ecological and geographical structure of elements of econet of the steppe zone rare plant species has shown their close resemblance to this analysis in the whole region. Rare plant communities have been marked by rare and usual associacion types of dominant species, the narrow spread with low concentration in places of the distribution (mostly within forest and steppe communities), inactive character of changes in the current range of soil and climatic conditions, poor or very poor natural regeneration. 

References

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Section
Biological sciences