RARE PHYTOCOENOSES OF THE «YELANETSKYI STEP NATURE RESERVE»

Abstract

Due to the effects of negative factors on the phiocenoses, it is important today to protect not only individual species but also to ensure the coenotic integrity of ecosystems. The Green Paper of Ukraine (hereinafter ZKU), as a form of scientifically substantiated protection of plant communities, approves the list of rare phytocenos.  As a result of many factors that have a negative impact on vegetation, especially the anthropogenic factor is damaging for the stepic ecosystems, the problem of biodiversity conservation is emerging. But not only rare species but also phytocoenoses are to be protected. That is why for nature conservation agencies is important to have a list of rare communities that allows to monitor the vegetation changes. At the Yelanetsky Steppe Nature Reserve
phytocoenotic monitoring has been started in 1996. This article presents the results of continuing observation of the steppe vegetation in the nature reserve. A list of rare formations has already been determined for the studied area, but the list of associations has not been mentioned in the literature. Summarizing the information from the literature and using own data, the author has established that today the rare phytocoenoses of the reserve are represented by
15 associations from 6 formations included to the Green Data Book of Ukraine. The structure and floristic composition of the communities are also described, and a list of protected species for each formation is given. The associations Stipetum (capillatae) botriochloosum (ischaemi), Stipetum (capillatae) festucosum (valesiacae), Stipetum (capillatae) stiposum (lessingianae), Stipetum (lessingianae) festucosum (valesiaca) are the most common on the reserve territory.
Also was established, that Stipetum (tirsae) festucosum (valesiacae) communities are extremely rare, with only two localities recorded. It was found that the area of the Stipeta lessingianae and Stipeta capillatae communities were increased in compare with the original state. However, no syntaxa of formations Genisteta scythicae and Amygdalate nanae were detected. The species Caragana scythica and Amygdalus nana occur within the feather grass communities.