SYNTAXONOMIC AND ECOLOGICAL DIFFERENTIATION OF WOOD AND SHRUB VEGETATION IN FLOODPLAINS OF VOLYN POLISSYA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/1998-6475.2025.59.19Keywords:
forest, floodplain vegetation, classification, ordination, distributionAbstract
The paper is dedicated to the study of floodplain forest and shrub vegetation in the Volyn Polissia region in Ukraine. This is a swampy lowland area that occupies most of the Volyn and northwestern part of the Rivne region. It is characterized by the presence of extensive swampy floodplains. It has been found that the floodplain vegetation of this region is poorly studied. Some information about this type of vegetation is presented only in the reviews. The analysis was carried out on the basis of personal geobotanical releves collected during field research in 2015-2018. In total, 182 geobotanical releves have been sampled. As a result of our study we have identified three classes, six alliances, seven associations and one community of floodplain forest and shrub vegetation. The manuscript presents the characteristics of syntaxons, ecological characteristics of habitats, and results of DCA-ordination analysis based on the obtained values of ecological factors that determine the differentiation and variability of vegetation. It was established that the main ecological factors that influence the ecological and territorial differentiation of the studied vegetation type are soil moisture, nutrient content, and the type of the soil. Our study also allowed us to characterize the distribution of plant associations, determine their diagnostic, constant and dominant species. It was established that the rarest among the studied vegetation types are alder forests of the class Alno glutinosae-Populetea albae, that occur on the river alluvium. This distribution is provoked by negative pressure of the anthropogenic transformation of habitats, excessive drainage of wetlands, regulation of rivers, plowing of floodplains, etc. As the most endangered, these forests require protection throughout the territory of Ukraine. Therefore, in places where they are found, it is necessary to create protected areas. The most typical for Volyn Polissia are alder and willow communities, which usually develop in swampy wetlands. Shrubby willow communities, which require an active floodplain regime, are also quite well represented, which indicates the relative preservation of the natural floodplains of this territory.
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