Based on the analysis of more than 17,000 vegetation plots (relevés), the participation of 261 protected species (254 vascular plants, six lichens, and one bryophyte) in 30 EUNIS grassland habitat types was revealed. Vegetation plots were assigned to the habitat types using the EUNIS-ESy expert system with further verification. We consider as protected species those listed in the current edition of the Red Data Book of Ukraine, Resolution 6 of the Bern Convention, Annexes II and IV of the Habitat Directive, and the IUCN Red List (only categories VU, EN, CR). The participation of protected species was studied according to the following three criteria: (1) the total number of protected species in the plots assigned to a certain habitat type, (2) the number of plots in which at least one protected species is present, and (3) the mean number of protected species per plots within each habitat type. True steppes (R1B) and meadow steppes (R1A) differed with a significant predominance of the total number of protected species. Arctic alpine calcareous grassland (R44) and Continental dry rocky steppic grassland and dwarf scrub on chalk outcrops (R15) had the largest proportion of plots with protected species and the highest mean numbers of protected species per relevé. Saline habitats, in particular Temperate inland salt marsh (R63) and Semi desert salt pan (R64), were characterized by the smallest number of plots with protected species. Among all species, Gymnadenia conopsea, Stipa capillata, Colchicum autumnale and Gladiolus imbricatus occurred in the largest number of studied habitat types. Based on the results of the analysis, appropriate ways of optimizing the protection of grassland habitats and protected species are proposed.

The 15th EDGG Field Workshop took place from 24 May to 3 June 2021 in Southern Ukraine (Kherson and Mykolaiv administrative regions). Over 10 days, we sampled different types of grasslands, mainly focusing on dry grasslands of the classes Festuco-Brometea, Koelerio-Corynephoretea canescentis, and Festuco-Puccinellietea (steppic, sandy and saline, respectively) but also taking into account other open habitats, such as mesic grasslands and dunes. In total, we sampled 50 nested-plot series with 7-8 grain sizes from 1 cm2 to 100 m2 and, in some cases, up to 1000 m2 ("EDGG Biodiversity Plots"), plus 74 additional normal plots of 10 m2 . We comprehensively sampled vascular plants as well as terricolous bryophytes and lichens, and, for the first time also Sciaridae (Diptera, Insecta). One vascular plant species (Torilis pseudonodosa), as well as two lichen species (Cladonia conista and Endocarpon loscosii), were recorded for the first time from Ukraine. Two species of moss (Rhynchostegium megapolitanum and Ptychostomum torquescens) and three species of lichen (Cladonia cervicornis, C. symphycarpa, and Involucropyrenium breussi) were reported for the first time for the Kherson region. We summarize the scale-dependent richness values and compare them with those from other studies. The report concludes with a photo diary with impressions from the Field Workshop.

The article provides distribution patterns of natural vegetation depending on topological conditions and outlines the main directions of its anthropogenic transformation. The boundaries as well as botanical and geographical features of the studied district are specified. The syntaxonomic classification of plant communities is presented. The combinative ecological and coenotic profile was created showing distribution patterns of the main plant communities in relation to changes in the indicator values of ecological factors. Three types of mesocombinations are distinguished: forest, grassland (meadow) and swamp-flood ones. Averaged (relevant) indicator values were calculated based on environmental conditions. It has been established that the forest range is characterized by the indicators close to the background ones, which indicate a high stabilizing role of forest ecosystems. Correlative dependence between changes in indicators of certain factors was found, that enables to predict possible cause-and-effect changes. Under current trends of anthropogenic and climatic changes, a decrease in the humidity regime along with raise in soil pH can be expected in the future, while increase in seasonal changes in moisture will accelerate processes of nitrification and soil mineralization. Some habitats within the district are under significant negative effect of invasive species, e.g. the territory between the Lomnytsia River and Kolomyia town is classified as the one under the highest degree of threats due to huge, probably largest in Ukraine, areas of Heracleum sosnowskyi, Erigeron annuus, Solidago canadensis and Rudbeckia laciniata. In the future, this region may undergo substantial transformation and a special attention is required to protect its biodiversity.

This paper presents two sampling-event datasets with occurrences of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens collected in May-June 2021 in southern Ukraine. We aimed to collect high-quality biodiversity data in an understudied region and contribute it to international databases and networks. The study was carried out during the 15th Eurasian Dry Grassland Group (EDGG) Field Workshop in southern Ukraine and the Dark Diversity Network (DarkDivNet) sampling in the Kamianska Sich National Nature Park. By chance, these datasets were collected shortly before the major escalation of the Russian invasion in Ukraine. Surveyed areas in Kherson and Mykolaiv Regions, including established monitoring plots, were severely affected by military actions in 2022. Therefore, collected data are of significant value in the context of biodiversity documentation. The knowledge about the biodiversity of this area will help to assess the environmental impact of the war and plan restoration of the damaged or destroyed habitats. The first preliminary analysis of collected data demonstrates the biodiversity richness and conservation value of studied grassland habitats. We provide sampling-event datasets with 7467 occurrences, which represent 708 taxa (vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens) collected in 275 vegetation relevés. Amongst them, vascular plants are represented by 6665 occurrences (610 taxa), lichens - 420 (46) and bryophytes - 381 (51). Several new species were reported for the first time at the national or regional level. In particular, one vascular plant species (Torilis pseudonodosa) and two lichen species (Cladonia conista, Endocarpon loscosii) were new to Ukraine. One vascular plant (Stipa tirsa), two species of bryophytes (Rhynchostegium megapolitanum, Ptychostomum torquescens) and three species of lichens (Cladonia cervicornis, C. symphycarpa, Involucropyrenium breussi) were recorded for the first time for the Kherson Region. Additionally, these datasets contain occurrences of taxa with narrow distribution, specialists of rare habitat types and, therefore, represented by a low number of occurrences in relevant biodiversity databases and particularly in GBIF. This publication highlights the diversity of natural vegetation and its flora in southern Ukraine and raises conservation concerns.