Alien Species in the Pioneer and Ruderal Vegetation of Ukraine

Abstract

Invasions of nonnative plants are widely recognized as one of the major threats to the biodiversity of natural ecosystems on a global scale. Pioneer and ruderal habitats are the primary locations for the penetration of alien plants. Both pioneer and ruderal vegetation are very close in their genesis and beginning of development; therefore, a comparative analysis of their alien components and historical trends would contribute to clarifying the direction of successional changes and the possible management of destructive processes caused by anthropogenic influences in different types of habitats. The results of a structural and comparative analysis of the alien fractions of the coenofloras of the pioneer and ruderal vegetation of Ukraine indicated that the systematic, biomorphological, ecological, and geographical structures of these species show a high similarity, according to many of the main indicators, which allows them to successfully implement a strategy of invasion, particularly in communities characterized by instability and weak coenotic connections. It was established that the ecotopes of both types of vegetation are very favorable to the penetration and establishment of alien species; however, disturbed habitats of the ruderal type are more prone to invasions. In the communities of both pioneer and ruderal vegetation, alien species can become successfully established at the coenotic level, forming phytocoenoses of different hierarchical ranks. The results of this study will contribute to the identification of general patterns of invasions and the optimization (management) of disturbed and unstable natural ecosystems.

Classification of European oak–hornbeam forests and related vegetation types

“…Therefore, it was merged in the revised system with the alliance Querco‐Tilion , which now includes all eastern European OHFs except those from the western half of Ukraine, Crimea and the Southern Urals. An analogous approach was used in the recent Ukrainian vegetation synopsis (Dubyna et al, 2019). The Caucasian OHFs are the only exception to the geographic classification of OHFs in EVC, as the azonal mountain alliance Astrantio‐Carpinion caucasicae is distinguished within the distribution of the zonal alliance Crataego rhipidophyllae‐Carpinion caucasicae .…”

Anthropogenic changes of the vegetation in the Kilyan arm of the Danube Delta (Ukraine)

“…In the absence of vertical growth of the spit and, accordingly, due to the minimization of accumulative-abrasive processes blocked by the silts of the Sulynsky deep-sea channel, the expansion of alien species increased. Transformer species, which have a high invasive potential and can naturalize at the phytocoenotic level, through the active and intensive renewal of populations, represent a special danger (Protopopova, 1991;Protopopova et al, 2002;Dubyna et al, 2017bDubyna et al, , 2022. Results of the monitoring show that Ptashyna Spit has the biggest areas covered by adventive species -transformers (Xanthium albinum, Conyza canadensis, Centaurea diffusa, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Brachyactis ciliata).…”

Transformation of vegetation under the conditions of the impact of military actions on the natural environment in Ukraine: A review

“…Оскільки синантропізація рослинності на територіях, пошкоджених унаслідок воєнних дій, за даними Zavialova et al (2022), включає рудералізацію та адвентизацію, слід проаналізувати роль рудеральних (у тому числі інвазивних) рослин за умов хімічного забруднення середовищ існування. Для здійснення такого аналітичного дослідження вибір піонерних видів-рудерантів, поширених у флорі Украіни, зроблено згідно з публікацією (Dubyna et al, 2022), а інвазивних видів -за даними Zavialova et al (2021).…”