The Alien Fraction of the Woody Flora of Yelanetskyi Step Nature Reserve, Southern Ukraine

Abstract

Results of investigations on the patterns of distribution and dispersal of alien species of trees and shrubs in the territory of a steppe protected area, Yelanetskyi Step Nature Reserve (Mykolaiv Region, southern Ukraine), are presented. We registered within this protected area 10 alien woody species. For the most widespread ones (Ulmus pumila L., Gleditsia triacanthos L., Elaeagnus angustifolia L., Robinia pseudoacacia L.), we carried out ecological analyses. In order to establish the scope of impact of ecological factors upon these species, their specificity, and interdependence between ecological factors, the phytoindication method was applied (Didukh, 2012). The results of our analysis conducted on 12 main ecological factors (as outlined by Didukh, 2011), such as soil water regime (Hd), variability of damping (Fh), soil aeration (Ae), soil acidity (Rc), nitrogen content (Nt), salt regime (Sl), carbonate content in soil (Ca), thermoregime (Tm), climate humidity (Om), continentality (Kn), cryoregime (Cr), and light intensity (Lc), show that dispersal of model alien species does not have ecological limitation. However, E.angustifolia and R.pseudoacacia have the strongest capacity to penetrate the steppe communities, especially disturbed ones. Further dispersal of these alien species in the studied area and adjacent territories is hampered only by the integrity of the structure of steppe communities.

Assessment of Parectopa robiniella Clemens (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) Effect on Biochemical Parameters of Robinia pseudoacacia Under Conditions of an Industrial City in Steppe Ukraine

“…Due to the active introduction into various types of ecosystems in many countries of the world, it is recognized as an invasive species having a high rate of adventivity (Rumlerová et al, 2016;Vítková et al, 2017;Wagner et al, 2017;Nicolescu et al, 2020;Vitková et al, 2020). The effect of R. pseudoacacia plantations on the decrease in the species diversity of forest and steppe vegetation has already been confirmed for a number of countries in Central Europe (Konaikova, Vakarenko, 2020;Montecchiari et al, 2020;Lukovičová et al, 2021). On the territory of Europe, a shift of its potential climatic niches towards the east was predicted under the conditions of climate change, with their reduction in Southern Europe and expansion in Central and North-Eastern Europe (Puchałka et al, 2021), where an increase in its invasive activity is possi-ble in the future.…”

Alien Plants are Less Palatable to Pest Herbivores than Native Plants: Evidence from Cafeteria Experiments in Search of Suitable Plant Species to Restore Degraded Ecosystems

“…Nowadays, the ecology and evolutionary potential of alien species are of interest to several environmental managers, and the effects of biological invasions on native communities and ecosystems are a major priority in ecology (Wardle et al, 2011;Simberloff et al, 2012;Baranová et al, 2017). Due to their faster growth, several studies use alien species to restore areas that have been heavily degraded (Ewel, Putz, 2004;Konaikova, Vakarenko, 2020). Many studies show that several herbivores were found to use alien plants, but their impact was small on alien than on native plants.…”