Tree Species Biodiversity in Small Ukrainian Towns

Abstract

Biodiversity is one of the important indicators of ecosystem sustainability, which is less studied in relation to urban areas, particularly Ukraine, and even more so in small towns. Taking the example of three small Ukrainian towns, the biodiversity of tree species is compared in the article. The studied small towns are located in two geographic zones, mixed forests (Polissya) and forest-steppe, and administratively, in Chernihiv and Kyiv regions. An inventory of trees in the residential area of Ukrainka, in the central streets of Novhorod-Siverskyi, as well as in the central part and all streets of Vyshhorod was conducted. Thus, the species richness of trees both between the studied towns and between its central part and the whole territory of the town was compared. The species structure of tree plantings in terms of richness, diversity, dominance, alignment, and similarity was assessed. The obtained results were subjected to cluster and correlation analysis. It was found that the greatest diversity is characteristic for the dendroflora of the whole territory of Vyshhorod, which is the fastest growing town, located closest to the capital. The dendrofloras of small towns were quite similar to each other. The values of similarity indices varied in a wide range: Jacquard’s index from 0.26 to 0.56 and Sørensen index from 0.41 to 0.66. The lowest degree of similarity was found with the dendroflora of the most distant Novgorod-Siverskyi town. Mainly the urban plantings require enrichment of the tree species composition, taking into account their resistance to anthropogenic impacts and climate change.

Biodiversity of Woody Plants on the Territory of the Town Hospital

“…The total number of tree species on the territory of the hospital is less than on the streets of Vyshhorod, where 35 species were found (Zibtseva, 2022). Margalef Richness Index for hospital plantings is 4.81 and it is lower than for streets plantings with Index value 5.23.…”

“…Biodiversity of woody plants in Vyshhorod town, including on the hospital territory, was described by us earlier (Zibtseva, 2021). To assess the biodiversity of tree plantations on the hospital territory, the Margalef richness index and the Shannon diversity index were calculated and compared with similar indicators for street plantations in the town (Zibtseva, 2022). The ratios of aboriginal and introduced species, critical species (according to the Santamuro ( 2002) rule 10-20-30), their age structure and the correspondence of the Richards (1983) distribution were also determined.…”

Dendroflora in spatial planning compositions of children’s squares in Vyshhorod town

“…In compositional terms, most of the green spaces in the territories of the studied landscape objects are placed randomly, without much thought for the establishment of their spatial and planning composition and require appropriate adjustment. To compare indicators of biodiversity on the territory of different objects, researchers often use the Shannon and Simpson indices [35]. However, it was determined that the Berger-Parker dominance index for sanitary protection zones of industrial enterprises in Zaporizhzhya [38] ranged from 0.21-0.78 compared to 0.14-0.28 in children's squares under study.…”

“…Field research covered six newly created children's squares in the central part of the town, which were marked by numbers: 1 -"Children's Park" on Shkilna Street; 2 -square near the Centre for Children's Creativity; 3 -square on Symonenko Street ("ABVG-deyka"); 4 -square on Shevchenko Avenue (near the city administration building); 5 -square between multi-storey residential buildings near Mazepa Street; 6 -square near Mazepa Avenue, 24. The species composition and age structure of plantings, their taxation specifications, condition and decorative nature in the context of species were determined [35]. According to preliminary studies, public green spaces in Vyshhorod are represented only by squares, in which 54 species and forms of woody and shrubby plants are identified, among which 78% are introduced species [36].…”

“…The analysis of plantings of six squares was carried out based on data from the sub-tree inventory survey of their territories conducted by the authors in previous years. Based on these data, the simplest generally accepted biodiversity indicators were determined for the green spaces of each of the squares [35], for the calculation of which only the number of identified taxa and the total number of plant individuals are estimated, and the number of plant specimens of the most numerous species: Menhinick's richness and diversity index, and Berger-Parker dominance index were used by the authors in previous studies. Cluster analysis in the Statistica 10 environment was used to process the results obtained.…”