Distribution of Iris pineticola Klokov in Ukraine

According to our own observations, herbarium materials and literature data, the distribution of Iris pineti- cola Klokov — an endemic forest-steppe species included in the Red Data Book of Ukraine in the status of “vulnerable” was analyzed. Data on its taxonomic status are given, distribution map is made (geographical coordinates are restored on the basis of materials of the National Herbarium of Ukraine (KW), herbarium of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University (CWU), as well as literature data), range and population data are analyzed. It is established that I. pineticola is distributed in the Right-Bank and Left-Bank Forest-Steppe, occasionally entering the north part of the steppe and the valley of the Siversky Donets. Grows in forests, artificial pine plantations on sandy terraces of rivers. According to own data and analyzed literature, I. pineticola populations are stable. In addition to inclusion in the Red Data Book of Ukraine, at the regional level I. pineticola is protected in Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, also protected in the territories of NPP “Holy Mountains” and landscape reserve of national importance “Red Coast”.

Long-term ecology and conservation of the Kungur forest-steppe (pre-Urals, Russia): case study Spasskaya Gora

The Kungur forest-steppe is the northernmost outpost of European forest-steppe, located in the western pre-Urals within the boreal climatic zone. The co-existence of boreal, nemoral and steppe species with relicts and endemics results in a high plant diversity, making it an important biodiversity hotspot. Under current climate change and strong agricultural impacts, the Kungur forest-steppe is rapidly degrading. In order to develop sustainable management strategies, we studied the vegetation history over the last 3500 years in the natural reserve area Spasskaya Gora. Palynological data indicate that the territory of Spasskaya Gora was largely covered by hemiboreal forests with high proportion of elm during the late Holocene. An opening of the vegetation strongly correlates with erosion, both indicating anthropogenic activities such as lumbering, agriculture, grazing and hay making. The modern Pinus and Betula dominated forests combined with large areas dominated by grasses and herbs appear in the last 300 years and caused by human activity. The data support the ‘anthropogenic’ hypothesis of the Kungur forest-steppe development, suggesting that Pleistocene steppe was replaced by hemiboreal forests during the Holocene. Steppe elements survived on exposed rocks. The recent forest-steppe landscapes dominated by pioneer birch and poplar were formed due to anthropogenic deforestation. With respect to nature conservation, our data demonstrate that prohibition of any anthropogenic activities at Spasskaya Gora will lead to loss of diversity of steppe assemblages over the mid-term. We emphasize that conservation of the high plant diversity of the Kungur forest-steppe must include disturbance factors in the form of selective lumbering, prescribed burning, moderate grazing or traditional mowing.

Social actors’ perceptions of wildlife: Insights for the conservation of species in Mediterranean protected areas

In the current Anthropocene Era, with numerous escalating challenges for biodiversity conservation, the inclusion of the social dimension into management decisions regarding wildlife and protected areas is critical to their success. By conducting 354 questionnaires in a Mediterranean protected area (the Biosphere Reserve of Bardenas Reales, Northern Spain), we aim to determine sociodemographic factors influencing knowledge levels and perceptions of species and functional groups as, emblematic and threatened. We found that hunters and animal husbandry workers knew more species than other social actors. Additionally, the perception of functional groups as threatened or emblematic differed between social actor groups, with statistically significant associations between perceptions and the characteristics of respondents. Interestingly, we found that although elusive steppe species are globally considered as endangered, these species were the least known by all social actor groups and rarely perceived as emblematic. This research is a novel approach and provides a better understanding of how perceptions can facilitate conservation decisions, particularly regarding endangered species Graphic abstract

Urban mammal fauna under conditions of a large city (on the example of Ulyanovsk, Middle Volga Region)

In this work, the topographic features of the spatial pattern of biodiversity of the urban fauna in general in the city are revealed: the number of urban fauna species has a maximum in the southern part of the city and a minimum in the western part. The mammal fauna as a component of urban fauna in general exhibits greater plasticity and adaptability in relation to humans compared to other groups of biota, for example, the insect fauna and avifauna. The urban mammal fauna in Ulyanovsk has historically formed due to the penetration of representatives of various faunal complexes that inhabit the region into the city area and its vicinities: (1) floodplain species associated with the river Sviyaga and its tributaries, 36.17%; (2) forest species living in pine-deciduous, deciduous-pine, and taiga forests, 46.81%; (3) upland-steppe species associated with Cretaceous landscapes of the right bank, 6.38%; (4) steppe species, including mammals of the left bank, common for the native feather grass–fescue steppes, 6.38%. Some animal species have remained in the city and in the region due to their spread by humans—introduced species and species kept in fur farms (10.64%). Synanthropic species are associated with human settlements (4.26%). The occurrence of species in different zones of the city (right bank and left bank) and habitats with an increase in the level of urbanization and a decrease in species diversity (1–5) are as follows: (1) green zones—parks and squares with woody vegetation, 31 species; (2) floodplain of the river Sviyaga within the city, 24 species; (3) summer cottages within the city, 15 species; (4) private sector with one-storey buildings, 5 species; (5) multi-storey buildings, 4 species. In general, in an urban environment, mammal species that coexist with humans make up 66.19 % of the total number of mammal species in the region. At the same time, the number of rare mammal species listed in the regional Red Book is 12.68%. Thus, when conservation measures for the protection of animal habitats within the urban environment are observed, most species are able to maintain stable populations.

NEW FINDINGS OF STEPPE SPECIES OF CRICKETS OECANTHUS PELLUCENS (SCOPOLI, 1763) AND MODICOGRYLLUS FRONTALIS (FIEBER, 1844) (ORTHOPTERA, ENSIFERA, GRYLLIDAE) IN BELARUS

The data on new for Belarus finds of the steppe species of crickets Oecanthus pellucens (Scopoli, 1763) and Modicogryllus frontalis (Fieber, 1844) is given. The material was collected in August 2019, May and July 2020 in the Bragin district of the Gomel region. Brief information on the current distribution, as well as the characteristics of biology and ecology of each species, is presented.

Influence of anthropogenic factors on the ecology of Melanocorypha calandra and Alauda arvensis in depressions of Dnipro — Molochna

The research was carried out for 3 years in the steppe biotopes of the bottoms of the Ahaymany, Barnashivsky, Green, Big Chapelsk, and Small Chapelsk depressions of the Dnipro — Molochna interfluve. Based on visual inspection and processing of space images, the degree of anthropogenic transformation of these ecosystems is analyzed. The highest percentage of plowing is characteristic of the Ahaymany depression, which occurred in the last 10 years. Among the factors that significantly affect the nesting birds of the steppe complex are also the continuous low mowing of grass (Green depression) and overgrazing of livestock — Small Chapelsk depression. The nesting density of background steppe species was determined, the highest density of Alauda arvensis in different years is characteristic of Ahaymany (245,2 pairs/km2) and Barnashivsky depression (211,2 pairs/km2), and Melanocorypha calandra — for the Big Chapelsk depression (140,1 pairs/km2). Stable is only the territory of the Big Chapelsk depression the protected regime under moderate grazing load of wild ungulates. A positive correlation was established between the values of steppe habitat area and Alauda arvensis nesting in the Ahaymany, Barnashivsky, Small Chapelsk, and Green depressions and, accordingly, a negative dependence for Melanocorypha calandra.