DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY OF CORYNEPHORUS CANESCENS (L.) P. BEAUV. (POACEAE) IN THE LEFT BANK FOREST-STEPPE OF UKRAINE

The article summarizes data about the distribution of Corynephoruscanescens(L.) P.Beauv.in the Left Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. This species which is native for Europe and North Africa was firstly found on the research territory. Currently nine localities of this vascular plant species are known within Kyiv (seven locations) and Poltava (two locations) administrative regions. Based on the analysis of geobotanical relevés made by authors on psammophytic vegetation plots with the participation of Corynephoruscanescensit was found that studied sand areas within Kyiv region belong to the associationCorniculario aculeatae-Corynephoretum canescentis Steffen1931 from the classKoelerioglaucae-CorynephoreteacanescentisKlikainKlika& Novak1941 (allianceCorynephorioncanescentisKlika1931, orderCorynephoretaliacanescentisKlika1934); they have clear two-layered structure with the substantive complicity of moss and lichen species. On the other hand, similarpsammophytic communities within Poltava region have the simplified one-layered composition with the tenuous herb cover and the absence of moss and lichen layers; they are treated by authors as a separate community –comm. CorynephoruscanescenswithintheclassKoelerioglaucae-Corynephoreteacanescentis. Based on these ecological data,Corynephoruscanescensis considered as a species with dissimilar status in different parts of the research territory. Found localities of this species within Poltava region are to be treated as alien and associated with human activity,but in the southern part of Kyiv region,the autochthonous (or atleast simultaneously mixed indigenous and antropogenic) dispersal of its diaspors by anemochory is quite reliable. The phytosociological tables of geobotanical relevés made by authors in Kyiv and Poltava administrative regions in 2017–2020 are presented. The status of Corynephoruscanescens on other territories near the eastern border of the area of its distribution is discussed.Keywords: floristic finding, new species, psammophytic vegetation, the Forest-Steppezone. Стаття узагальнює дані щодо поширення у Лівобережному Лісостепу України нового для цієї території виду Corynephoruscanescens(L.) P. Beauv., природний ареал якого охоплює Європу та Північну Африку. Зараз вид відомий з девʼяти локалітетів, які адміністративно розташовані у межах Київської (сім) і Полтавської (два) областей. За результатами аналізу геоботанічних описів псамофітних угруповань з участю цього виду встановлено, що у Київській області ділянки, на яких був знайдений Corynephoruscanescens, можна розглядати як фітоценози асоціації Corniculario aculeatae-Corynephoretum canescentis Steffen1931 з класу Koelerioglaucae-CorynephoreteacanescentisKlikainKlika& Novak1941 (союз CorynephorioncanescentisKlika, порядок CorynephoretaliacanescentisKlika1934), вони відзначаються добре вираженою двохярусною структурою зі значною участю мохів і лишайників, тоді як у Полтавськійобласті аналогічні ценози мають спрощену одноярусну будову з дуже розрідженим травʼяним покривом і розглядаються як окреме угруповання comm. Corynephoruscanescensу межах класу Koelerioglaucae-Corynephoreteacanescentis. З огляду на це, локалітети виду на Полтавщині автори вважають такими, які мають антропогенне походження, тоді як на Київщині вони є природними або принаймні природно-антропогенними. Наведені фітоценотичні таблиці геоботанічних описів, виконаних авторами. Обговорюється статус Corynephoruscanescensв інших регіонах біля східної межі його ареалу.Ключові слова: флористична знахідка, новий вид, псамофітна рослинність, лісостепова зона.

Psammophyte vegetation of the Bargusin depression (Republic of Buryatia)

Modern aeolian landscapes occupy large territories in Transbaikalia. The Barguzin depression bottom is an area with sandy lands (Ivanov, 1960). This depression is one of the largest around the Lake Baikal (Florensov et al., 1965). Its internal field are accumulative surfaces, formed by Pleistocene sands, so-called “kujtuns” (Forest, Suvinsky, Lower, and Upper), are located as stripes of variable width, replacing each other from the north-west to the south-east (Fig. 2 A-D). Aeolian processes are most dynamic on weakly sod and bare sands: in the lower part of the Argada river, in the basins of Ina, Ulan-Burga, Zhargalanty rivers, and in the marginal parts of the steppe “kuytuns” (Fig. 3, 4). The results of aeolian processes are dunes and ridge-basin relief. This publication continues the series of papers (Dulepova, Korolyuk, 2013, 2015; Dulepova, 2016) on psammophytic vegetation of Baikal Siberia (Irkutsk region, the Republic of Buryatia, and the Trans-Baikal region). The paper is based on the analysis of 116 geobotanical relevés obtained in the course of the field studies in 2009–2014 in the Barguzinsky and Kurumkansky districts of the Republic of Buryatia. Four relevés are taken from the literature (Shchipek et al., 2002). Three diagnostic species of the class Brometea korotkiji Hilbig et Koroljuk 2000 (Bromopsis korotkiji, Corispermum sibiricum, Carex sabulosa) occur on the studied sandy lands. Among species of the order Oxytropidetalia lanatae Brzeg et Wika 2001 (Brzeg, Wika, 2001) such species as Artemisia ledebouriana, Chamaerhodos grandiflora, Oxytropis lanata have high constancy and often dominate in communities. When comparing new syntaxa with the previously described alliances (Oxytropidion lanatae Hilbig et Koroljuk 2000, Aconogonion chlorochryseum Dulepova et Korolyuk 2013 and Festucion dahuricae Dulepova et Korolyuk 2015) it was found that they are closer to the alliance Festucion dahuricae. However, Artemisia xanthochroa, Caragana buriatica, Festuca dahurica, Thymus baicalensis, and Ulmus pumila, commom in the Selenga river middle mountains, are absent in the study area (Korolyuk, 2017). The psammophytic fraction of the flora of the study area is not very peculiar. Only two endemic species (Oxytropis bargusinensis and Aconogonon bargusinense) are recorded on the sands of the Barguzin depression. 5 associations, 3 subassociations and 3 communities of the class Brometea korotkiji and 1 association of the class Cleistogenetea squarrosae Mirk. et al. ex Korotkov et al. 1991 (Table 1) are established as new. Association Bromopsietum korotkiji ass. nov. hoc loco (Table 2, rel. 6–17). Nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco): Table 2, relevé 6 (field number — nd10-200), Republic of Buryatia, Kurumkansky district, 2 km southwest of the village of Kharamodun, the convex peak of dune), 54.18734° N, 110.48333° E., altitude 473 m a.s.l., 31/07/2010, author — N. A. Dulepova (Fig. 5). Diagnostic species: Bromopsis korotkiji (dom.). Association Aconogonetum bargusinensis ass. nov. hoc loco (Table 2, rel. 18–25). Nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco): Table 2, relevé 18 (field number — 10-591), Republic of Buryatia, Barguzinsky district, 7 km south of the village Urzhil, an elevated sandy terrace of the Ulan-Burga river, 53.87645° N, 110.32410° E, altitude 628 m a.s.l., 28/07/2010, ­author — A. Yu. Korolyuk. (Fig. 6, 7). Diagnostic species: Aconogonon bargusinense (dom.) Association Oxytropido lanatae–Caricetum sabulosae ass. nov. hoc loco (Table 2, rel. 26–37). Nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco): Table 2, relevé 26 (field number — nd10-339), Republic of Buryatia, Kurumkansky district, 8.3 km southwest of the village of Kharamodun, an elevated sandy terrace of the Argada river, 54.12156° N, 110.45382 E, altitude 514 m a.s.l., 17/08/2010, author — N. A. Dulepova. Diagnostic species: Carex sabulosa (dom.) Association Oxytropido lanatae–Bromopsietum korotkiji ass. nov. hoc loco (Table 3, rel. 1–30). Nomenclature type (holotype hoc loco): Table 3, relevé 1 (field number — nd09-040), Republic of Buryatia, Kurumkansky district, side of the river valley Argada in 4–5 km south-west from village Argada, the lower part of the high sandy terrace, 54.20118° N, 110.64804° E, altitude 537 m a.s.l., 05/07/2009, author — N. A. Dulepova. Diagnosed by species of class and order. Subassociation B.k.–O.l. typicum subass. nov. hoc loco (Table 3, rel. 1–8. Nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco): Table 3, relevé 1. Diagnostic features are those of association. Subassociation B.k.–O.l. chamaerhodetosum grandiflorae subass. nov. hoc loco (Table 3, rel. 9–19). Nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco): Table 3, relevé 9 (field number — 09-176), Republic of Buryatia, Kurumkansky district, side of the valley of the Argada river 4–5 km southwest of the village Argada, upper convex part of high sandy terrace, 54.20235° N, 110.64528° E, altitude 570 m a.s.l., 05/07/2009, author — A.Yu. Korolyuk. Diagnostic species: Chamaerhodos grandiflora (dom.). Subassociation B.k.–O.l. artemisietosum ledebourianae subass. nov. hoc loco (Table 3, rel. 20–30). Nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco): Table 3, relevé 20 (field number — nd10-325), Republic of Buryatia, Kurumkansky district, 8.3 km south-west of the village of Kharamodun, the upper third of the high sandy terrace of the Argada river, 54.12157° N, 110.48679° E, altitude 557 m a.s.l., 17/08/2010, ­author — N. A. Dulepova. Diagnostic species: Artemisia ledebouriana (dom.), Orobanche coerulescens, Stellaria dichotoma, Vincetoxicum sibiricum. Association Artemisio frigido–Oxytropidetum bargusinensis ass. nov. hoc loco (Table 3, rel. 41–46). Nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco): Table 3, relevé 41 (field number — 10-566), Republic of Buryatia, Barguzinsky district, 4 km north-west of Bodon village, Suvinsky kujtun, flat elongated blowing trough, 53.71945° N, 110.04983° E, altitude 566 m a.s.l., 27/07/2010, author — A. Yu. Korolyuk. Diagnostic species: Bupleurum bicaule, Iris humilis, Youngia tenuifolia, Oxytropis bargusinensis. According to cluster analysis (Fig. 9) of data from Baikal Siberia, Mongolia, Tuva, and Inner Mongolia (China) the diversity of psammophytic vegetation is mainly determined by the sand land geography, which is reflected at the alliance, order, and class levels. The dynamics of overgrowth of sands is well traced at the association, subassociation, and community levels. Cluster analysis confirmed the attribution of most of the described syntaxa from the Barguzin and Selenga basins in the alliance Festucion dahuricae.

Syntaxonomy and ecological differentiation of the pioneer vegetation of Ukraine. 2. Helichryso-Crucianelletea maritimae, Festucetea vaginatae, Koelerio-Corynephoretea canescentis classes

Pioneer psammophytic vegetation is usually developed on wind-drift sandy substrates such as arenas, spits, beaches, river terraces, and this vegetation occupies significant areas in all three natural zones of Ukraine. The Koelerio-Corynephoretea canescentis class was represented by 13 associations, 3 alliances and 1 order; Festucetea vaginatae class by 22 associations, 2 alliances and 1 order; Helichryso-Crucianelletea maritimae by 10 associations, 4 alliances and 1 order. The results of cluster analysis and synoptic tables of the classes are presented. 9 alliances are briefly described. Leading factors of territorial and ecological differentiation are identified. It was found that the territorial distribution of plant communities is influenced by the character of ecotope mesorelief, soil composition and humus horizon thickness, as well as the degree of eolian processes development. The main factors of their ecological differentiation are soil acidity, salt regime and ombroregime. Based on the results of DCA-ordination of syntaxa within certain vegetation classes, it was found that their distribution is influenced by factors that correlate with the environment-specific conditions. It has emerged that an ecological differentiation of syntaxa within Festucetea vaginatae is determined by the integrated effect of gradients, and soil salinity is leading among them. Temperature regime and climate continentality are leading factors in the distribution of syntaxa within the Koelerio-Corynephoretea canescentis class. The gradients of ombroregime and soil humidity have a significant impact. The distribution of communities of the Helichryso-Crucianelletea maritimae class in the ecological space is determined mainly by factors of variability of damping, ombroregime and climate continentality. The author’s syntaxonomic concept assumes the independence of the studied classes: Koelerio-Corynephoretea canescentis, Helichryso-Crucianelletea maritimae and Festucetea vaginatae, conside­ring that the leading factors of community differentiation of the Festucetea vaginatae and Koelerio-Corynephoretea canescentis classes are the origin (genesis) of sandy substrates, as well as soil acidity. Phytosociological analysis of a large number of relevés of coastal littoral vegetation also provides support for independence of the Helichryso-Crucianelletea maritimae and Ammophiletea classes diffe­rent floristically and ecologically. A review of the psammophytic vegetation of Ukraine will determine the place of the selected syntaxonomic units in the pan-European system.

Yellow-winged digging grasshopper, Acrotylus longipes (Acrididae: Oedipodinae), confirmed in Croatia

We present the first confirmed record of the threatened yellow-winged digging grasshopper, Acrotyluslongipes (Acrididae: Oedipodinae), from Croatia, from the island of Mljet, in Blace Bay. The yellow-winged digging grasshopper was found on sandy dunes covered with psammophytic vegetation characteristic of this type of habitat. Previously, only two localities of this species were reported from Croatia, both from photographs. This confirmed locality opens the possibility of a wider distribution of this species on similar habitats throughout Croatia.

Syntaxonomy of psammophytic vegetation of the natural monument «Dyakovskiy forest» (Saratov Region)

«Dyakovskiy forest» (Saratov Region) is a unique natural phenomenon. It is located in the transitional zone between dry and desert steppes. Vegetation of this territory is represented by steppes and meadows, as well as small patches of deciduous forests. (Fig. 2) The sand massif is located far from nearest localities of the sandy steppes to the west of the Volga River (Fig. 1). «Dyakovskiy forest» is the unique southern forest outpost in European Russia, supposedly of relict origin (Shilova, Neronov, 2010). Sandy steppes were studied in May 2018. 16 relevés were performed on 10×10 m plots. We compared the communities from «Dyakovskiy forest» with the associations of the class Festucetea vaginatae Soó ex Vicherek 1972 from the southeast of the European Russia and Ukraine. For classification and comparative analysis we used cluster analysis in the PAST software (Hammer et al., 2001). The IBIS 7.2 was used for data storage and processing (Zverev, 2007). Cluster analysis revealed differentiation patterns of psammophytic vegetation (Fig. 3). The central part of the dendrogram is occupied by sandy steppes dominated by perennial grasses (cluster 1). These communities form the prevailing plant communities in the study area; they represent the final stages of sand stabilization. Five species determine the physiognomy of the sandy steppes of the «Dyakovskiy forest»: Artemisia marschalliana, Chamaecytisus borysthenicus, Festuca beckeri, Jurinea polyclonos, Stipa borysthenica. The first cluster was divided into two groups of relevés, representing different stages of sand stabilization. The first group is characterized by high activity of bunchgrasses: Agropyron fragile, Poa bulbosa,and Stipa borysthenica. It is also indicated by the presence of common steppe plants: Allium tulipifolium, Artemisia austriaca, Carex supina, Centaurea pseudomaculosa, Eremogone biebersteinii, Galium ruthenicum, Veronica verna. The second group is distinguished by the high frequency of obligate psammophytes: Tragopogon tanaiticus, Linaria dulcis, Leymus racemosus, and Secale sylvestre. The prevalence of these species allows interpreting the second group as a stage of relatively less fixed sands. Communities with the dominance of annual plants are grouped in the right part of the dendrogram (cluster 2). Now these communities can occur only in disturbed places, for example on a plowed strips protecting «Dyakovskiy forest» from fires. One relevé represents scrub communities that inhabit relatively well-moistened depressions. Thus, the dendrogram structure reflect the main patterns in species composition, associated with sand fixation chronosequence — from stage of annual psammophytes to stage of bunchgrasses and shrubs. To determine the syntaxonomical status of sandy steppes in the system of floristic classification, the earlier described associations of the class Festucetea vaginatae were analyzed. On the dendrogram all associations are united in three groups (Fig. 4). The most numerous first group represents communities from Azov and Black Sea coasts. The second group includes intercontinental sandy steppes. The third group of four associations is transitional, geographically it represents the Aleshkovskiye sands from Don River valley close to its estuary. Steppes from the «Dyakovskiy forest» are the closest to their analogues from Orenburg Region (Dulepova et al., 2018), while a comparison of their species composition shows significant differences (Table 2). Their similarity is determined by a group of common psammophytic species, most of them involved in the diagnosis of the class Festucetea vaginatae, its central order Festucetalia vaginatae Soό 1957 and the alliance Festucion beckeri Vicherek 1972 (Vicherek, 1972). A series of close associations was described from the territory of the Rostov Region (Demina, 2009; Demina et al., 2012). Two associations from the Peskovatskiy sand massif (Rostov Region) were used in the cluster analysis. The level of similarity of these associations with the Saratov and Orenburg associations is low. Thus, the peculiarity of the species composition of the described sandy steppes allows to attribute them to a new association. Association Thymo pallasiani–Festucetum beckeri ass. nov. hoc loco (Table 1: 2–13), holotypus hoc loco: relevé 10 (field number 18-088): Saratov Region (border with Volgograd Region), Krasnokutskiy district, 7 km SW from Dyakovka village, sands, 50.70002º N, 46.68761º E, 21.05.2018, author — A. Yu. Korolyuk. Diagnostic species: Alyssum desertorum, Carex colchica, Chamaecytisus borysthenicus, Chondrilla juncea, Euphorbia seguieriana, Festuca beckeri, Helichrysum arenarium, Jurinea polyclonos, Kochia laniflora, Koeleria sabuletorum, Poa bulbosa, Potentilla incana, Silene borysthenica, Stipa borysthenica, Thymus pallasianus. This association is considered as central in the alliance Festucion beckeri and is diagnosed by differential species of higher-level syntaxa. Communities of associations dominate on territory of the «Dyakovskiy forest» (Fig. 5, 6). Association includes 2 variants representing different stages of sand fixing. The var. Agropyron fragile inhabits more fixed sands. The var. Leymus racemosus represents earlier stages. In the study area we distinguish two communities that belong to the class Festucetea vaginatae. The community Spiraea crenata–Scirpoides holoschoenus is confined to shallow depressions. It is characte­rized by shrub layer with cover up to 20 % and a height of 60–80 cm. It is differentiated from surrounding­ ­ve­getation by high abundance of Scirpoides holo­schoenus and Festuca rupicola. The community Secale sylvestre–Anisantha tectorum is described on a fire protection strips. These are species poor coenoses dominated by annual plants (Fig. 7).