Spatial ratios of native and alien species of vascular plants in forests in the southwest of Kyiv and the adjacent areas

Abstract

Using the case of isolated oak-hornbeam forests in the green zone of the Kyiv Urban Area, spatial ratios of native and alien species of vascular plants were determined. The sampling method used by Whittaker (1980) made it possible to discover the following: the abundance of 134 species per 60 m2 in 12 localities varied from 880 to 1 individual/m2 with an average of 106.5 individuals/m2. The total species abundance of alien species ranged from 423 to 1 individual/m2. The highest total abundance values were observed in Adoxa moschatelliana – 880, Impatiens parviflora – 423, Galium odoratum – 371, Rabelera holostea – 367, and Prunus avium – 254 individuals/m2. At five spatial levels in 12 localities, 230 species from 142 genera and 58 families of vascular plants were found, including 48 alien species from 38 genera and 23 families. High species occurrence along with aboriginal forest species (Adoxa moschatelliana in 12 localities, Acer platanoides, Carpinus betulus, Galium odoratum, Prunus avium, Tilia cordata, Viola odorata in 10 localities) is characteristic only of Impatiens parviflora – 12 localities and Acer negundo – 10 localities. In general, the spatial ratios of native and alien species confirm the trends of recreational digression of hornbeam-oak forests in the green zone of the Kyiv Urban Area.

Keywords

• kyiv urban area
• locality
• species abundance
• species diversity
• species frequency