Biotopes of Gadyach Regional Landscape Park (Poltava Region, Ukraine)

Abstract

Classification of the biotopes of Gadyach Regional Landscape Park located in the valleys of the Psel River (middle course) and its right-bank tributary, the Hrun River, is provided. Natural and semi-natural areas of the park are covered with vegetation represented by forests, shrublands, meadows, steppe, and aquatic and riparian communities. A scheme of the biotopes classification is prepared based on the EUNIS database adapted to the Ukraine's forest and forest-steppe biotopes. Five types of high-rank biotopes were revealed within the studied area: (C) Inland water body biotopes; (E) Grass-herbaceous mesophytic and xerothermic biotopes dominated by hemicryptophytes formed under conditions of moderate or insufficient moisture; (G) Phanerophytic type biotopes; (I) Biotopes formed by human activity. Herbaceous biotopes (E) dominate due to location of the park in the floodplains of the Psel and Hrun rivers. Numerous phanerophytic biotopes (G) are represented by deciduous broadleaf forests (G: 1), coniferous evergreen forests (G: 2) and mixed deciduous forests. Inland water body biotopes (C) are represented within the park by non-flowing and flowing freshwater reservoirs (C: 1). Biotopes created by human activity (I), including ruderal herbaceous biotopes (I: 2) and artificially created (cultivated) trees and shrubs biotopes (I: 4), are represented in the park fragmentarily. Vegetation characteristics are provided for each biotope. In the Mokhovate Swamp Hydrological Reserve located within the park aquatic biotopes with communities of algae (Nitella syncarpa, Chara globularis) (C: 1.211) protected under EU Directive 92/43 have been observed.

Keywords

• biotopes
• classification
• plant communities
• vegetation