Classification of dry grasslands of the Berda River Valley
(Ukraine)

J 2023

Classification of dry grasslands of the Berda River Valley (Ukraine)

VYNOKUROV, Denys; Igor GONCHARENKO; Dariia BOROVYK and Olena BRONSKOVA

Basic information

Original name

Classification of dry grasslands of the Berda River Valley (Ukraine)

Authors

VYNOKUROV, Denys (guarantor); Igor GONCHARENKO; Dariia BOROVYK (804 Ukraine, belonging to the institution) and Olena BRONSKOVA

Edition

Tuexenia, Floristisch-soziologische Arbeitsgemeinschaft e. V. 2023, 0722-494X

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Article in a journal

Field of Study

10611 Plant sciences, botany

Country of publisher

Germany

Confidentiality degree

is not subject to a state or trade secret

References:

URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 1.100

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/23:00135607

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.14471/2023.43.010

UT WoS

001180350700007

EID Scopus

2-s2.0-85195206331

Keywords in English

bunchgrass steppe; Distance-Ranked Sorting Assembling (DRSA) analysis; dry grassland; Festucetalia valesiacae; Festuco-Brometea; forb-bunchgrass steppe; granite rocky steppe; SedoScleranthetea; shrub-steppe

Abstract

In the original language

The river Berda is located in southern Ukraine, within the steppe zone. This territory stands as a biologically diverse hotspot amidst the agricultural landscapes, where the entirety of the river's watershed has been subjected to plowing, while within the confines of the valley, remnants of natural vegetation have persisted. We collected 60 vegetation plots of dry grassland vegetation from the Berda River Valley and some of its tributaries recording all vascular plant species together with some structural and environmental parameters. In order to classify the relevés, we performed a DistanceRanked Sorting Assembling (DRSA) analysis. It resulted in five clusters, different in terms of their floristic composition, physiognomy and environmental parameters. They also corresponded to the commonly used vegetation typology in Ukraine: granite rocky steppe (cluster 1), forb-bunchgrass steppe (clusters 2 and 4), bunchgrass steppe (cluster 3) and shrub-steppe (cluster 5). We suggest to interpret them within two classes: granite rocky steppes belonging to the class Sedo-Scleranthetea, and all other clusters to the Festuco-Brometea vegetation class. All five clusters, obtained as a result of the analysis, we interpret as association-level syntaxonomical units, as they show strong ecological and physiognomic differentiation. Granite rocky steppes of the Berda River Valley belong to the association Ephedro distachyae-Stipetum graniticolae, and to the alliance Poo bulbosae-Stipion graniticolae. The other associations we assigned to the alliance Stipo lessingianae-Salvion nutantis, which comprises the zonal steppe vegetation of the steppe zone in Eastern Europe. We included forb-bunchgrass steppes on the slopes of the valley into the association Stipo lessingianae-Salvietum nutantis and forb-bunchgrass steppes dominated by Stipa capillata on the flat areas into the Eryngium campestre-Stipa capillata community. Bunchgrass steppes, which mostly occur in the southern part of the river valley, were classified within the association Ephedro distachyae-Stipetum capillatae. Shrub-steppe communities were assigned to the association Vinco herbaceae-Caraganetum fruticis. In total, we propose a classification scheme of the steppe vegetation of the Berda River Valley which consists of five associations, belonging to two alliances, two orders and two classes. Considering the large-scale war taking place in the study area since 2022, this survey might be used as a documentation of the original state of steppe communities and as a baseline for their restoration after the military activities finish.

Cite

VYNOKUROV, Denys; Igor GONCHARENKO; Dariia BOROVYK and Olena BRONSKOVA. Classification of dry grasslands of the Berda River Valley (Ukraine). Tuexenia. Floristisch-soziologische Arbeitsgemeinschaft e. V., 2023, vol. 43, December, p. 159-182. ISSN 0722-494X. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.14471/2023.43.010.

@article{2380160,
   author = {Vynokurov, Denys and Goncharenko, Igor and Borovyk, Dariia and Bronskova, Olena},
   article_number = {December},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.14471/2023.43.010},
   keywords = {bunchgrass steppe; Distance-Ranked Sorting Assembling (DRSA) analysis; dry grassland; Festucetalia valesiacae; Festuco-Brometea; forb-bunchgrass steppe; granite rocky steppe; SedoScleranthetea; shrub-steppe},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {0722-494X},
   journal = {Tuexenia},
   title = {Classification of dry grasslands of the Berda River Valley (Ukraine)},
   url = {https://doi.org/10.14471/2023.43.010},
   volume = {43},
   year = {2023}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 2380160
AU  - Vynokurov, Denys - Goncharenko, Igor - Borovyk, Dariia - Bronskova, Olena
PY  - 2023
TI  - Classification of dry grasslands of the Berda River Valley (Ukraine)
JF  - Tuexenia
VL  - 43
IS  - December
SP  - 159-182
EP  - 159-182
PB  - Floristisch-soziologische Arbeitsgemeinschaft e. V.
SN  - 0722494X
KW  - bunchgrass steppe
KW  - Distance-Ranked Sorting Assembling (DRSA) analysis
KW  - dry grassland
KW  - Festucetalia valesiacae
KW  - Festuco-Brometea
KW  - forb-bunchgrass steppe
KW  - granite rocky steppe
KW  - SedoScleranthetea
KW  - shrub-steppe
UR  - https://doi.org/10.14471/2023.43.010
N2  - The river Berda is located in southern Ukraine, within the steppe zone. This territory stands as a biologically diverse hotspot amidst the agricultural landscapes, where the entirety of the river's watershed has been subjected to plowing, while within the confines of the valley, remnants of natural vegetation have persisted. We collected 60 vegetation plots of dry grassland vegetation from the Berda River Valley and some of its tributaries recording all vascular plant species together with some structural and environmental parameters. In order to classify the relevés, we performed a DistanceRanked Sorting Assembling (DRSA) analysis. It resulted in five clusters, different in terms of their floristic composition, physiognomy and environmental parameters. They also corresponded to the commonly used vegetation typology in Ukraine: granite rocky steppe (cluster 1), forb-bunchgrass steppe (clusters 2 and 4), bunchgrass steppe (cluster 3) and shrub-steppe (cluster 5). We suggest to interpret them within two classes: granite rocky steppes belonging to the class Sedo-Scleranthetea, and all other clusters to the Festuco-Brometea vegetation class. All five clusters, obtained as a result of the analysis, we interpret as association-level syntaxonomical units, as they show strong ecological and physiognomic differentiation. Granite rocky steppes of the Berda River Valley belong to the association Ephedro distachyae-Stipetum graniticolae, and to the alliance Poo bulbosae-Stipion graniticolae. The other associations we assigned to the alliance Stipo lessingianae-Salvion nutantis, which comprises the zonal steppe vegetation of the steppe zone in Eastern Europe. We included forb-bunchgrass steppes on the slopes of the valley into the association Stipo lessingianae-Salvietum nutantis and forb-bunchgrass steppes dominated by Stipa capillata on the flat areas into the Eryngium campestre-Stipa capillata community. Bunchgrass steppes, which mostly occur in the southern part of the river valley, were classified within the association Ephedro distachyae-Stipetum capillatae. Shrub-steppe communities were assigned to the association Vinco herbaceae-Caraganetum fruticis. In total, we propose a classification scheme of the steppe vegetation of the Berda River Valley which consists of five associations, belonging to two alliances, two orders and two classes. Considering the large-scale war taking place in the study area since 2022, this survey might be used as a documentation of the original state of steppe communities and as a baseline for their restoration after the military activities finish.
ER  -

VYNOKUROV, Denys; Igor GONCHARENKO; Dariia BOROVYK and Olena BRONSKOVA. Classification of dry grasslands of the Berda River Valley (Ukraine). \textit{Tuexenia}. Floristisch-soziologische Arbeitsgemeinschaft e. V., 2023, vol.~43, December, p.~159-182. ISSN~0722-494X. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.14471/2023.43.010.

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