Structural differentiation of the floristic core of herbaceous urban ecosystems in recreational areas of north-eastern Ukraine

Abstract

Bondarieva Liudmyla*, Popov Ivan, Zhatova Halyna, Melnyk Andrii, Melnyk Tetiana, Zubtsova Inna, Kravchenko Natalia, Mozharivska Inna and Vereshchahin Ihor

The article deals with analysis of herbaceous flora of semi-natural meadow-type grasslands as an indicator of ecological plasticity and adaptive potential of urban ecosystems. In the recreational areas of Sumy, located within the north-eastern forest-steppe of Ukraine. The floristic core includes 97 vascular plant species from 73 botanical genera and 19 families. The taxonomic spectrum with a predominance of Asteraceae, Poaceae, and Fabaceae is combined with the dominance of perennial hemicryptophytes and the aboriginal fraction, which indicates the preservation of the meadow coenosophyte-forming basis of the grasslands.

At the same time, the participation of short-cycle monocarpic, ruderal, apophytic and adventive species reflects recreation-driven transformation of the vegetation cover. The assessment of relative ecological niche width showed that most species have intermediate ecological plasticity. The highest proportion of stenobiontic species was associated with aeration of soil, indicating the sensitivity of the floristic structure to substrate compaction and sward disturbance. The results emphasise the indicator value of structural floristic analysis for assessing the state of urban herbaceous communities and the provision of their ecosystem services.