The dissertation is devoted to coeno-ecological characteristics of D. cneorum L., D. mezereum L., D. laureola L., D. Sophia Kalen. and D taurica Kotov populations within Ukrainian terrain. The complex coeno-ecological investigation of populations of genus Daphne species in the natural flora of Ukraine was carried out. It includes the evaluation of population dynamic, consortic connections and indexes of main ecological factors. The species are exposed to various coenotic conditions within eight different vegetation classes: Querco-Fagetea, Quercetea robori-petraea, Quercetea pubescenti-petraea, Vaccinio-Piceetea, Erico-Pinetea, Rhamno-Prunetea, Festuco-Brometea and Heliantemo-Thymetea. It was found out that D. mezereum and Daphne laureola have the highest competition success, Daphne sophia and Daphne taurica - the lowest competition success, and D. cneorum is between. D. cneorum occurs in communities of three vegetation classes in Ukraine: Quercetea robori-petraeae, Vaccinio-Piceetea and Festuco-Brometea. On the most ordination plots of leading ecological factors the communities of the Festuco-Brometea class with D. cneorum are separated from communities of other two classes, which, from their side, have no significant difference of their ecospaces. On the basis of quantity dynamic analysis of D. cneorum populations, we admitted their negative progress trends in response to increase of boreal species participation, pasture and recreation influences. The increase of quantity is revealed in slightly broken semi-natural coenoses. The study of D. cneorum showed up the highest density of parcels of 0,35 shrubs/m2 in the forest coenoses. On the whole, the peaks of quantity in D. cneorum populations appear on young and middle reproductive stages. The vitality structure analysis have allowed us to reveal the equilibrium and depressed types of coenotic populations of D. cneorum. D. mezereum has evading population strategy and middle and high population activity in west and south-west regions of Ukraine. Equilibrium coenotic populations, in which an excess age spectrum prevails, are marked in Carpathians. D. mezereum coenotic populations of the plain part of Ukraine, except Volhynia region, give peaks in reproductive spectrum; the reason for this is pasture digression. Vitality level of D. mezereum plants goes down with increase of altitude. D. mezereum occurs in the communities of Vaccinio-Piceetea, Querco-Fagetea, Alnetea glutinosae classes and is very rare in communities of Rhamno-Prunetea class. D. sophia coenotic populations occur in ecotone communities. These communities belong to five vegetation classes (Rhamno-Prunetea, Erico-Pinetea, Festuco-Brometea, Querco-Fagetea, Helianthemo-Thymetea). Ecological and coenotical optimum of this species is within the derivative communities of Rhamno-Prunetea class. D. sophia is a stenotopic species with evading strategy and assemble distribution of plants in coenosis. The dynamics of one coenotic population quantity of this species has shown positive tendencies in its development for the last 40 years, but for the period from 2000 to 2006 there was certain decrease of quantity from 200 to 175 shrubs. From 1968 D. taurica natural habitats have considerably declined and now have only three coenotic populations, one of which consists of two subpopulations. It has two peaks of quantity on virginal and middle reproductive stages along with low general quantity and high density of 9,2 shrubs/m2 in 2005. On the basis of synphytoindication method it was found out that econiches of taxonomicaly similar D. sophia and D. taurica have also similar indexes of leading ecological factors. D. laureola is kenophyt and spreads on the South bank of Crimea within the narrow strip from Mukholatka town to Botanichny town and occurs within the limits of two vegetation classes. The age spectrums of species are incomplete due to few young and old reproductive individuals. It indicates the big biotic potential from one side, and from other - weak seed regrowth. Vitality analysis of D. laureola populations of South bank of Crimea and Atlas mountains (Morocco) showed that vitality goes down mainly in populations under recreation.
