Petrovich O. Shelterbelts as reserves of diversity of vascular plants (Tracheophyta) and birds (Aves) in the Northern Steppe of the Right Bank of Ukraine

The thesis is devoted to the analysis of the structure of species richness and diversity of vascular plants (Tracheophyta) and birds (Aves) in the shelterbelts in the northern steppe of the Right Bank of Ukraine and assessment of their potential as biodiversity reserves. The work has been carried out on the example of shelterbelts network of the Voznesenskiy district of Mykolayiv region, which is characterized by the prevalence of dense and thick-open design, mixed species composition, heterogeneous structure that creates a variety of habitats for the existence of plants and birds Using mathematical methods, we have found association between species richness and diversity of plants and birds and the stand structure and belts design. It has been established that several factors influence on the diversity of vascular plants and birds is opposite: with the increase in complexity of the stands structure, increase in the width and age of the belts, diversity of birds increases while the diversity of plants under the canopy of the stands decreases. The analysis of the ecological structure of plants and birds diversity in the forest belts of various types has been conducted.