The dissertation addresses the studies in lichens and lichenicolous fungi of the Lower Dnipro landscapes. It was conducted the analysis of taxonomic structure of lichen flora and its ecological, areological, phytoclimatic and sozological characteristics. Habitats distribution was performed for the first time.
Lichen biota and lichenicolous mycobiota of the Lower Dnipro valley and ravine systems consists of 255 species, 120 genera, 41 families, 31 orders, 8 classes and 2 phyllum. Among them 215 species are lichenized fungi, 34 species are lichencolous fungi and 6 species are lichenscolous lichens. Among them 133 (52%) species are new in the research territory: Sphaerellothecium aculeatae was first identified, six species first appeared in the steppe zone, five species were first time reported in Ukraine.
Four ecological groups determined by substrate pH were identified in lichen biobiota of the Lower Dnipro valley and ravine landscapes. The basophils (116 species or 45.6%) prevailed. It is related to the predominance of limestone outcrops and carbonate soils. There are three ecological groups divided by wetland habitats. Xerophyles (121 species or 47.4%) are predominant because of the arid conditions of the study area. There are three groups determined according to the regime of illumination among which the vast majority are helioscyophytes (125 species, 49.0%). This is due to both the open landscapes and the transformed landscapes covered with anthropogenic deciduous forests, where the part of epiphytic lichen is protected by deciduous trees. There are also six ecological groups according to the substrate type. Among them groups of epilites (115 species, 45.0%) and epiphytes (58 species or 22.7%) are predominant that is associated with the distribution of the silica-carbonate rock outcrops and artificial forest plantations in the Lower Dnipro landscape.
Arealogical analysis of lichen biota of the Lower Dnipro valley and ravine systems revealed the presence of a small number of species with habitats of Pontic type (6 species, 2.4%). It indicates the insignificant role of autochthonous processes in this territory. A significant proportion of species with areas of Holarctic (97 species, 38.0%), Cosmopolitan (84 species, 33.0%), Eurasian (21 species, 8.2%) and European (24 species, 9.4%) types indicates the mainly migratory nature of their forming.
Analysis of the phytocenotic structure showed a predominance of the moderately xerophytic element (102 species, 40.0%) which is completely in keeping with the lichen biota forming in the Lower Dnipro, the south part of Holarctic temperate zone. The same amount of moderately mesophytic element (101 species or 39.6%) is connected with the favorable microclimatic conditions and humid air associated with artificial forest plantations. The specific characteriistics of the Lower Dnipro lichen biota is the existance of a Mediterranean xerophytic element (27 species, 10.6%) and a continental xerophytic element (25 species, 9.8%) related to the partial forming of shaded limestone landscapes under the influence of the Mediterranean climate and the forming of semi-desert landscapes under the influence of continental climate.
Lichens and lichenicolous fungi in the Lower Dnipro valley and ravine landscapes are the components of 11 habitats. Lichen biota and lichenicolous mycobiota of limestone rocks in the plain regions contains the highest number of lichens and lichenicolous fungi (104 species, 40.8%), fewer species present lichen biota and lichenicolous mycobiota habitats of petrophytic steppes on carbonate substrates (63species, 24,8%). Lists of lichens and lichenicolous fungi consist of 59 species (23.1%) in artificial forests habitats, 47 species (18.4%) in silicate rocks of the Ukrainian crystalline shield, 38 species (15.0%) in floodplain forests, 28 species (11.0%) in settlement and technotops as well as in bushes and semi-desert steppe habitats, 18 species (7.0%) in true steppes, 10 species (4.0%) in petrophytic steppes at silicate substrates.
As a result, we identified 215 species of lichens and lichenicolous fungi representing 84% of the total lichenobiota in the Lower Dnipro valley and ravine systems in the area of 12 nature reserves of the Lower Dnipro valley and ravine landscapes. The newly created “Nyzhnodniprovsky” National Nature Park (106 species) and “Kamianska Sich” National Nature Park (96 species) make a significant contribution to the conservation of lichen and lichenicolous fungi diversity. Species composition data on lichens and lichenicolous fungi of the Lower Dnieper landscapes is recorded in “Litopys Pryrody” of the National Nature Park “Nyzhnodniprovsky”. All revealed diversity of lichens and lichenicolous fungi in the Lower Dnipro landscapes will be protected after creation of 20 new objects of the nature reserve fund.
Four species of lichens listed in the Red Book of Ukraine (7.7% of all lichens of the Red Book of Ukraine).
