Borovyk L. Demutation dynamics of vegetation in Luhansk Natural Reserve (Striltsivskyi Steppe department)

The dissertation research is devoted to the study of the features of successional course in abandoned fields in Starobilsky steppes at the present stage of vegetation development. The natural vegetation of the Striltsivskyi Steppe belongs to 6 types, 40 formations and 122 associations. According to geobotanical profile sampling, the meadow-steppe vegetation dominates in the vegetation cover of the Striltsivskyi Steppe (35.1%); the shrub- and bunchgrass steppes made up 32.5% and 31%, respectively. Based on the data of geobotanical descriptions, a structural analysis of vegetation compositions of the young abandoned fields is carried out, and its changes by succession stages are analyzed. Peculiarities of the process of succession stages, their duration and direction, construction of succession schemes of demutation of prelogs are established. The cenochronocline of demutation of abandoned fields was constructed, successional changes on permanent plots and changes in the spatial distribution of vegetation on abandoned fields during succession were established. The abandoned fields play a large role in maintaining phytodiverisity of rare species. We proposed the measures to restore primary steppe assemblages, including sowing of perennial herbs, various methods of applying steppe herb seeds, mowing, removal of alien arboreal species, and implementation of a scheme of grazing pressure.