The dissertation presents the complex studies results of the flora of the catchment area of Ingulets river, in specifically, the structural organization analysis, the outsosological analysis and study of the population of some sozophytes, the main trends identification of flora under the influence of anthropogenic factors, the development of measures to optimize the protection of the floristic diversity in the region. The species composition of the flora of the catchment area of Ingulets river has been established, which includes 1411 species, which represent 566 genera and 129 families. Based on this, the «Summary of the flora of the catchment area of Ingulets river» has been prepared. As a result of the research, it was found that the flora was formed under the influence of the northern boreal centre, and with the direct participation of the south of the ancient Mediterranean, but at a late stage of formation it is significantly (24.4%) saturated with adventive species. The flora of the catchment area of Ingulets river has an autochthonous steppe character and is influenced by anthropogenic factors on its development. The northern part of the catchment area has retained the features of the boreal type. The rare component of the flora of the studied region includes 292 species of rare and endangered plant species from 181 genera and 77 families, of which 66 species are included in the Red Book of Ukraine, 6 from the Bern Convention, 6 from the CITES list, 8 from the Habitats Directive. Also and from the regional Conservation Lists (Dnipropetrovsk region – 240, Kirovograd region – 96 species, Mykolaiv region and Kherson region 25 species. The leading families of the rare fraction are the families Asteraceae and Fabaceae, in the upper part of the catchment area of Ingulets river – Ranunculaceae and Orchidaceae. Among the protected rare species of flora in the upper reaches of the catchment area of Ingulets river, most are endangered steppe and petrophytic flora complexes that are endangered. Population features of the studied sozophytes indicate that the studied populations belong to the normal full-membered type and under constant conditions of their growth do not require additional protection measures.
The main trends of flora change in the catchment area of Ingulets river under the influence of anthropogenic factors: destruction of settlements due to mining activities, ploughing of steppe areas, artificial afforestation of natural tracts, excessive grazing, creation of ponds cascades, use of invasive species in forest belts, etc .; synanthropization and adventitia of vegetation. A critically low (1.18% of the total area) level of the reservation in the region was revealed. The main ways to optimize the protection of rare and endangered plant species in the catchment area of Ingulets river: development of a program to restore natural ecosystems; creation of new objects of the nature reserve fund; preservation of rare and endangered species in culture, limiting the spread of invasive species, banning the ploughing of steppe slopes for afforestation. Methods of protection in nature reserves require refinement of legislation, with the possibility of active intervention in destructive processes. Post-mining areas suitable for the restoration of zonal natural vegetation, the reintroduction of sozophytes, can also be recultivated for the purpose of artificial formation of rare plant species populations of and endangered species. These areas are suitable for the creation of artificial objects of nature reserves.
