The dissertation describes the consortium connections (topical, phoric connections, trophic preferences) of R. kessleri in forest ecosystems of the steppe Prydniprovie region. The features of the distribution of diplopods in natural and artificial forest ecosystems are analyzed, and trophic preferences of R. kessleri in conditions of the steppe Prydniprovie region are established. For the first time with the involvement of a morphometric features system (linear char-acteristics: length and width of the body, number of segments, length of the telson, length of the collum, length of the limb; tactile organs: features of the head capsule – length and width of antennae, characteristics of gnathochilari-um elements: length and width of gnathochilarium, length and the width of the promentum) of coenopopulations of R. kessleri and M. sjaelandicum, correla-tion pleiades are constructed. Thus, it is possible to identify the level of silvatization of the studied forest ecosystems. The parameter power of pleiades determined from natural forest ecosystems is higher compared to such one from artificial forest ecosystems (0,64–0,93 and 0,07, respectively). According to the results of measurements of individuals from the ash-maple oak-grove from Novomoskovskyi forestry sexual dimorphism is observed by body width, length of antennae, length of gnathochilarium, length of lingular plates. Sexual dimorphism is observed in the size of gnathochilarium – in females, it is 8,8 % wider and 6,3% longer. In individuals from the maple-ash flood plain of Kocherezsky forestry, significant differences are observed in the length of antennas at almost the same width (males antennas are 7,6 % longer). No differences by sex are observed on such characteristics as body length, limb length, promentum width. In the maple stand sexual dimorphism (females are 23,8 % shorter than males and 22,5 % wider) at the highest level of significance (P < 0,001) is observed in both length and width of the body, while for individuals of R. kessleri from an ash-maple oak-grove and a maple-ash flood plain, sexual dimorphism is observed for body width (P < 0,001) only.
The principles of functional zoology formulated by Professors V. L. Bulakhov, O. E. Pakhomov, in particular consortium relations in the system “soil invertebrates – algocenosis”, were taken further.
The materials of thedissertation were introduced into the educational process of Oles Honchar Dnipro National University during the teaching of subjects: “Ecological toxicology”, “Technoecology”. The results of dissertation were used to create new 7 objects of nature reserves of Dnipropetrovsk region.
The specificity of zinc bioaccumulation under conditions of a chemical load is determined (R. kessleri case). Thus it is found out that the diplopoda excretion contains, on average, 1,5 times less zinc than diplopoda itself. Affiliation with species of the proposed leaf litter (Acer campestre, Robinia pseudoacacia) does not statistically affect zinc accumulation. The composition of the intestinal biocenosis of R. kessleri when consumpting various types of leaf litter and the participation of R. kessleri in the distribution of soil algae was determined (an example of phoric consortium connection). We found that the prevalence of E. coli, the minimum number of fungi, and the maximum number of protozoa in the intestinal fluid in specimen of R. kessleri is observed when the diplopoda consume willow leaves (Salix alba (L.). Zooalgological analysis of Dnipro parks showed that R. kessleri promotes the redistribution of soil algae flora and its further resettlement. In the intestine of R. kessleri, 7 species (out of 14 from litter elution) of soil algae (Stichococcus bacillaris, Mychonastes homosphae-ra, Chlorella vulgaris, Desmococcus olivaceus, Bracteacoccus minor, Klebsormidium flaccidum, Eustigmatos magnus) were found.
