Skobel N. Flora of the Right-Bank of Dnipro Grass Steppe District

Thesis for a scientific degree of Doctor of Philosophy on a specialty 091 «Biology». –– Kherson State University, Ivano-Frankivsk, 2026. This dissertation represents the first dedicated study of old cemeteries in Ukraine from a botanical perspective. Floristic research encompassed 50 old cemeteries within the Right-Bank Grass Steppe District. The flora of 50 old cemeteries in the Right-Bank Grass Steppe District comprises 684 species of vascular plants belonging to 356 genera, 79 families, 34 orders, 4 classes, and 2 divisions, accounting for 74.6% of the steppe and limestone outcrop flora of the RBCS and 13% of the flora of Ukraine. Floristic richness in old cemeteries varies from 82 to 242 species (averaging 174). The high level of floristic richness in old cemeteries is due to their location in the vicinity of urbanized landscapes characterized by an ecotone effect with varying intensities of economic impact (from minimal in abandoned sections to extremely intensive in active parts). The preservation of natural vegetation cover in cemeteries is maintained by their sacral status, as active economic activity is traditionally undesirable in these areas. A typological analysis of the flora demonstrated its general zonal character, evidenced, in particular, by the significant presence of species with Nomadian-Ancient Mediterranean and Nomadian range types in the spectrum of chorological groups; the predominance of perennial herbaceous plants, hemicryptophytes, polycarpics, and plants with a taproot system in the biomorphological structure spectra; and the predominance of heliophytes along with a significant percentage of mesoxerophytes and megathermophytes in the ecological structure spectra. The specific features of the flora structure of old cemeteries compared to zonal flora include the significant role of woody plants and adventive species. The shift in the zonal spectrum of the flora is caused by its synanthropization and the introduction of alien plants. An analysis of the flora of the studied old cemeteries of the Right-Bank Grass Steppe District was carried out and its characteristics were established. Based on the results of a mathematical evaluation of the similarity of the flora species, 7 cluster classes were identified and typified. The distribution into flora clusters is generally determined by the soil-climatic gradient and the population density around the old cemetery. An analysis of the synanthropization of the flora of the old cemeteries of the Right-Bank Grass Steppe District was conducted. The analysis of the synanthropic fraction (431 species; 63.0% of the total number of species) revealed the predominance of the apophytic component over the adventive one. The general index of synanthropization is characterized by a relatively low value (IS = 62,9%) compared to the urban floras of cities and other highly transformed territories, as well as the landscapes of the Northern Black Sea region and ancient hillforts. It was established that the main factors determining the richness of vascular plants in general, and the non-synanthropic element of the flora in particular, is the area of steppes within a 1 km2 buffer. Area and population density turned out to be significant factors in the richness of adventive species. Natural steppe flora is primarily best preserved in old sections of cemeteries where economic pressure is relatively insignificant that are least involved in the burial practices of the community population. conducted research also testified to high conservation value of old cemeteries. A significant number of aboriginal (426, 62.3%) and non-synanthropic (253, 37.0%) species of vascular plants were recorded re. protected element of flora of RBGSD old cemeteries is represented by 63 species of vascular plants (9.2% of total number of species) subject to protection at international (three species of Resolution 6 of Bern Convention), national (16 species of Red Data Book of Ukraine), and regional levels (46 species of Red Lists of Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Kherson regions); 5 rare communities of Green Data Book of Ukraine, and three habitats of Resolution 4 of Bern Convention. flora of old cemeteries is characterized by a high degree of preservation of vegetation cover and is not inferior to or steppe flora species of protected areas and cultural heritage sites in terms of floristic richness and sozological value. Such a structure of flora indicates that old cemeteries of RBGSD properly be objects of nature reserve fund, objects of Emerald Network, and the post-war development of communities. Key words: biodiversity, habitats, war, invasive plants, ecocide, Kakhovka Reservoir catastrophe, nature conservation, post-war recovery, distribution, protected species, old cemeteries, steppe, taxonomy, territorial communities, flora.