Статті | Articles

This paper presents two sampling-event datasets with occurrences of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens collected in May-June 2021 in southern Ukraine. We aimed to collect high-quality biodiversity data in an understudied region and contribute it to international databases and networks. The study was carried out during the 15th Eurasian Dry Grassland Group (EDGG) Field Workshop in southern Ukraine and the Dark Diversity Network (DarkDivNet) sampling in the Kamianska Sich National Nature Park. By chance, these datasets were collected shortly before the major escalation of the Russian invasion in Ukraine. Surveyed areas in Kherson and Mykolaiv Regions, including established monitoring plots, were severely affected by military actions in 2022. Therefore, collected data are of significant value in the context of biodiversity documentation. The knowledge about the biodiversity of this area will help to assess the environmental impact of the war and plan restoration of the damaged or destroyed habitats. The first preliminary analysis of collected data demonstrates the biodiversity richness and conservation value of studied grassland habitats. We provide sampling-event datasets with 7467 occurrences, which represent 708 taxa (vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens) collected in 275 vegetation relevés. Amongst them, vascular plants are represented by 6665 occurrences (610 taxa), lichens - 420 (46) and bryophytes - 381 (51). Several new species were reported for the first time at the national or regional level. In particular, one vascular plant species (Torilis pseudonodosa) and two lichen species (Cladonia conista, Endocarpon loscosii) were new to Ukraine. One vascular plant (Stipa tirsa), two species of bryophytes (Rhynchostegium megapolitanum, Ptychostomum torquescens) and three species of lichens (Cladonia cervicornis, C. symphycarpa, Involucropyrenium breussi) were recorded for the first time for the Kherson Region. Additionally, these datasets contain occurrences of taxa with narrow distribution, specialists of rare habitat types and, therefore, represented by a low number of occurrences in relevant biodiversity databases and particularly in GBIF. This publication highlights the diversity of natural vegetation and its flora in southern Ukraine and raises conservation concerns.

As a result of mycological surveys of the territory of Kivertsi National Nature Park “Tsumanska Pushcha” during 2004–2021, 203 species of fungi and fungus-like organisms were detected and registered. A comparative analysis of the species composition of the mycoflora of the park was carried out. The most diversified and rich was the phylum Basidiomycota, which comprises 172 species, belonging to 48 genera of 49 families, ten orders of the class Agaricomycetes. Many rare macromycetes that are rare or relatively rare for Ukraine (i.e., Cortinarius bolaris, Craterellus cornucopioides, Entoloma bloxamii, Fistulina hepatica, and Gyroporus castaneus) and listed in the Red Book of Ukraine (Grifola frondosa, Phaeolepiota aurea, Pseudoboletus parasiticus, and Sparassis crispa) have been discovered. For two species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine (Grifola frondosa and Pseudoboletus parasiticus), new localities have been discovered. As of today, the conducted studies expand information about the mycoflora of the Kivertsi National Nature Park “Tsumanska Pushcha”. However, the mycoflora of the park still requires further, more detailed research and inventory.

Two species of the genus Woodsia R. Br. have been reported for Ukraine: W. alpina (Bolton) Gray and W. ilvensis (L.) R. Br. Based on our analysis of the literature data and the herbarium specimens of 53 herbaria from Ukraine, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Romania and Slovak Republic, we present maps of the distribution of the genus in Ukraine showing correct, unconfirmed and erroneous records. Our results show a changed perception of the distribution pattern of Woodsia genus, particularly the distribution of W. alpina. The records of W. alpina in the Ukrainian Carpathians were erroneous, only W. ilvensisis growing here, and W. alpina in Ukraine has been convincingly confirmed only from Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhya region (Steppe zone of Ukraine ), from very low elevation making these sites the lowest in continental Europe. In addition to the distribution analysis, we have focused on a morphological overview of Woodsia species and their ecological affinities in Ukraine. A re-evaluation of the threat status of Woodsia species, using IUCN criteria, concludes that both species should be assessed as Critically Endangered (CR) in Ukraine.

On the territory of Ukraine during the field seasons 2015–2022, we collected eight Sciara species—S. analis Schiner, 1864, S. flavimana Zetterstedt, 1851, S. hebes (Loew, 1869), S. helvola Winnertz, 1867, S. hemerobioides (Scopoli, 1763), S. humeralis Zetterstedt, 1851, S. incerta Winnertz, 1867 and S. ruficauda Meigen, 1818. All specimens are kept in the collections of the Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology NAS of Ukraine (SIZK). According to the results of our research, the four species S. flavimana, S. hebes, S. helvola and S. incerta are being registered for the first time in Ukraine. New localities are given for S. analis, S. hemerobioides, S. humeralis and S. ruficauda. The distribution, morphological peculiarities, ecology and phenology of registered species are also briefly discussed. A key to 12 European Sciara species is given.