GEOGRAPHICAL PRINCIPLES OF DISTRIBUTION OF INVASIVE FLORA OF RAILWAYS IN KIROVOHRAD REGION
Authors: Kyselov Yuriі , Parakhnenko Vladyslav 
Published: December 2021

Development of transport capable to overcome distances of the planetary level, was caused to more intensive, than early, expansion allied, especially invasive, species of plants that become concurrent for aboriginal flora. Phytoinvasions are one of the most important geoecological problems of our time, as they disrupt the species composition and structure of natural phytocenoses, ultimately leading to the impoverishment of the plant component of landscapes and the reduction of biodiversity. One of leading factors in the spread of adventitious and, in particular, invasive species is rail transport, as a result of which seeds and organs of plants capable of taking root and gradually displacing the aboriginal flora get in the way.

Although among the invasive flora of Kirovohrad region there are representatives of different systematic groups and life forms of plants, still clearly dominated by angiosperms and - at the same time - herbaceous plants. Main peculiarities of the space differentiation are described by the examples of railway stations of Holovanivsk and Znamianka situated consequently in the West and the East of the Kirovohrad region. The most common representative of the invasive flora of the railways of the studied region is ragweed, also widespread grindelia spread (in the west of the Kirovograd region) and sweet silique (in the east of the region). Of the families of flowering plants, the most widely represented are Aster (Compositae), a significant place is occupied by Cabbage (Cruciferous), Thin-legged (Cereals), Legumes and others.

Factors contributing to the naturalization of invasive species and their rapid displacement of aboriginal flora are various. The main ones are eurybiont, unpretentious to the conditions of the habitat, the significant size of the aboveground phytomass.

The internal diversity in the invasive flora of the region's railways is mainly due to the influence of the factor of the sectoral nature of natural conditions within the territory rather elongated from west to east. Therefore, in the presence of clear common features characterizing the invasive flora of the region, the differences associated with predominance of moisture-loving plants in the western part of the region and drought-resistant plants in the eastern part are noticeable.

The practical use of the study results is associated with the possibility of improving the system of measures to combat phytoinvasions, taking into account the geographical features of the spatial distribution of individual species.

Results of the investigation may be used during realizing tasks of ecologization of land using, especially defining priorities in the struggle with invasive species of the plants of railways. Discovered internal differentiation in expansion different allied species in Kirovohrad region gives a ground for defining the most important factors of distortion natural biodiversity in its different parts. Studying space peculiarities of expansion allied flora has a significance for create concrete actions directed to renewing initial space composition of phytocenosis and landscapes distorted by invasions.

Key words: invasive flora, railway tracks, Kirovohrad region, adventitia, ragweed, grindelia spread, itching eastern.