Formation of biocenoses in roadside landscapes of Cherkasy Region
Authors: Kravtsova Iryna , Sonko Sergiy , Vasylenko Olga , Gursky Ihor , Ogilko Stanislav 
Published: February 2025

Formulation of the problem. The problem solved in the article is relevant primarily due to the constant growth of the density of the transport network, and, therefore, the ever-increasing "theft" of natural ecosystems by humans from aboriginal plants and animals. However, new alien plants, which are gradually displacing local species, are able to form completely independent biocenoses, which proves the extraordinary ability of the biosphere to support life.

The purpose of the article to investigate the formation of biocenoses in the vertical structure of roadside landscapes of Cherkasy Region.

Methods. The main theoretical approach to identifying human-made landscapes, including linear ones, in this study is based on the prioritization of ecosystem dynamics. This approach emphasizes the maintenance or enhancement of the ability of ecosystems to maintain their natural processes and functions over time. General scientific and specific scientific methods of geographical research were applied. Especially important for the implementation of the tasks are the methods of geobotanical research.

Results. The study of the main parameters of the roadside landscapes of the Cherkasy Region was carried out by us in accordance with the pre-developed program. All parameters were combined into the following groups of factors: natural-geographic factor (geolocation, air temperature and humidity, natural radiation background); the degree of anthropogenic impact (noise level, dustiness, some geochemical indicators, proximity/distance of the roadway from agricultural land); the degree of manifestation of ecosystem relations (the number of plant species and their recurrence, the presence of invasive species and those that are indicators of salinization and waterlogging, the presence of species included in the National Catalog of Biotopes of Ukraine, the value of the Menkhinik index (species diversity). Using the method of petal diagrams, as well as the method of qualitative background, an analysis of the entire set of parameters for each polygon was performed, which made it possible to identify 5 districts of different degrees of completeness of the formation of ecosystem relations in the territory of the Cherkasy Region. Two core regions - Umansky (medium degree) and Cherkasy (low degree), the main characteristics of which are dominated by different parameters of ruderal vegetation, and three peripheral areas, in which the parameters of ruderal vegetation are below the average level - North-peripheral (Zhashkivskyi, initial degree), South-peripheral (Ladyzhynskyi, elementary level), and Central-peripheral (Zvenigorodsko-Shpolianskyi, elementary level). In general, the conducted zoning covers only those sections of highways that directly border agricultural lands. But due to the presence of mainly herbaceous vegetation in such ruderal phytocenoses, they can be the basis of future soil formation with further gradual cultivation by replacing ruderal plants with aboriginal ones.

Scientific novelty and practical significance. Studies of the biodiversity of Cherkasy Region in the territories covering biocenoses formed along the Kyiv-Odesa (M 05) and Vinnytsia-Cherkasy (M 12 and H 16) highways showed that there is almost no native vegetation. Instead, roadside biocenoses mainly consist of ruderal plant species. The scientific novelty lies in the fact that the zoning of highways in the Cherkasy Region has been carried out according to the degree of completion of the formation of ecosystem relations in roadside landscapes.