http://ecology.dp.ua/index.php/ECO/issue/feedBiosystems Diversity2024-03-29T11:17:15+02:00Brygadyrenko Viktor Vasyl'ovychbrigad@ua.fmOpen Journal Systems<p><img style="float: left; margin-right: 15px;" src="/public/site/images/admin/bd_cover3.jpg" alt=""></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Aims and scope.</strong> Biosystems Diversity publishes peer-reviewed original research and review articles across all aspects of diversity in biology and ecology from the individual to the ecosystem level. We publish papers concerned with biodiversity, population ecology, evolutionary biology, ecological genetics, multi-species communities, conservation biology, theoretical models, agroecological studies, and bioresources management. Both field studies and laboratory experiments are accepted, as well as studies in natural and anthropogenically transformed ecosystems, urban landscapes and agroecosystems. Authors are encouraged to submit their ideas and contributions to the understanding of biological and ecological mechanisms in biosystems. Biosystems Diversity focuses on good-quality research, reporting scientifically sound observations and valid conclusions, which bring new and important information to the attention of the wider international scientific community. The journal publishes contributions in the following basic areas: Genetics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Botany, Zoology and Ecology.</p>http://ecology.dp.ua/index.php/ECO/article/view/1230Increased soil penetration resistance drives degrees of hemeroby in vegetation of urban parks 2024-03-29T11:16:57+02:00K. O. Molozhonguslistyj@i.uaO. I. Lisovetsguslistyj@i.uaO. M. Kunakhguslistyj@i.uaO. V. Zhukovguslistyj@i.ua<p class="Annot"><span lang="EN-US" style="letter-spacing: -.5pt;">Urban parks provide a variety of ecosystem services, and a range of management practices promote their maximisation. The species diversity of plant communities is a factor in the maintenance of ecosystem services. The reconstruction of parks is one of the management practices, but the environmental impact of such activities is not clear. The reconstruction of parks affects vegetation and soil cover, and the interconnection of these components of the urban park ecosystem has not been studied before. The study revealed the features of variability of physical properties of soil and vegetation cover and identified their interconnection in the conditions of urban park reconstruction. The study was conducted in the recreational area of the Botanical Garden of Oles Honchar Dnipro National University (Ukraine). The park was studied in the area where reconstruction activities had previously been carried out. During the reconstruction process, walkways were restored, shrubs were removed, old or damaged trees were excavated, and tree crowns were trimmed. Young trees were planted in place of the removed old trees. Old outbuildings that significantly impaired the aesthetic impression of the park were also dismantled. The reconstruction involved transport and construction equipment. Samples were collected within transects, two of which were located in the reconstruction area, and two other transects were located in a similar area of the park where no reconstruction was carried out. The plant community was found to consist of 65 species. The mean level of alpha diversity was 11.5 species and beta diversity was 5.7. The alpha diversity was higher in the reconstructed park. The principal component analysis of the variability of soil properties extracted four principal components with eigenvalues greater than one. The principal components 1 and 3 reflect the variability of soil properties induced by the park's reconstruction, while the principal components 2 and 4 reflect variability that may be caused by other anthropogenic factors unrelated to the park's reconstruction, or may be due to natural variability of the soil cover. The principal component 1 indicates a uniform increase in the soil penetration resistance as a result of the application of technological processes during the reconstruction. This effect may be the result of the direct technological impact of the mechanisms employed and the large number of employees involved in the park's reconstruction. The condition of the crown space of the park plantation can explain the variation in soil penetration resistance. The increase in the height and projective cover of the grass vegetation is due to a decrease in the closure of the stand crowns, but the effect of such coordinated stand and grass dynamics on soil penetration resistance is observed only at a depth of 25–55 cm. This effect can be explained by the influence of the plant root system on the physical state of the soil. The root system of herbaceous plants is capable of loosening the soil and reducing its soil penetration resistance. The reconstruction of the park led to an increase in the hemeroby of the plant community. The criterion for the success of the reconstruction may be an increase in the attractiveness of the park for visitors without the risk of increasing hemeroby. The trend of increasing hemeroby clearly coincides with the direction of transformation of soil conditions, which are indicated by the principal component 1. The increase in the soil penetration resistance is a driver of the growth of vegetation cover hemeroby. The physical environment of the soil cover acts as an important environmental filter that affects the structure of the vegetation cover and the species composition of plant species complexes. </span></p>2023-10-12T00:00:00+03:00Copyright (c) http://ecology.dp.ua/index.php/ECO/article/view/1231Hybrids of monocots in the flora of Ukraine: Preliminary synopsis 2024-03-29T11:15:43+02:00I. Olshanskyiguslistyj@i.ua<p class="Annot"><span lang="EN-US" style="letter-spacing: -.5pt;">Monocots include ca. 74 000–85 000 species. It is one of the most species rich, ecologically and economically important groups of plants. At the same time, monocots are a key component of ecosystems and have utilitarian significance. In agriculture the majority of the biomass produced comes from monocots. Many plants from this group are used as ornamentals or medicinal plants. This work is devoted to the study of the nomenclature of monocot hybrids in the flora of Ukraine. In general, there are many unsolved problems in the nomenclature of hybrids. Numerous names require clarification. The aim of this study is to compile a list of intergeneric and interspecific hybrids of monocots in the flora of Ukraine. This list includes wild hybrids, as well as cultivated ones that grow spontaneously in the wild. The list of hybrids is compiled mainly on the basis of literary sources. The names of taxa and nothotaxa are indicated according to IPNI. Formulas of the hybrids, basionyms and synonyms are given for the hybrids. The list of monocots' hybrids in the flora of Ukraine offered here includes 87 hybrids. There are many hybrids in the following families: Cyperaceae (20), Orchidaceae (25), Poaceae (22) and Potamogetonaceae (8). In other families there are not many hybrids: Amaryllidaceae (1), Araceae (2), Asparagaceae (1), Commelinaceae (1), Iridaceae (1), Juncaceae (4), Liliaceae (1), Typhaceae (1). There were a number of difficulties during the preparation of this article: 1) there is not enough information, the hybridization of plant species is poorly studied in Ukraine, 2) it is difficult to draw a clear line between hybrids and species of hybridogenic origin, 3) disputed status of parental taxa (i.e. different researchers consider parental taxa in different ranks). Therefore, this list should be considered preliminary. </span></p>2023-11-28T00:00:00+02:00Copyright (c) http://ecology.dp.ua/index.php/ECO/article/view/1232Landsat archive for detection of change in Mediterranean ecosystems: The case of Northern Morocco 2024-03-29T11:16:51+02:00Y. Bouzianiguslistyj@i.uaS. Lahssiniguslistyj@i.uaS. Moukrimguslistyj@i.uaA. Azedouguslistyj@i.uaH. Mharzi-Alaouiguslistyj@i.uaA. Benabouguslistyj@i.ua<p class="Annot"><span lang="EN-US" style="letter-spacing: -.5pt;">The study of changes in land cover provides a better understanding of the interactions between humans and natural ecosystems. In this context, the present study focused on the dynamics of natural ecosystems in the Rif region of Northern Morocco. The methodology was based on the inspection and visual interpretation of Landsat and Google Earth image captures, the time series of five Landsat 4-8 image bands, and the Tasseled Cap indices for a random sample of 500 points from 1984 to 2022. The study found that changes affected practically the whole study region over the study period, with around a third of them being ignored due to their very tiny magnitudes or being false positives. The findings demonstrated a general declining trend in the measured changes, indicating a reduction in pressure on different ecosystems. Furthermore, this tendency may be due in part to the availability of Google Earth images during the 2000s, which has significantly reduced the number of false positives. In terms of the year of first change, only 5.7% of pixels experienced their first events after the year 2000, implying that these pixels underwent no change for at least the first 16 years of the study period. On the other hand, 2.5% of the pixels had their last events during the first ten years and have thus remained unmodified for at least 27 years. For the year 2020, the confidence rating of the visual land cover categorization is medium to high for 88.9% of pixels using high-resolution Google Earth photos, whereas the classification quality was inadequate for 64% of pixels in 1984. Despite the stresses on the ecosystems structured by shrubs/shrubs, forests, and herbaceous/shrubs caused by the different disturbances identified, the majority of these ecosystems have not been converted to new land cover classes. According to the study, agriculture is the primary driving force underlying the conversion of forests, herbaceous/shrublands, and even shrublands/shrublands. The area increases for the latter three ecosystems represent, on the one hand, their ability to regenerate themselves and, on the other, Morocco's restoration efforts. </span></p>2023-10-14T00:00:00+03:00Copyright (c) http://ecology.dp.ua/index.php/ECO/article/view/1233Analysis of polymorphism and development of a molecular-genetic system for genotyp-ing by the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene 2024-03-29T11:16:33+02:00A. Saienkoguslistyj@i.uaM. Pekaguslistyj@i.uaO. Tsereniukguslistyj@i.uaM. Babiczguslistyj@i.uaK. Kropiwiec-Domańskaguslistyj@i.uaA. Onyshchenkoguslistyj@i.uaP. Vashchenkoguslistyj@i.uaV. Balatskyguslistyj@i.ua<p>This article explores the genetic variability of the gene that encodes telomerase reverse transcriptase (<em>TERT</em>), which plays a key role in maintaining telomere length and, as a result, genome stability in various eukaryotic species. The study employs a comprehensive approach that combines phylogenetic and bioinformatic analysis with molecular-genetic research methods. The research involved the screening of genetic databases to investigate <em>TERT</em> gene orthologues across organisms belonging to different systematic groups. The <em>TERT</em> gene, which is prevalent in a wide range of eukaryotic biological species, exhibits polymorphisms that have the potential to influence <em>TERT</em> enzyme function and, consequently, animal phenotypes. The primary focus of this study centers on the pig <em>TERT</em> gene, selected as a model organism due to its genetic similarity to humans and its importance as a productive agricultural species. The article explores the exon-intron structure of the <em>TERT</em> gene, analyzing the size of the corresponding transcript and protein product. Furthermore, it provides data on polymorphisms in the pig <em>TERT</em> gene, including missense and synonymous variants. The chromosomal localization of these polymorphisms is characterized and correlated with the domain structure of the <em>TERT</em> enzyme. For the evaluation of the impact of polymorphisms on the structural and functional properties of the <em>TERT</em> enzyme, a molecular-genetic system based on the PCR-RFLP method has been developed. This PCR-RFLP system serves as a basis for subsequent experimental analyses of missense and synonymous variants in population and association studies, allowing for an assessment of the prevalence of these polymorphisms and their significance for animal phenotypes. Given the significance of further laboratory investigation of the pig <em>TERT</em> gene, the developed PCR-RFLP system becomes necessary for the assessment of the functional implications of the polymorphisms within this gene and the potential identification of causative ones among them. The synergy of bioinformatics and molecular-genetic methods in this study lays the groundwork for future impactful research in this field. The presented study holds promise for marker-associated selection, as it opens the way for the use of the <em>TERT</em> gene as a marker in the genetic improvement of agricultural animal species.</p>2023-10-25T00:00:00+03:00Copyright (c) http://ecology.dp.ua/index.php/ECO/article/view/1234Identification of gelodok fish (Perciformes, Gobiidae) in a coastal mangrove ecosystem, based on morphological and molecular characteristics 2024-03-29T11:16:26+02:00D. W. K. Baderanguslistyj@i.uaR. V. Aydalinaguslistyj@i.uaM. S. Hamidunguslistyj@i.uaN. V. Pantiguslistyj@i.ua<p>Gelodok fish (mudskippers) are a subfamily of amphibian fish commonly found living in mangrove ecosystems, one of which is in Tabongo Village, Dulupi District, Boalemo Regency, Gorontalo Province. It is difficult to distinguish between species of this fish because they have very similar characteristics. This study aims to (1) determine the detailed morphological characteristics that distinguish gelodok fish species; and (2) determine the molecular characteristics of gelodok fish species found in coastal mangrove ecosystem of Tomini Bay, Tabongo Village, Boalemo Regency, Gorontalo. This research was conducted from 2022 to 2023 using purposive sampling method. Morphological characteristics were performed for 39 characters. Geometric-morphometric analysis was performed using ImageJ software with 10 land marks. Amplification of COI sequences was carried out with F1R1 and F2R2 primers. Based on morphological characteristics, it is known that two species of gelodok fish are found in the area, namely <em>Periophthalmus argentilineatus</em> and <em>P. malaccensis</em>. COI sequencing results of the samples confirmed one species of gelodok fish found in the area, namely <em>P. argentilineatus</em>. The other species cannot be definitively identified as <em>P. malaccensis</em> due to the absence of COI sequences for that species in GeneBank.</p>2023-10-27T00:00:00+03:00Copyright (c) http://ecology.dp.ua/index.php/ECO/article/view/1235Characteristics of marine strain Streptomyces sp. with antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity 2024-03-29T11:15:50+02:00V. O. Ivanytsiaguslistyj@i.uaМ. D. Shtenikovguslistyj@i.uaI. V. Strashnovaguslistyj@i.uaN. V. Korotaіevaguslistyj@i.uaN. V. Tytarenkoguslistyj@i.uaT. V. Gudzenkoguslistyj@i.uaN. Y. Vasylievaguslistyj@i.uaO. G. Gorshkovaguslistyj@i.uaG. V. Lisіutinguslistyj@i.uaK. S. Potapenkoguslistyj@i.uaO. V. Andriushchenkoguslistyj@i.uaM. M. Chabanguslistyj@i.ua<p>The Black Sea is a unique water basin consisting of a thin superficial oxygenic layer with moderate salinity, and a deep anoxic water mass. The microbiota of the Black Sea remains relatively understudied, which makes it interesting first of all from the most practical point of view of the search for producers of new biologically active compounds. A strain of actinobacteria <em>Streptomyces</em> sp. ONU 561 was isolated from the surface of mussel shells collected in the coastal zone of Odesa. It demonstrated a wide range of antagonistic activity, inhibiting the growth of a set of opportunistic pathogens, including representatives of <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>, <em>Escherichia coli</em>, <em>Proteus vulgaris</em>, and <em>Klebsiella pneumoniae</em>. In addition, bacteria of this strain were able to inhibit the growth of all tested strains of mycelial fungi, including representatives of <em>Aspergillus niger</em>, <em>A. flavus</em> and <em>Fusarium oxysporum</em> species, and <em>Candida albicans</em> yeast. A significant cytotoxic effect was revealed in the cell cultures of human malignant cells – human rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) and human laryngeal adenocarcinoma (Hep-2). Analysis of the exometabolome of the strain did not explain these effects.The strain was comprehensively characterized, including physiological, biochemical, and morphological traits. The complete genome of the strain was sequenced using Illumina HiSeq 4000 (2x150) and ONT and annotated using NCBI PGAP. Its genome has a size of 8 359 197 bp. GC content – 71.59%. Using antiSMASH 7.0, 35 biosynthetic clusters were revealed. The indices of digital DNA-DNA hybridization and orthoANI for all of the type strains with <em>Streptomyces </em>sp. ONU 561 are much lower than threshold values for the species separation. The obtained results, including a comparative analysis of the genome, indicate the possible affiliation of the strain <em>Streptomyces</em> sp. ONU 561 to a new species and the potential ability of these actinobacteria to synthesize previously unknown antibiotic compounds.</p>2023-11-24T00:00:00+02:00Copyright (c) http://ecology.dp.ua/index.php/ECO/article/view/1236Functional diversity along disturbance and environmental gradients in Ethiopian moist Afromontane forest 2024-03-29T11:16:08+02:00F. A. Jelduguslistyj@i.uaM. Toleraguslistyj@i.uaT. Woldeamanuelguslistyj@i.ua<p class="Annot"><span lang="EN-US" style="letter-spacing: -.5pt;">Considering multiple measures to fully capture functional diversity is important. However, the effects of disturbance gradients on diversity have been controversial, as species diversity alone may not fully capture these effects. This study aimed to evaluate trait-based diversity across disturbance gradients in the moist Afromontane forest of Ethiopia, Yayu Coffee Forest Biosphere Reserve (YCFBR). Vegetation data and relevant traits related to plant-life strategies, competition, and responses to disturbances were collected. A multiple regression model was used to test the response of functional diversity to disturbances and environmental gradients. The results revealed functional diversity in plant communities, including dendrogram-based functional diversity for plot-based (FDp), functional richness (FRic), functional evenness (FEve), functional divergence (FDiv), functional dispersions (FDis), and community-weighted mean of maximum tree height (CWM.Hmax), showed decreasing patterns with increasing disturbance intensity in the YCFBR. Additionally, the findings highlighted that FDis and Hmax are the most vulnerable functional traits to anthropogenic factors and are less tolerant in disturbed ecosystem environments. Therefore, reducing disturbances is crucial to maintaining higher levels of these functional diversities. For example, the results showed that the CWM.Hmax declined from 27.25 m to 15 m, indicating a shift towards shorter plant species. In contrast, the community-weighted mean of woody density (CWM.WD), the community-weighted mean of specific leaf area (CWM.SLA), and the community-weighted mean of seed mass (CWM.SM) increased significantly with an increase in disturbance intensity. For instance, CWM.SM and CWM.SLA changed from 5 to 14.25 (g) and 90 to 130 (cm<sup>2</sup>/g), respectively. These indices may serve as indicators of ecosystem resilience at disturbed forest ecosystem sites. Furthermore, the regression results indicated that FDp, FRic, FEve, FDiv, FDis, CWM.WD, and CWM.Hmax showed increasing patterns with increasing species richness, which suggests that protecting and promoting species diversity can contribute to maintaining high levels of functional diversity. The mixed effects model revealed that anthropogenic disturbance and elevational gradients had significant effects on functional diversity in the YCFBR. Therefore, when managing and conserving biodiversity in heterogeneous environments, both anthropogenic factors and environmental variables need to be considered. Species with low SLA and SM are recommended for the restoration of disturbed ecosystems. Overall, this study demonstrates that trait-based functional diversity is useful for predicting the adaptation potentials of species in heterogeneous environments and disturbance gradients. </span></p>2023-11-12T00:00:00+02:00Copyright (c) http://ecology.dp.ua/index.php/ECO/article/view/1237The importance of terrain factors in the spatial variability of plant cover diversity in a steppe gully 2024-03-29T11:16:14+02:00T. Mykhailyukguslistyj@i.uaO. Lisovetsguslistyj@i.uaH. Tutovaguslistyj@i.ua<p>Information about the slope angle and its exposure is often given when describing plant communities. However, the slope angle should be noted to affect a complex of different phenomena and processes. The slope angle affects the albedo and thermal regime of the soil. The slope angle affects the redistribution of moisture and determines the moisture availability of a particular area. The slope angle also determines the risks of erosion processes. In turn, erosion processes determine the depth of the soil layer and the content of organic matter in it, which greatly affects the conditions for plant life and their dynamics. Therefore, the slope angle of the relief is a complex environmental indicator, which is its most important weakness. The information on the slope angle of the relief surface does not indicate which environmental factor is limiting and determines the characteristics of the vegetation cover. Similarly, the quantitative orientation of a slope using rhumb lines is a rather crude way to indicate the role of terrain in the redistribution of solar energy. With a certain degree of accuracy, rhumbs characterize incoming solar radiation, but are not sensitive to estimating the amount of diffuse radiation. Modern geoinformation technologies make it possible to determine the amount of solar radiation reaching the terrain surface using a digital elevation model. The aim of the article was to identify the role of relief factors in terms of topographic wetness index, erosion index, and solar radiation in the spatial variability of the vegetation diversity of a steppe gully. There was no linear correlation between the other predictors. Some correlations can be interpreted as the result of certain nonlinear patterns. In this sense, the geomorphological predictors are mostly linearly independent and thus each of them carries independent information for characterizing environmental conditions. The vegetation cover of the gully system was represented by 263 plant species. The analysis of the synoptic phytosociological table allowed us to find out that the vegetation cover of the studied gully system is represented by six classes of vegetation. The geomorphological predictors allowed for a classification of vegetation types with an accuracy of 23.8% to 100%. The topographic wetness index was the most important for classification. Altitude and insolation were also important for classification (94 and 95 respectively). The topographic wetness index provided an accurate identification of wetland vegetation of the <em>Phragmito-Magnocaricetea </em>class. Naturally, this type of vegetation preferred biotopes with the highest level of soil moisture. High insolation accurately labeled the locations where <em>Festuco-Brometea</em> steppe vegetation was most likely to be found. Some of the artificial tree plantations that occurred in the thalweg of the gully can be clearly identified by the high level of the topographic wetness index. Another group of artificial tree plantations is located on relatively high relief areas and should be differentiated from <em>Galio-Urticetea</em> communities, which prefer locations with higher light levels, and from <em>Molinio-Arrhenatheretea</em>, which prefer locations with a higher risk of erosion. The most arid locations are preferred by <em>Agropyretalia intermedio-repentis</em> vegetation. Steppe and meadow vegetation located at altitudes less than 116 meters also differ in their preferred height. Steppe vegetation is usually located at a level higher than 95 meters. Natural steppe and meadow vegetation at elevations below 116 meters differs from semi-natural <em>Galio-Urticetea</em> vegetation in that the latter usually prefers more well lit locations. Steppe communities are misclassified as meadow in 15.3% of cases, and meadow is misclassified as steppe in 18.5% of cases. Artificial tree plantations are misclassified as steppe in 42.9% of cases and 14.3% are misclassified as <em>Agropyretalia intermedio-repentis</em>. In its turn, <em>Agropyretalia intermedio-repentis</em> is misclassified as <em>Festuco-Brometea</em> in 6.7% of cases, as <em>Molinio-Arrhenatheretea</em> or <em>Onopordetalia acanthii</em> in 3.3% of cases, and as <em>Galio-Urticetea</em> in 10.0% of cases. The <em>Onopordetalia acanthii</em> community was misclassified as <em>Festuco-Brometea</em>, <em>Molinio-Arrhenatheretea</em> and <em>Galio-Urticetea</em> in 6.7% of cases, respectively.</p>2023-11-11T00:00:00+02:00Copyright (c) http://ecology.dp.ua/index.php/ECO/article/view/1238Peculiarities of soybean-rhizobial systems subject to different levels of water supply fol-lowing treatment with succinic acid and epibrassinolide 2024-03-29T11:16:02+02:00S. Y. Kotsguslistyj@i.uaL. I. Rybachenkoguslistyj@i.uaK. P. Kukolguslistyj@i.uaP. Р. Pukhtaievychguslistyj@i.uaA. V. Khrapovaguslistyj@i.uaО. R. Rybachenkoguslistyj@i.uaS. V. Omelchukguslistyj@i.ua<p>All around the world, one of the leading – according to area of cultivated fields – oleic crops is soybean, which has a high demand for moisture. Given the significance of this crop and negative impact of drought on its yield, integrated research of the influence of insufficient water supply on the intensity of physiological-biochemical processes in those plants is necessary for identifying and understanding the drought-tolerance mechanisms of soybean, as well as symbiotic systems created with its participation, and also for search for ways to adapt it to this stressor. Therefore, our objective was determining the specifics of formation and functioning of the symbiotic systems of soybean and <em>Bradyrhizobium japonicum</em>, following treatment with succinic acid (0.01 g/L) and 24-epibrassinolide (0.00001 g/L), subject to different levels of watering. Our studies revealed that pre-sowing treatment of the seeds with a solution of 24-epibrassinolide with their subsequent inoculation with <em>B. japonicum</em> Т21-2 resulted in the most pronounced stimulation of formation and functioning of the symbiotic systems of soybean in the optimal growing conditions. At the same time, during water shortage, the intensity of nitrogen fixation was the highest in the plants grown from seeds that had been successively treated with the acid and the inoculant. We confirmed that water deficit led to significant increase in the overall content of phytohormones of cytokinin nature in the soybean root nodules, depending on the way the seeds were treated. However, the largest pool of cytokinins was seen in the plants that had been treated with succinic acid against the background of both optimal and insufficient water supply. Treatment of the seeds with 24-epibrassinolide caused significant excess of content of zeatin riboside over the content of zeatin during the flowering stage, whereas in the stage of pods formation it led to an opposite effect – excess of zeatin over zeatin riboside. Fourteen days-long water deficit decreased the content of chlorophylls in the leaves and grain productivity of the plants of all variants of the experiment. The use of growth regulators managed to alleviate the negative impact of stress and protect the pigment complex from ruination. Treatment of the seeds with solutions of succinic acid and 24-epibrassinolide provided the growth of soybean grain productivity regardless on water-supply level. The most efficient was 24-epibrassinolide. Therefore, use of 24-epibrassinolide for pre-sowing treatment of the soybean seeds provided formation of effective symbiotic systems with high nitrogen-fixing activity and caused a number of specific changes in the pattern of accumulation of free and complex forms of cytokinins in the root nodules of those plants. At the same time, the treatment provided the highest concentration of photosynthesis pigments in the soybean leaves, and as a result produced the greatest increase in grain productivity of plants of all the variants, regardless of levels of water supply. In turn, use of succinic acid produced the highest level of nitrogen-fixing activity in the case of the lowest number of root nodules in the conditions of insufficient water supply, and also caused significant accumulation of cytokinins in the nodules, compared with other studied variants against the background of both optimal and insufficient water supply. Therefore, it did result in increase in soybean grain productivity, but this was lower than in the plants treated with 24-epibrassinolide.</p>2023-11-12T00:00:00+02:00Copyright (c) http://ecology.dp.ua/index.php/ECO/article/view/1239Is there an effect of electromagnetic waves from base stations on the breeding success of Ciconia ciconia ciconia in Algeria? 2024-03-29T11:16:20+02:00D. Sakraouiguslistyj@i.uaN. Zianeguslistyj@i.uaR. Ghalemguslistyj@i.uaM. Boukheroufaguslistyj@i.uaW. Habbachiguslistyj@i.ua<p>New nest supports used by the white stork <em>Ciconia ciconia ciconia</em> (Linnaeus, 1775) are mobile phone network relay antennas, which are not without danger because they emit electromagnetic waves that can have a major, although insidious, impact on the species. The aim of this study is to assess the effects of electromagnetic waves from mobile phone network base stations on white stork reproduction. We monitored the breeding phenology of the storks as a function of the distance of their nests from the base stations over 2 consecutive seasons, 2020 and 2021. The work took place in the North-East of Algeria, in Annaba and El-Tarf provinces. The nests were counted and divided into 3 distinct groups. The first is located on the relay antennae, the second less than 200 m and the third more than 300 m from the antennae. We calculated nest occupancy, number of young in the nest and number of nests without young. The results show that nests located directly on base stations have a reduced clutch size, not exceeding two storks and a low reproductive success since the majority of nests (51.9%) remained without young. The number of young storks tends to increase in nests far from base stations. Broods with 3 and 4 young are generally those located more than 300 m from relay antennas.</p>2023-11-07T00:00:00+02:00Copyright (c) http://ecology.dp.ua/index.php/ECO/article/view/1240Estimating biomass of woody plants that grow in the different As-contaminated techno-soils in the ore-bearing provinces of Eastern Germany 2024-03-29T11:16:39+02:00V. Lovynskaguslistyj@i.uaS. Stankevichguslistyj@i.uaS. Sytnykguslistyj@i.uaC. Montzkaguslistyj@i.uaK. Holoborodkoguslistyj@i.uaH. Heilmeierguslistyj@i.uaО. Wicheguslistyj@i.ua<p>Establishing the role of woody species as an instrument for heavy metal bioaccumulation is a relevant issue today in the context of the development of the phytoremediation system. The article presents the results of studies on the influence of different Arsenic (As) concentrations in soil on the development of aboveground biomass in <em>Betula pendula</em> Roth. and <em>Populus tremula</em> L. stands under conditions of reclamation plantings. The studies were conducted in 30 locations of birch and poplar tree plantations within the ore-producing regions of Saxony (Eastern Germany) in soil with different levels of As contamination. The highest As content was noted in the technosoil of the Davidschacht site, where the metalloid content was 229.3 times greater compared with a value in a conditionally uncontaminated area (Großschirma). The values of leaf area index and aboveground biomass obtained in field measurements were presented. The aboveground biomass values in the investigated plantations ranged from 189.9 ±10.16 to 201.8 ± 19.09 t/ha, and leaf area index values ranged from 1.74 ± 0.29 to 2.05 ± 0.16 m<sup>2</sup>/m<sup>2</sup>. Sentinel-2A multispectral images were processed for the construction of a map of the aboveground biomass distribution within the region under study. The values of the spectral indices for leaf area index were obtained with subsequent construction of the regression dependence of the aboveground biomass in the plantings on this indicator. The RMSE value for the developed model of the dependence of aboveground biomass on the leaf area index was 17.84 t/ha, which could be considered as satisfactory and can serve as a basis for practical application of the model developed. The inverse trend in relation to locations with different levels of soil contamination with As was determined for the aboveground biomass indicator. Within the region under study, the highest value of aboveground biomass in the stands was found for the area with the lowest As level. The results showed that the correlation coefficient between the highest of the optimal spectral indices, the leaf area index, and the aboveground biomass in <em>B. pendula</em> and <em>P. tremula</em> plantings was statistically significant and approached the value of 0.7. The results presented can become a theoretical basis for monitoring the accumulation of aboveground biomass of tree stands in areas with different levels of soil contamination with As. In perspective, the presented model of biomass estimation based on spectral technologies can serve as an application basis for rapid assessment of the growth and development parameters of forest stands in As-contaminated areas.</p>2023-10-20T00:00:00+03:00Copyright (c) http://ecology.dp.ua/index.php/ECO/article/view/1241Using normalised difference vegetation index in classification and agroecological zoning of spring row crops 2024-03-29T11:15:56+02:00P. V. Lykhovydguslistyj@i.ua<p class="Annot"><span lang="EN-US" style="letter-spacing: -.5pt;">Remote sensing is an important branch of modern science and technology with various applications in different branches of life sciences. Its application in agriculture is focused mainly on crop monitoring and yield prediction. However, the value of remote sensing in the systems of automated crop mapping and agroecological zoning of plant species is increasing. The main purpose of this study is to establish the possibility of using normalised difference vegetation index in the main spring row crops, namely maize, soybeans, sunflower, to precisely classify the fields with each crop, and to evaluate the best agroecological zones for their cultivation in rainfed conditions in Ukraine. The study was carried out using the data on the normalised difference vegetation index for the period May – November 2018 from 750 fields and experimental plots, randomly scattered over the territory of Ukraine with equal representation by every administrative district of the country. The index values were calculated using combined Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 images, with further generalisation for every crop and region. Multiclass linear discriminant analysis and canonical discriminant analysis were applied to determine whether it is possible to distinguish between the studied crops using the values of the normalised difference vegetation index as the only input. As a result, it was established that the best zone for crop cultivation is the west of the country: NDVI values for the growing season averaged to 0.34 for sunflower, 0.36 for soybeans, and 0.36 for maize, respectively. The worst growing conditions, based on the lowest NDVI values, were observed in the east for sunflower (0.26) and maize (0.25), but the minimum NDVI for soybeans (0.27) was observed in the south. Regarding the classification problem, it was found that the highest importance for the classification of crops is attributed to the values of the normalised difference vegetation index, recorded in August. The supervised learning using canonical discriminant function resulted in mediocre predictive performance of the multiple linear function with general classification accuracy of 56.5%. The best accuracy of classification was achieved for sunflower (70.4%), while it is difficult to distinguish between maize and soybeans because these crops have quite similar intra-seasonal dynamics of the vegetation index (classification accuracy was 46.8% and 52.4%, respectively; the total number of incorrectly predicted samples in the “maize-soybeans” group was 134 or 26.8%). The main limitation of this study is its single year basis, notwithstanding the fact that the year of the study was characterized as a typical one for most territory of Ukraine in terms of meteorological conditions. Therefore, more studies are required to clarify the possibility of a classification between maize and soybeans based on remote sensing data. </span></p>2023-11-19T00:00:00+02:00Copyright (c) http://ecology.dp.ua/index.php/ECO/article/view/1242Effects of biphenyl on Blaberus craniifer (Blattodea, Blaberidae) cockroaches and their parasites – gregarines and nematodes 2024-03-29T11:16:45+02:00O. V. Parhomenkoguslistyj@i.uaV. V. Brygadyrenkoguslistyj@i.ua<p>In natural ecosystems, parasites and their hosts are subject to xenobiotics, which overall weaken either a host or its parasites. There has been no laboratory study of this process on the example of cockroaches and their parasites. In accurately controlled conditions, we examined the influence of a food supplement – biphenyl – on cockroaches and their three parasites. In the conditions of our experiment, <em>Blaberus cranifer</em> (Blattodea, Blaberidae) cockroaches significantly reduced the rates of anabolism even while consuming the lowest biphenyl concentration in their diet. While the control group was observed to have a 59.4 mg/day increase in body mass, the mass of the cockroaches given biphenyl in the dose of 0.5% of diet mass decreased by 3.4 mg/day on average. Subject to high dosages of biphenyl (0.5–16.0% of fodder mass), body mass of the cockroaches decreased on average by 1.1–9.4 mg/day. The insects consumed their diet at the same rate, no matter the biphenyl concentration given. The number of gregarines <em>Blabericola cubensis</em> (Eugregarinorida, Blabericolidae) and <em>Protomagalhaensia granulosae</em> did not change even at the highest concentration (16.0% of fodder mass) added to the <em>B. craniifer</em> cockroaches’ diet. We observed no significant changes in the amount of larvae of the <em>Cranifera cranifera</em> (Oxyurida, Thelastomatidae) nematodes, while the adult nematodes tended to decline in number when subject to increased concentration of the food supplement in the cockroaches’ food. The number of <em>P. granulosae</em> gregarines did not significantly increase with body-mass gains of their hosts – cockroaches, that is despite increase in volume of their living environment (the midgut of cockroaches) and extension of the period during which the cockroaches consumed gregarine oocysts from the environment with food. Similarly, the number of <em>B. cubensis</em> gregarines also did not significantly change with increased food consumption by the cockroaches. However, we observed a tendency towards greater numbers of this gregarine in the cockroach larvae that were losing mass during the experiment. The greatest mass loss during the experiment was observed in the cockroaches that consumed biphenyl in the diet and had the largest number of <em>C. cranifera</em> nematodes in the hindgut. We observed no significant negative correlation between the numbers of <em>B. cubensis</em> and <em>P. granulosae</em> gregarines. A cockroach that was found to have 70 specimens of <em>B. cubensis</em> in the midgut, had no <em>P. granulosae</em> gregarines. In contrast, when the intestines of a cockroach contained over 10–15 specimens of <em>P. granulosae</em>, some <em>B. cubensis</em> were always present. The number of <em>C. cranifera</em> nematodes in the cockroaches’ hindgut did not depend on the number of <em>B. cubensis</em> or <em>P. granulosae</em> gregarines in their hosts’ midgut. Perhaps, this was related to absence of competition for the intestinal section among them. The regularities we found are different from what we expected to see in the parasitic system prior to the experiment. Gregarines did not compete with nematodes. Neither of them died from biphenyl, though the cockroaches ceased to normally gain weigh when eating biphenyl. That is, the host suffered from biphenyl more than the parasites, even when consuming the lowest concentration of the xenobiotic we tested.</p>2023-10-18T00:00:00+03:00Copyright (c) http://ecology.dp.ua/index.php/ECO/article/view/1244How much space is needed for biodiversity conservation? 2024-03-29T11:17:15+02:00M. Trifanovaguslistyj@i.uaG. Zadorozhnaguslistyj@i.uaR. Novitskyguslistyj@i.uaO. Ponomarenkoguslistyj@i.uaV. Makhinaguslistyj@i.uaO. Khrystovguslistyj@i.uaV. Ruchiyguslistyj@i.uaO. Zhukovguslistyj@i.ua<p class="Annot"><span lang="EN-US" style="letter-spacing: -.5pt;">The EU's 2030 Biodiversity Strategy and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework call for 30% coverage of land and sea protected areas and strict protection for 10% of land area to prevent and reverse biodiversity loss. Ukraine has declared its aspiration to integrate into the European Union and must back up its statements with action and do everything to achieve such ambitious conservation goals. Like many European countries, Ukraine faces great challenges on this route. The significant level of anthropogenic transformation of the territories makes it very difficult to find new areas to expand the boundaries of the nature reserve fund. The practical steps to create nature reserves are significantly limited by legal mechanisms that guarantee land users' ownership of the relevant land plots. An important task in nature conservation is to develop indicators that can clearly and easily demonstrate the importance of areas for conservation. Such tools are necessary to convince policy makers and land users of the need to protect the relevant areas. The indicators of importance for biodiversity conservation should be scale-independent, as both large areas and small areas are important for conservation. In this article, we consider the case of a project to expand the boundaries of the Dnipro-Orylskiy Nature Reserve by adding five areas directly adjacent to it. The number of species included in the various Red Data Lists was chosen as an indicator of the conservation value of the territory. The species-area relationship was used to assess the role of scale. The number of species on the Red Lists was considered instead of the classical relationship that considers the total number of species in a community. The normalised deviation from the regression relationship was considered as an indicator of the conservation value of the respective area, which is statistically independent of the area of the site. The different Red Lists are compiled according to different criteria, so the indicator of conservation value for each Red List focuses on the relevant conservation aspect. The results of the conservation value assessment can be presented graphically, which clearly demonstrates the role of the respective areas in the maintenance of biological diversity. The proposed algorithm for assessing conservation value can be applied to a wide range of environmental protection tasks. In terms of further research, it is important to assess the role of ecosystem function assessment in the design of protected areas. </span></p>2023-09-11T00:00:00+03:00Copyright (c) http://ecology.dp.ua/index.php/ECO/article/view/1245Contribution to the evaluation of the biomass of medicinal and aromatic plants in Mo-rocco: Case of Globularia alypum 2024-03-29T11:17:09+02:00A. Ben Salemguslistyj@i.uaA. Boujrafguslistyj@i.uaY. Dallahiguslistyj@i.uaA. El Aboudiguslistyj@i.ua<p>Morocco is distinguished by the richness of its flora, including medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) which play an important role, particularly in rural populations. Due to pressures often associated with overexploitation, monitoring of MAPs is essential to ensure their sustainability. This study looked to explore the status of <em>Globularia alypum</em> in the Amsittene site of biological and ecological interest (SBEI) in Morocco. A destructive technique was adopted to quantify biomass and productivity of <em>G. alypum</em> at six sites with different ecological characteristics in the Amsisttene SBEI. Linear regression was used to model <em>G. alypum</em> biomass as a function of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Tree cover had the greatest influence on <em>G. alypum</em> dynamics, showing a significant effect on shrub height, leaf productivity, and total productivity, as did the cutting method, with the highest biomass estimated based on pair matching of similar individuals. NDVI was found to be an adequate indicator of <em>G. alypum</em> biomass, given their high correlation (0.84) with the selected model having an R<sup>2</sup> of 0.7. The yield of extracted essential oils ranged from 3.19 to 113.43 L, from which 10 chemical compounds were identified, with ethylvanillin being the most prominent.</p>2023-09-19T00:00:00+03:00Copyright (c) http://ecology.dp.ua/index.php/ECO/article/view/1246Contribution to the knowledge of the mosses of Megriss Mountain (Algeria) 2024-03-29T11:17:03+02:00A. Mazariguslistyj@i.uaN. Boulaacheb guslistyj@i.ua<p>Due to the limited knowledge on bryophytes in Algeria, this study aimed to update the Algerian bryophyte flora. Megriss Mountain (also called Jbel or Djebel Megriss), which is a part of the High Plains of Setif, was chosen as a study area for its interesting biological and landscape diversity. The inventory was carried out in different habitats (rocks, trees, soils and streams). Samples were collected from minimum survey areas of 100 cm<sup>2</sup> (from soil and rocks), but the sample area was sometimes increased depending on the availability of species; the trees were mostly sampled between heights of 1 and 2 meters. As a result, a preliminary list of 55 moss species were identified, including 44 acrocarpous and 11 pleurocarpous, belonging to 13 families and 29 genera. The most species-rich families were Pottiaceae, Orthotrichaceae, Brachytheciaceae, and Bryaceae, while the most diverse genera were <em>Lewinskya</em> and <em>Syntrichia</em>. Epilithic mosses were dominant, followed by terricolous mosses and finally epiphytic mosses. The most frequent species in the study area were <em>Orthotrichum diaphanum</em>, <em>Lewinskya acuminate</em>, <em>Didymodon insulanus</em>, <em>Grimmia pulvinata</em>, and <em>Tortella squarrosa</em>. The study also highlights the presence of a new species that had never been recorded in Algeria -<em>Orthotrichum scanicum.</em> A comprehensive description, microphotographs of the species are provided and its ecology is also discussed. This discovery will contribute to the enrichment of the Algerian bryophyte flora in general and of the Orthotrichaceae in particular,within the genus <em>Orthotrichum</em>, which now has a total of 11 species recorded in the country.</p>2023-09-20T00:00:00+03:00Copyright (c) http://ecology.dp.ua/index.php/ECO/article/view/1247Bioecology and hemeroby of flora species in the Northern Steppe Dnipro Region 2024-03-29T11:15:37+02:00B. A. Baranovskiguslistyj@i.uaL. A. Karmyzovaguslistyj@i.uaD. V. Dubуnaguslistyj@i.uaM. V. Sheveraguslistyj@i.ua<p class="Annot"><span lang="EN-US" style="letter-spacing: -.5pt;">The information is summarized and an annotated summary of vascular plants of the flora in the Northern Steppe Dnipro Region is represented based on the materials of previous works and on our own more than 40-years research. Bioecological characteristics of the flora species within the studied region were compiled according to the Belgard ecomorph system. For the first time, the paper presented hemerobia of species for the flora in the Northern Steppe Dnipro Region. The current occurrence categories of the plant species in the studied regional flora were given, which allows us to compare changes in their abundance within a territory studied. The occurrence categories and species hemerobicity were established. Rare and endangered vascular plant species were identified using the Red Book of Dnipropetrovsk region, the Red Book of Ukraine, and the European and World Red Lists. Adventive and invasive flora species were noted. A number of vascular plant species new for the region, not previously observed, have been identified. The major families in the studied flora were: Asteraceae, Poaceae, Brassicaceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, Rosaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Scrophullariaceae, Ranunculaceae, Apiaceae, Boraginaceae. As a result of the study, the vascular plant flora in the Northern Steppe Dnipro Region was found to be characterized by significant systematic and bioecological diversity, and a high degree of rarity. It consists of 1,895 species, including 432 rare ones. At the same time, it was characterized by a fairly high degree of adventization, which indicates the modernization of the flora. A significant number of ruderal species, or species that are prone to ruderalization (619 species), and a large number of adventive species (357 species) indicates a significant anthropogenic transformation of the vegetation cover in the region. The paper presents a summary of the vascular plant flora with bioecological characteristics of the species. A detailed analysis of the flora will be presented in a further separate publication. </span></p>2023-11-28T00:00:00+02:00Copyright (c)