Biodiversity of the Luga river hydrological reservation within Volodymyr city (Volyn region)

Abstract

According to the results of the research, it was established that the flora of vascular plants
of the Luga River is 119 species, the faunal complex is represented by 80 species of animals of
the mammal class – 3 species, birds – 23 species, amphibians – 2 species, fish rays – 6 species,
earthworms –1 species, crustaceans – 2 species, arachnids – 2 species, insects – 28 species,
molluscs – 12 species. The following families are the most numerous in terms of the number of
genera and speciesAsteraceae, Poaceae, Lamiaceae, Apiaceae, Brassicaceae, Polygonaceae,
Rosaceae. It is these families that have the greatest floristic diversity and occupy a leading place
in the study area, and their spectrum is evidence of a strong anthropogenic influence on the
vegetation cover.
Various biotopes have formed in the floodplain of the Luga River and along its periphery,
which differ in structure and varying degrees of transformation. The plant species composition of
the floodplain of the Luga River is represented by typical aquatic, coastal-aquatic macrophytes
and mesophytic forbs of floodplain meadows. The largest areas are occupied by monodominant
groups of Phragmites australis and Glyceria maxima, in smaller measures Typha latifolia. The
animal world of the Luga River and its floodplain is represented by 16 species of hydrobionts
and 13 species of amphibiotic animals. Mammalia – 1 species, Aves – 6 species, Amphibia – 2
species, Actinopterygii – 6 species, Crustacea – 1 species, Insecta – 6 species, Bivalvia – 2
species, Gastropoda – 6 species.
The marginal biotopes of the terraces are characterized by the dominance of ruderal
communities with a significant participation of adventive plant species. The rarity component of
the flora is represented by rare groups of yellow pitcher plants (Nuphareta luteae). Intensive
processes of natural overgrowth of the Luga River bed have been noted, which causes the flow to
slow down, silt to accumulate, and the species composition of plants and animals to change. The
study area is characterized by high phytocenotic activity Аcer negиndo, Echinocуstis lobata,
Solidago canadensis, Heracleum sosnowskyi, Heracleum mantegazzianumm etc. The animal
world of the edge terraces is represented by 64 species of animals. Mammalia – 3 species, Aves
– 20 species, Amphibia – 2 species, Crustacea – 1 species, Arachnida – 2 species, Insecta – 28
species, Gastropoda – 4 species.
The main trends and threats caused by the anthropogenic factor have been identified:
increased recreational load and accompanying degradation of vegetation due to direct impact on
areas of mass gathering of vacationers, which leads to the disappearance of typical coastal-water
species of plants and animals associated with them, transformation as a result of anthropogenic
eutrophication, which leads to a change in the structure of macrophyte and hydrobiont
communities. The transformation of plant cover and animal complexes takes place in the
direction of replacing natural species with apophytes and adventitious plant species,
synanthropic animal species and plant pests that are more resistant to anthropogenic influence.