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42 Кияк В. Г.

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Інститут екології Карпат НАН України, Львів
e-mail: vlodkokyjak@ukr.net

Kyyak V.H.
Population dynamics of Senecio carpaticus Herbich in the Chornohora (Ukrainian Carpathians)
An analysis of the structural and dynamic transformations in the populations of Senecio сarpaticus
Herbich in the Chornohora range (the Ukrainian Carpathians), which have occurred during the last
decades under the influence of climatogenic and demutational changes, was conducted. A comparative
analysis of the population of S. sarpaticus in the Seslerietum cariceto-festucosum grouping on Rebra
mountain (1950 m. above sea level), which had been conducted over a long period (1982-2022),
revealed its high stability. During the entire period of observations, a slight decrease in the population
density was noted without any changes among the main population parameters - spatial, age and
vitality structures. This stability is caused by almost the same anthropogenic load in the form of low
intensity of grazing and trampling during these decades. At the same time, the populations and groups
of the upper zone of the alpine zone have not experienced the destabilizing influence of shrubs and
competitive plant species yet. Phytocenoses of Sesleria coerulans, which are primary alpine, can serve
as an example of the least dynamics under modern climate changes in the highlands of the Ukrainian
Carpathians. On the other hand, the rapid negative dynamics of Senecio сarpaticus has been detected
at the lower altitudinal limit of spreading in recent years, which is caused by the high vulnerability of
this alpine species to shading. Competitive species of the grass of alpine phytocenoses, to be specific,
Deschampsia cespitosa, Calamagrostis villosa, as well as Festuca picta, on the condition of their high
vitality and density displace this heliophytic species. It was established that the main cause of these
processes is climate changes, as a result of which the phytocenotic optimum of montane and subalpine
species rises to higher hypsometric levels, where they acquire higher density as well as vitality and
displace shorter alpine heliophyte species. The high speed of these processes was revealed. The
population of Senecio carpaticus, which used to be progressive and young on Pozhyzhevska mountain
(1760 m) and was characterized by positive dynamics for several years (in 2011-2016), is rapidly
degrading. During the last three years the projective cover of S. carpaticus in locuses with high shading
has been reducing from 80-90% to 10-15%. The adaptive response of S. carpaticus under these
conditions is an increase in vegetative mobility, which is directed centrifugally from the source of
shading.
Key words: rare plant species, populations, Senecio carpaticus, Ukrainian Carpathians.