Publication details
Plant communities with the dominant Elaeagnus angustifolia in Ukraine: classification and distribution
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2023 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Biologia |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Web | https://doi.org/10.1007/s11756-023-01370-1 |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11756-023-01370-1 |
| Keywords | Classification; Invasion; Syntaxonomy; Ukraine; Vegetation |
| Description | Elaeagnus angustifolia is one of the highly invasive shrubs in Ukraine, which escaped from the culture and started to form plant communities in different habitats. We aimed to: (i) analyze information about the history of cultivation, introduction, and current distribution of E. angustifolia in Ukraine; (ii) conduct a phytosociological classification of E. angustifolia-dominated stands in Ukraine; (iii) characterize the units described; (iv) compare synecological characteristics of different E. angustifolia communities; (v) reveal some reasons for the invasion success of E. angustifolia on the territory of Ukraine. We established that E. angustifolia is widespread nowadays in the steppe zone of Ukraine, but shows a tendency to expand its range northward. We identified four associations (Lactuco tataricae-Elaeagnetum angustifoliae, Plantago arenariae-Elaeagnetum angustifoliae, Balloto nigrae-Elaeagnetum angustifoliae, Leymo sabulosi-Elaeagnetum angustifoliae) and one community (Elytrigia repens-Elaeagnus angustifolia) with the dominance of oleaster in Ukraine. Using DCA-ordination, it was demonstrated that the main gradients of a plant community's differentiation are the climate's aridity-humidity and thermoregime of the territory. The invasion success of E. angustifolia is caused by anthropogenic pressure as well as the biological peculiarities of this species. |