ANALYSIS OF THE SYSTEMATIC STRUCTURE OF THE FLORA OF WATER AND COASTAL-WATER ECOSYSTEMS OF SMALL RIVERS OF THE DESNA RIVER LOWER REACHES

Abstract

The relevance of studying the flora of small rivers in the lower Desna is due to the need to analyze the phytodiversity of ecosystems that are subject to significant anthropogenic impact and demonstrate high ecological vulnerability. Small watercourses play a key role in the functioning of the landscapes of Polissia, ensuring the maintenance of the hydrological regime, the stability of local biocenoses and the preservation of rare and hydrological species. Climate change, intensification of economic activity, urbanization and drainage of territories lead to a significant impoverishment of the species composition of the flora. In this regard, the study of the flora of aquatic and coastal aquatic coenoses is of particular importance for substantiating measures for the protection and restoration of natural ecosystems. The purpose of the study is a comprehensive analysis of the systematic structure of the flora of aquatic and coastal aquatic ecosystems of small rivers in the lower Desna, identification of taxonomic diversity and clarification of the level of synanthropization. The work is based on field materials from 2016–2023, carried out within the boundaries of the Lyubetsko- Chernihiv and Dniprovsko-Nizhnyodesny physical and geographical regions of Chernihiv Polissia. Field surveys were conducted by semi-stationary and route methods along the beds of small rivers, with mandatory processing of herbarium material and literary sources. The nomenclature of taxa is given in accordance with Plants of the World Online. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the presented comprehensive structural and comparative analysis of the flora of small rivers of the lower Desna, with the determination of leading genera and families, structural patterns, the level of synanthropization and ecological transformation of the floristic composition. The collected materials allow us to form an idea of the ecological state of the region’s aquatic ecosystems and can serve as a basis for further research.The practical significance of the results lies in the possibility of their use in environmental planning, monitoring of biodiversity changes, preparation of programs for the restoration of degraded areas, as well as in educational and scientific work to form the environmental awareness of the local population.