CHANGES IN THE VEGETATION OF THE STEPOK LOESS ISLAND (ZAPORIZHZHYA REGION) OVER A 92-YEAR PERIOD (1927–1999–2019)

Abstract

Stepok loess island is "embedded" in the Fedotova Spit together with the Biryuchy Peninsula and form an integral structure. Comparison of the Stepok vegetation cover over 92-year period of time (on the basis of 1927 M.I. Kotov data and our studies with an interval of 20 years (1999 and 2019) confirms the negative trend toward the gradual expansion of its territory exploitation. Comparative cartometric data of 1927, 1984, 1999 and 2019 show that the existing and planned construction makes up already more than half (almost 53%) of this relict island territory. In the vegetation cover of Stepok the gradual transformation of plowed lands into fallow lands continues, and there is a weak tendency to local formation of mesomorphic variants of the steppes, which is a characteristic feature of the steppe phytosystems of Ukrainian steppe reserves. A part of the unproductive lands of the loess remnant is proposed to reserve for the reconstruction of semi-desert steppe ecosystems with further inclusion in the existing network of nature reserves of the steppe part of Ukraine.