History of formation, taxonomic composition, biomorphological and ecological structure of the arboretum of Shatsk forest college named after V.V. Sulka

Abstract

Arboretum of Shatsk Forest College named after V.V. Sulka, a valuable center of dendroflora for conservation and enrichment of biodiversity of Volyn Polissya, occupies an area of 1.5 hectares. The history of the formation of the arboretum of Shatsk Forest College named after V.V. Sulka from its creation to the present days (for 50 years) is given. The results of the arboretum dendroflora inventory are presented, with 147 species (109 rare species) belonging to 94 genera, 41 families, 23 orders, two classes. Most species belong to the Magnoliophyta division - 115 species (78.2%), whereas to Pinophyta division - 32 species (21.8%). Plants grow in the following plantings: groups, alleys, hedges, living walls, solitaires, and common mixed groups. 144 species of woody plants belong to phanerophytes, with mesophanerophytes (38.9%) (megaphanerophytes - 24.3%, microphanerophytes - 26.4%, nanophanerophytes - 10.4%) and 3 species of hamephytes predominating. An analysis of the ecological structure (in relation to: light demand, demand for moisture level, and demand for soil fertility) is given. The ecological structure is mostly represented by hemiskophytes - 65 species (44.2%) and heliophytes - 62 species (44.2%), while sciophytes - 20 species (13.6%) are significantly less represented. In relation to soil fertility demand, the following were identified: mesotrophs - 72 species (49.0% of the total number of species); slightly less oligotrophs (27.9%) and megatrophs (20.4%), and mesooligotrophs, which are the least represented - 2.7%. The range of woody plants species of arboretum consists of six types of hygromorphs, with mesophytes - 57 species and xeromesophytes - 25 species being the most common, whereas hygromesophytes - 4 species (2.7%) belong to less common. Almost by the same quantity hygrophytes (16 species, 10.9%), xerophytes (16 species, 10.9%), mesohygrophytes (18 species, 12.2%), and mesoxerophytes (11 species, 7.5%) are represented. The current state of woody plants was evaluated. 95% of woody plants are in good condition, with four species having satisfactory and four species - unsatisfactory condition.