163 Vegetation mapping of the Dzharylhach Island (Ukraine) Anastasia Davydova1 Abstract Dzharylhach Island is the largest one in the Black Sea. It is the part of the “Dzharylhatskyi” National Nature Park, which located in the Southern Ukraine. A 1 : 10000 scale vegetation map of Dzharylhach Island has been developed. The main unit for mapping is a complex of associations. In total 28 of such complexes were identified. The map shows the territorial differentiation of vegetation. It has also been used to reconstruct the island vegetation changes over the past 90 and 20 years. A comparison of cartographic materials revealed that the predominant processes in vegetation cover are halophytization and xerophytization of communities. The most distributed types of communities on the island are aquatic – Zosteretea, halophytic – Festuco-Puccinellietea and psammophytic – Festucetea vaginatae. Due to specific hydrological and soil conditions, the northern spit and shores of the island represent natural vegetation types only. Izvleček Otok Dzharylhach je največji otok v Črnem morju in je del Narodnega naravnega parka “Dzharylhatskyi”, ki se nahaja v južni Ukrajini. Izdelala sem vegetacijsko karto otoka Dzharylhach v merilu 1 : 10000. Glavni nivo kartiranja je kompleks asociacij in vse skupaj sem jih določila 28. Na karti je predstavljena raznolikost vegetacije na otoku in prikaz sprememb vegetacije v zadnjih 90. in 20. letih. Primerjava kartografskega materiala je pokazala, da so glavni procesi v vegetacijskem pokrovu halofitizacija in kserofitizacija združb. Največ motenj na otoku imajo vodni vegetacijski tipi – Zosteretea, halofitski – Festuco-Puccinellietea in pasmofitski – Festucetea vaginatae. Zaradi posebnih hidroloških in talnih razmer je naravna vegetacija prisotna samo na severnih plažah in obalah. Key words: vegetation map, disappearance of plant communities, changes of vegetation. Ključne besede: vegetacijska karta, izginjanje rastlinskih združb, spremembe vegetacije. Corresponding author: Anastasia Davydova E-mail: anasta3Kz@gmail.com Received: 21. 1. 2021 Accepted: 13. 9. 2021 1 M. G. Kholodny Institute of Botany, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine. DOI: 10.2478/hacq-2021-002121/1 • 2022, 163–172 21/1 • 2022, 163–172 164 Anastasia Davydova Vegetation mapping of the Dzharylhach Island (Ukraine) Introduction Vegetation mapping is one of the most important methods of investigation of natural and semi-natural plant communities. It is also a necessary tool for the management of protected areas. Mapping allows to ob- serve and analyze the dynamics of vegetation under the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors. Iden- tifying patterns of vegetation changes provides an op- portunity to plan restoration measures and methods of biotope conservation. Nowadays, more often mapping is carried out using classical methods (mapping in the field) and combination with remote sensing (Leprieur et al.. 2000; Laris, 2005; Akasheh et al., 2008; Mehrabian et al., 2009; Malatesta et al., 2013; Rapinel et al., 2014). This work is the first stage that precedes the monitor- ing of vegetation by remote sensing. Vegetation map- ping was carried out and the obtained data were issued as a project in a geographic information system. Using GIS for vegetation mapping is helpful for: determining the area of communities; update and change of polygon boundaries during re-mapping; availability of material for comparison and study of vegetation dynamics processes; linking information to polygons – geobotanical relevés, data about distribution of some species or the results of population studies, phenological observations, pictures. Material and methods Study area Dzharylhach Island is located in the south of Ukraine in the Skadovsk district of the Kherson region (Figure 1). It is the part of the “Dzharylhatskyi” National Nature Park. Area of the island is 5065 hectares. It consists of two parts: the eastern (wide) – 23.2 km long and up to 4.6 km wide, and the western (narrow) – 18.5 km long and 100–200 m wide (Ardamatskaya et al. 2000). The relief of Dzharylhach is mostly flat, with low sand dunes and inter-dune depressions. The total area of fresh and brackish water bodies of the island is 948.8 ha. Most of the salt lakes dry up in summer. The predominant sedi- mentary deposits of the island are sands, sand-shell and shell-sand deposits, on which sod-sand soils (15–60 cm layer) have a slightly humus horizon. Data analysis A large-scale mapping of vegetation was made using the geographic information system QGIS 2.18.24 in order to study the differentiation of plant communities. The work consisted of several stages: 1) drawing the boundaries of communities on a base map within individual polygons, which were linked to geographical coordinates; 2) trans- fer the boundaries of communities from the base map to the interactive map; 3) compiling the legend of the map; 4) analysis of the spatial distribution of syntaxa; 5) com- parison of the author’s map with a map of 20 years ago (Ardamatskaya et al. 2000). For mapping, the island was divided into 89 areas on a Google satellite map in QGIS 2.18.24. These satellite im- ages were used as base maps to draw boundaries of com- munities complexes or associations and binding of the ge- ographic coordinates. The orientation of the terrain and the subsequent interpretation of the data were performed using five ecological-coenotic profiles with GPS-binding, which were laid across the island in the direction from north to south. The transfer of the boundaries of plant complexes was carried out by creating on a cartographic basis of polygons and correction of their boundaries (scale during the application of polygons – 1 : 5000; the scale of the created map for convenience of perception and re- production in the printed version – 1 : 10000) (Figure 2) (Pedrotti, 2013). Using QGIS 2.18.24 software, the ras- ter image of the 2000 map was linked to the grid and compared with a modern vegetation map. An accurate comparison of the boundaries of the main mapping units is made by increasing the percentage of transparency of the raster image of the upper layer. The vegetation categories were derived from author’s publications and PhD thesis (Shaposhnikova, 2017; Davy- dova et al., 2019; Davydova, 2019, 2020a,b; Davydov & Figure 1: Map of the research area: A – location in the Europe, B – Dzharylhach Island. Slika 1: Zemljevid preučevanega območja: A – lokacija v Evropi, B – otok Dzharylhach. A 21/1 • 2022, 163–172 165 Anastasia Davydova Vegetation mapping of the Dzharylhach Island (Ukraine) Davydova, 2020) in which the results of phytosociologi- cal field survey on the island in 2017–2019 (including 605 relevés) were published. Geobotanical relevés were carried out in sites of different area (1–5 m² on average for aquatic and ruderal vegetation, 3–5 m² for halophyt- ic, 5–10 m² for psammophytic) within the physiognomic boundaries of phytocoenoses and on strip transects (from 0.2 to 3.6 km) (Braun-Blanquet, 1964; Mirkin et al., 2001). Names of vascular plant species are used in accor- dance with Euro+Med PlantBase (The Euro+Med Plant- Base accessed in 21 May 2021). Results and Discussion The map of current vegetation of the Dzharylhach Is- land was created on a scale of 1 : 10000 on the basis of cartographic material and original geobotanical relevés (Figure 2) (Küchler, 1988). There are three hierarchical levels in the legend of the map according to the adapted methodical approaches by Vinogradov (1966). The highest (first) level is a type of complex, the formation of which is mainly due to the leading ecological factors (salinization and soil moisture). The map includes xeromorphic, halomorphic, hydromorphic types of complexes and non-complex type of woody and shrubby vegetation, which appeared as a result of artificial afforestation (Bioret et al., 2019). The middle (second) level summarizes the groups of complexes, which are separate forms of microrelief with plant communities at the level of the alliance. They are marked with letters of the Latin alphabet. The lower (third) level is a complex of associations (in some cases – associations), which are groups of homogeneous phytocoenoses, in the case when it is impossible to map the boundaries of individual phytocoenoses. 16 classes, 19 orders, 22 alliances, 58 associations, 4 sub-associations, 4 derivative and 3 basal communities were found on the island. The characteristics of the complex include the names of communities that predominate in area over others. The names of indigenous associations are also given, because in the case of transformed communities, their areas are so insignificant that such communities should be subordinated to indigenous ones. Complexes are marked with Arabic numerals. Areas without vegetation and buildings are marked with out-of-scale signs. The equivalents of EUNIS2020 biotopes for our proposed complexes are given (Chytrý et al., 2020). Figure 2: Vegetation map of Dzharylhach Island (A – western (narrow) part, B – eastern (wide) part). Slika 2: Vegetacijska karta otoka Dzharylhach (A – zahodni (ožji) del, B – vzhodni (širši) del). 21/1 • 2022, 163–172 166 Anastasia Davydova Vegetation mapping of the Dzharylhach Island (Ukraine) The hierarchical classification scheme of vegetation on the territory of the Dzharylhach Island Cl. Potamogetonetea Klika in Klika et Novák 1941 Ord. Potamogetonetalia Koch 1926 All. Potamogetonion Libbert 1931 Ass. Potametum pectinati Carstensen ex Hilbig 1971 Ord. Zannichellietalia pedicellatae Schaminée, Lanjouw et Schipper ex Mucina et Theurillat 2016 All. Zannichellion pedicellatae Schaminée, Lanjouw et Schipper ex Passarge 1996 Ass. Potameto-Zannichellietum pedicellatae Soó 1944 Cl. Ruppietea maritimae J. Tx. ex Den Hartog et Segal 1964 Ord. Ruppietalia J. Tx. ex Den Hartog et Segal 1964 All. Ruppion maritimae Br.-Bl. ex Westhoff in Benne- ma et al. 1943 Ass. Ruppietum maritimae Beguinot 1941 Cl. Zosteretea Pignatti 1953 Ord. Zosteretalia Béguinot ex Pignatti 1953 All. Zosterion marinae Br.-Bl. et Tx. ex Pignatti 1953 Ass. Zosteretum marinae Harmsen 1936 All. Nanozosterion noltii Den Hartog ex Mucina 2016 Ass. Zosteretum nanae Pignatti 1953 Cl. Phragmito-Magnocaricetea Klika in Klika et Novák 1941 Ord. Phragmitetalia Koch 1926 All. Phragmition communis Koch 1926 Ass. Phragmitetum australis Savich 1926 Ord. Bolboschoenetalia maritimi Hejny in Holub et al. 1967 All. Scirpion maritimi Dahl et Hadac 1941 Ass. Bolboschoenetum maritimi Eggler 1933 Ass. Scirpetum tabernaemontani Soó (1927) 1947 Ass. Junco maritimi-Cladietum marisci (Br.-Bl. & O. de Bolòs 1957) Géhu & Biondi 1988 Cl. Molinio-Arrhenatheretea Tx. 1937 Ord. Molinietalia caeruleae Koch 1926 All. Molinion caeruleae Koch 1926 Ass. Molinietum euxinae Davydova prov. BC Schedonorus pratensis [Arrhenatherion elatioris] Cl. Festucetea vaginatae Soó ex Vicherek 1972 Ord. Festucetalia vaginatae Soó 1957 All. Festucion beckeri Vicherek 1972 Ass. Festucetum beckeri Ad. Oprea 1998 Ass. Aperetum maritimae Popescu et Sanda 1972 Ass. Secaletum sylvestre Popescu et Sanda 1973 Ass. Secali sylvestri-Caricetum colchicae Davydova 2019 Ass. Centaureo odessanae-Caricetum colchicae Ty- schen ko 1999 Ass. Apero maritimi-Chrysopogonetum grylli Davy- dova 2019 Subass. Apero maritimi-Chrysopogonetum grylli typicum Davydova 2019 Subass. Apero maritimi-Chrysopogonetum grylli stipetum borysthenicae Davydova 2019 Ass. Carici colchicae-Holoschoenetum vulgaris Sorbu et al. 1995 BC Stipa borysthenica [Festucion beckeri] Cl. Helichryso-Crucianelletea maritimae Géhu et al. in Sissingh 1974 Ord. Ephedro distachyae-Medicaginetalia romanicae Du- byna et Dziuba 2019 All. Ephedro distachyae-Medicaginion romanicae Du- byna et Dziuba 2019 Ass. Ephedro-Caricetum colchicae (Prodan 1939) Sanda et Popescu 1973 Ass. Artemisietum arenariae Popescu et Sanda 1977 Cl. Juncetea maritimi Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl. et al. 1952 Ord. Juncetalia maritimi Br.-Bl. ex Horvatić 1934 All. Juncion maritimi Br.-Bl. ex Horvatić 1934 Ass. Phragmito-Juncetum maritimi Korzhenevsky et Klyukin in Dubyna et al. 2007 Ass. Juncetum maritimi (Soó 1930) Borhidi 1958 Ass. Junco maritimi-Caricetum extensae (Corillion 1953) Géhu 1976 Ass. Juncetum maritimo-acuti Horvatić 1934 Ass. Juncetum littoralis Popescu et. al. 1992 All. Junco maritimi-Schoenion nigricantis Dubyna et Dziuba prov. Ass. Junco maritimi-Schoenetum nigricantis Duby- na et Dziuba prov. Cl. Festuco-Puccinellietea Soó ex Vicherek 1973 Ord. Scorzonero-Juncetalia gerardii Vicherek 1973 All. Juncion gerardii Wendelberger 1943 Ass. Limonio gmelinii-Juncetum gerardii (Warming 1906) Géhu et Géhu-Franck 1982 Ord. Artemisio santonicae-Limonietalia gmelinii Golub et Solomakha 1988 All. Plantagini salsae-Artemision santonicae Shelyag- Sosonko et Solomakha in Lysenko, Mucina et Iakus- henko 2011 Ass. Limonio meyeri-Artemisietum santonicae Shely- ag-Sosonko et Solomakha 1987 Ass. Agropyretum elongatae Şerbănescu 1965 Ass. Artemisio santonicae-Elytrigietum elongatae Dubyna, Neuhäuslová et Shelyag-Sosonko in Du- byna et Neuhäuslová 2000 Ass. Limonio meyeri-Elytrigietum elongatae Tysh- chenko 1996 Ass. Cynancho acutae-Lepidietum latifolii Dubyna, Neuhäuslová et Shelyag-Sosonko 1994 21/1 • 2022, 163–172 167 Anastasia Davydova Vegetation mapping of the Dzharylhach Island (Ukraine) Ord. Puccinellietalia Soó 1947 All. Puccinellion giganteae Dubyna et Neuhäuslová 2000 Ass. Puccinellietum giganteae Solomakha et Shely- ag-Sosonko in Dubyna et Neuhäuslová 2000 Ass. Artemisio santonicae-Puccinellietum giganteae Shelyag-Sosonko et Solomakha 1987 All. Salicornio-Puccinellion Mirkin in Golub et Solo- makha 1988 nom. inval. Ass. Salicornio-Puccinellietum giganteae Shelyag- Sosonko et Solomakha 1987 Ass. Salicornio-Puccinellietum fominii Shelyag-Sos- onko et Solomakha 1987 Ass. Aeluropodetum littoralis Krausch 1965 Ass. Puccinellio fominii-Aeluropodetum littoralis Shelyag-Sosonko, Golub et Solomakha 1989 Ass. Aeluropodo-Salicornietum Krausch 1965 Ass. Tripolietum vulgaris Korzhenevsky et Klyukin in Korzhenevsky, Klyukin et Korzhenevskaya 2000 Ass. Astero tripolii-Phragmitetum Krisch (1972) 1974 Cl. Therosalicornietea Tx. in Tx. et Oberd. 1958 Ord. Camphorosmo-Salicornietalia Borhidi 1996 All. Salicornion prostratae Gehu 1992 Ass. Salicornietum prostratae Soó 1927 Ass. Bassietum hirsutae Şerbănescu 1965 Ass. Halimionetum pedunculatae Şerbănescu 1965 Cl. Kalidietea foliati Mirkin et al. ex Rukhlenko 2012 Ord. Halimionetalia verruciferae Golub et al. 2001 All. Artemisio santonicae-Puccinellion fominii Shelyag- Sosonko, Golub et Solomakha 1989 Ass. Puccinellio fominii-Halimionetum verruciferae Shelyag-Sosonko, Golub et Solomakha 1989 Ass. Artemisio santonicae-Puccinellietum fominii Shelyag-Sosonko et Solomakha 1987 Ass. Halimionetum verruciferae (Keller 1923) Ţopa 1939 Ass. Halocnemo-Limonietum caspii Korzhenevsky et Klyukin in Korzhenevsky 2000 Ass. Limonio caspii-Salicornietum Korzhenevsky et Klyukin 1990 Ass. Salicornio prostratae-Halocnemetum strobilace- ae Korzhenevsky et Klyukin in Korzhenevsky 2000 Ass. Puccinellio fominii-Halocnemetum Shelyag- Sosonko, Golub et Solomakha 1989 Cl. Cakiletea maritimae Tx. et Preising in Tx. ex Br.- Bl. et Tx. 1952 Ord. Thero-Atriplicetalia Pignatti 1953 All. Cakilion euxinae Géhu et al. 1994 Ass. Lactuco tataricae-Cakiletum euxinae Korzhen- evsky et Klyukin in Korzhenevsky 2001 Ass. Cakilo euxinae-Salsoletum tragi Vicherek 1971 Subass. Cakilo euxinae-Salsoletum tragi typicum Vicherek 1971 Subass. Cakilo euxinae-Salsoletum tragi elytrigi- etosum bessarabicae Korzhenevsky et Klyukin in Korzhenevsky 2001 Cl. Ammophiletea Br.-Bl. et Tx. ex Westhoff et al. 1946 Ord. Ammophiletalia Br.-Bl. et Tx. ex Westhoff et al. 1946 All. Elymion gigantei Morariu 1957 Ass. Tournefortietum sibiricae Popescu et Sanda 1975 Ass. Elymetum gigantei Morariu 1957 Ass. Centaureo odessanae-Elymetum gigantei Viche- rek 1971 BC Poacynum russanovii [Elymion gigantei] Cl. Robinietea Jurko ex Hadač et Sofron 1980 DC Elaeagnus angustifolia [Robinietea] DC Tamarix ramosissima [Robinietea] Cl. Stellarietea mediae Tx. et al. in Tx. 1950 Ord. Sisymbrietalia sophiae J. Tx. ex Görs 1966 All. Atriplicion Passarge 1978 Ass. Atriplicetum tataricae (Morariu 1943) Ubrizsy 1949 DC Ambrosia artemisiifolia [Stellarietea mediae] Cl. Artemisietea vulgaris Lohmeyer et Al. in Tx. ex von Rochow 1951 Ord. Agropyretalia intermedio-repentis T. Müller et Görs 1969 All. Convolvulo arvensis-Agropyrion repentis Görs 1967 Ass. Agropyretum repentis Felföldy 1942 Ass. Calamagrostietum epigei Kostylev in Solo- makha et al. 1992 DC Xanthium orientale [Artemisietea vulgaris] Legend to the vegetation map Xeromorphic type of complex A. Vegetation of the driftline with communities of Cakilion euxinae (EUNIS2020: N12. Mediterranean and Black Sea sand beach) 1. Communities of Cakilo euxinae-Salsoletum tragi in alluvial areas of the initial stage of formation of the beach ridge in complex with communities of Lactuco tataricae-Cakiletum euxinae on sandy-shell depos- its and Cakilo euxinae-Salsoletum tragi elytrigietosum bessarabicae on the formed alluvial elevations. B. Vegetation of the beach ridge and the initial stages of dune formation with communities of Elymion gigantei (EUNIS2020: N14. Mediterranean, Macaronesian and Black Sea shifting coastal dune) 2. Communities of Tournefortietum sibiricae on loose sands at the foot of the littoral shaft or on compacted shell sediments. 21/1 • 2022, 163–172 168 Anastasia Davydova Vegetation mapping of the Dzharylhach Island (Ukraine) 3. Communities of Elymetum gigantei at the foot and tops of the sandy beach ridge with dominance of Eryn- gium maritimum on the spit. 4. Communities of Centaureo odessanae-Elymetum gigan- tei on the upper parts of sloping spit dunes. 5. Communities of Artemisietum arenariae on the upper parts and inner slopes of dunes. C. Vegetation of old “grey” dunes with communities of Festucion beckeri (EUNIS2020: N17. Black Sea coastal dune grassland (grey dune) 6. Communities of Secaletum sylvestre on the upper parts of dunes in complex with Festucetum beckeri communities on lower areas (or at the foot of dunes) and occasionally with Stipa borysthenica-dominated communities. 7. Communities of Secali sylvestri-Caricetum colchicae on upper parts and slopes of dune. 8. Communities of Carici colchicae-Holoschoenetum vul- garis on sandy areas and shallow inter-dune depres- sions in complex with Centaureo odessanae-Caricetum colchicae on low dunes on the spit. D. Vegetation of psammophytic steppe with commu- nities of Festucion beckeri (EUNIS2020: N17. Black Sea coastal dune grassland (grey dune) 9. Communities of Apero maritimi-Chrysopogonetum gryl- li in the formed psammophytic-steppe areas in complex with communities of Aperetum maritimae, which were formed under the influence of grazing, communities of Apero maritimi-Chrysopogonetum grylli with the domi- nance of Scirpoides holoschoenus on sparsely overgrown flat sandy areas. E. Vegetation of slightly saline psammophytic steppe and saline meadows on light sandy soils with commu- nities of Juncion maritimi (EUNIS2020: R62. Continental inland salt steppe) 10. Communities of Juncetum littoralis on slightly saline sand-steppe areas. Halomorphic type of complex F. Vegetation of interdune depressions with communi- ties of Junco maritimi-Schoenion nigricantis (EUNIS2020: N1J. Mediterranean and Black Sea moist and wet dune slack) 11. Communities of Junco maritimi-Schoenetum nigri- cantis on moist sandy-shell soils. G. Vegetation of salted meadows with communities of Juncion gerardii (EUNIS2020: R62. Continental inland salt steppe* – identic for complexes H-N) 12. Communities of Limonio gmelinii-Juncetum gerardii on saline depressions. H. Vegetation of solonetzes with communities of Plan- tagini salsae-Artemision santonicae 13. Communities of Agropyretum elongatae on elevations with loose sandy salt marshes in combination with Artemisio santonicae-Elytrigietum elongatae communi- ties on more compacted sandy salt marshes and Limo- nio meyeri-Elytrigietum elongatae on small depressions. J. Vegetation of wet salt marshes and solonetzes with communities of Puccinellion giganteae 14. Communities of Puccinellietum giganteae on saline wet depressions in complex with Artemisio santoni- cae-Puccinellietum giganteae on saline elevations. K. Vegetation of heavy loamy salt marshes with com- munities of Salicornio-Puccinellion 15. Communities of Salicornio-Puccinellietum giganteae on saline depressions that have been flooded for a long time, in combination with Salicornio-Puccinelli- etum fominii communities on saline soils with peri- odic flooding. 16. Communities of Aeluropodetum littoralis in depres- sions with moist loamy salt marshes. L. Vegetation of salt marshes with prolonged flooding with communities of Salicornion prostratae 17. Communities of Salicornietum prostratae in the place of dried salt water bodies and saline depressions in complex with Halimionetum pedunculatae in short- flooded saline areas. 18. Communities of Bassietum hirsutae on sandy-shell elevations along salt water bodies and beach ridges along the bay. M. Vegetation of loose saline elevations with commu- nities of Artemisio santonicae-Puccinellion fominii 19. Communities of Puccinellio fominii-Halimionetum verruciferae on saline plains with loose soils in com- plex with Halimionetum verruciferae on short-flood- ed areas with more compacted soils. 20. Communities of Puccinellio fominii-Halocnemetum on flat areas in complex with Halocnemo-Limonietum caspii on loose saline elevations. 21. Communities of Salicornio prostratae-Halocnemetum strobilaceae on wet saline depressions in combination with Limonio caspii-Salicornietum on small elevations with loose loamy saline soils. N. Vegetation of wet saline areas with communities of Juncion maritimi 22. Communities of Phragmito-Juncetum maritimi on wet depressions in complex with Junco maritimi- Caricetum extensae on sandy-shell depressions. 23. Communities of Juncetum maritimi in wet depres- sions with shell-silty saline soils and Juncetum mari- timo-acuti on plain areas with little moisture or in shallow depressions. 21/1 • 2022, 163–172 169 Anastasia Davydova Vegetation mapping of the Dzharylhach Island (Ukraine) O. Vegetation of fresh and salt water bodies and wet de- pressions with communities of Phragmition communis (EUNIS2020: Q51. Tall-helophyte bed) 24. Communities of Phragmitetum australis on the shores of inland islands, along the bay and on drying de- pressions. Hydromorphic type of complex P. Vegetation of shallow brackish water bodies with communities of Zannichellion pedicellatae, Potamoge- tonetea and Ruppion maritimae 25. Communities of Ruppietum maritimae and Potameto- Zannichellietum pedicellatae in shallow brackish lakes with silty sandy or sandy-shell sediments. 26. Communities of Zosteretum marinae and Zosteretum nanae in salty shallow lakes and in a bay with silty sandy or sandy-shell sediments. Non-complex type Q. Vegetation of trees and shrubs (EUNIS2020: V.63. Lines of planted trees) 27. Communities with dominance of Tamarix ramosis- sima in psammophytic-steppe areas. 28. Communities with dominance of Elaeagnus angusti- folia on beach ridges and psammophyte-steppe areas. Extra-scale allocations 29. Buildings. 30. Beach without vegetation. Features of meso- and microrelief determine the mosaic of the vegetation cover. In the Dzharylhach Island author allocated 10 tracts (Figure 3). The tract is understood as a combined system of genetically, dynamically and territorially related facies (the smallest units of the landscape, which are characterized by homogeneity of natural conditions) (Isachenko, 1991). Dzharylhach Island (Figure 3) consists of a narrow spit and an extended part, which are also differentiated into separate tracts. According to the peculiarity of the microrelief, the spit can be divided into three longitudinal strips: northern, central and southern. The northern strip (tract 1 in the figure 3) is represented by a shore of shell sediments and mats of Zostera, on which phytocoenoses of Bassietum hirsutae is widespread. On the beach ridge Phragmitetum australis communities, which border on silty shallow salt lakes, dominate. Salicornietum prostra- tae and Salicornio-Puccinellietum giganteae are common around the lakes. Juncetum maritimi communities are also sporadically found here. Only in the western direction the shore expands and the substrate changes to sandy. The southern strip (tract 2 in the figure 3) consists of a sand beach without vegetation, hilly sandy sediments with phy- tocoenoses of Cakilo euxinae-Salsoletum tragi and Cakilo euxinae-Salsoletum tragi elytrigietosum bessarabicae, beach ridge with Elymetum gigantei and sporadic distribution of Centaureo odessanae-Elymetum gigantei communities, high and sloping dunes with Artemisietum arenariae communities in complex with Centaureo odessanae-Cari- cetum colchicae. The central strip (tract 3 in the figure 3) is a depression with sandy-shell soils, where the Agropyretum elongatae predominates with a significant participation of Daucus carota and Koeleria glauca. They are gradually be- ing replaced by the Secali sylvestri-Caricetum colchicae and Artemisietum arenariae communities. The sequence of these coenoses is periodically disturbed due to the effects of storms, therefore along the littoral strip there are steep sandy shores with Artemisia arenaria. In the wide part of the island there are also northern and southern shores. In the north, in addition to the above-mentioned coenoses, communities of Tournefortietum sibiricae and single plants of Crambe maritima sometimes occur in the eastern part. The southern coast is characterized by the absence of Cen- taureo odessanae-Elymetum gigantei and Artemisietum are- nariae communities, there are only a few findings of their diagnostic species. The Pyndyky tract, which is located in the widest part of the island (tract 4 in the figure 3), is a complex of salt lakes of different size and depth. Shallow lakes (0.1–0.2 m) are often devoid of vegetation or occa- sionally its vegetation represents by small areas of Ruppi- etum maritimae communities. In deeper lakes (0.3–1 m) phytocoenoses of Zosteretum marinae are common, in some of them communities of Zosteretum nanae are rare. The shores of these lakes are covered with halophytic veg- etation – Salicornietum prostratae and Salicornio-Puccinel- lietum giganteae, and in large areas there are communities of Juncetum maritimi. A few wet depressions (tract 5 in Figure 3: Tracts of Dzharylhach Island (1–10 boundaries of tracts). Slika 3: Območja otoka Dzharylhach (1–10 predstavljajo meje območij). 21/1 • 2022, 163–172 170 Anastasia Davydova Vegetation mapping of the Dzharylhach Island (Ukraine) the figure 3) with Salicornio-Puccinellietum giganteae pass into large areas of Puccinellio fominii-Halimionetum ver- ruciferae communities on saline plains with loose soils in complex with Halimionetum verruciferae on more dense soils. There are sporadic small depressions with Juncetum maritimi and very rarely with Aeluropodo-Salicornietum and Aeluropodetum littoralis. Communities of Salicornio prostratae-Halocnemetum strobilaceae on wet salt marshes in complex with Limonio caspii-Salicornietum are also formed in elongated (several hundred meters long) de- pressions. Further to the south the tract 6 (Figure 3), which crosses almost the entire wide part of the island, is located. Its separation is due to a slight increase and change of saline soils to sod slightly salted sands. Large areas are occupied by Agropyretum elongatae communities with sporadic prevalence of Artemisio santonicae-Elytri- gietum elongatae, Limonio meyeri-Elytrigietum elongatae and Limonio gmelinii-Juncetum gerardii communities. Communities of Limonio meyeri-Artemisietum santoni- cae and Artemisio santonicae-Puccinellietum giganteae are widespread in small areas, and Aeluropodetum littoralis – in depressions. Aperetum maritimae communities occur on soils with a predominance of sand fraction. Wet saline depressions with Salicornietum prostratae communities are very rare in this tract. In this part of the island the communities of Juncetum littoralis are concentrated among the phytocoenoses of Agropyretum elongatae. Spo- radically, Apero maritimi-Chrysopogonetum grylli occurs in sandy areas, less frequently sparse phytocoenoses of Secal- etum sylvestre and Carici colchicae-Holoschoenetum vulgaris occur on low dunes. In slightly saline natural and arti- ficial lakes the communities of Potametum pectinati and Potameto-Zannichellietum pedicellatae are represented. Rare phytocoenoses of Junco maritimi-Cladietum marisci occur around some lakes and in drying depressions. Tract 7 (Figure 3) consists of a system of sand and sand-shell dunes and depressions. In the north-south direction there are low dunes with formed vegetation of Carici colchicae- Holoschoenetum vulgaris in the interdune depressions and Secali sylvestri-Caricetum colchicae on the dunes. Dunes with poor vegetation are located closer to the coast. Phy- tocoenosis of Secaletum sylvestre are common at the top of dunes in combination with Festucetum beckeri on dune slopes or in depressions. Communities of Phragmitetum australis dominate in dry depressions, and Junco maritimi- Schoenetum nigricantis forms a dense cover on wet depres- sions with salinization. The phytocoenoses of Molinietum euxinae represent small areas of true meadow vegetation. Psammophytic steppe in tract 8 (Figure 3) is represented by phytocoenoses of Apero maritimi-Chrysopogonetum grylli and Carici colchicae-Holoschoenetum vulgaris with inclusions of Secaletum sylvestre. Communities of Bol- boschoenetum maritimi and Scirpetum tabernaemontani are very rare here. The shore of tract 9 (Figure 3) is cov- ered with sparse phytocoenoses of Bassietum hirsutae, the communities of Cynancho acutae-Lepidietum latifolii and Phragmito-Juncetum maritimi sporadically occur on the beach ridge. Communities of Puccinellietum giganteae in complex with Artemisio santonicae-Puccinellietum gigan- teae is widespread on wet salt marshes. Phytocoenosis of Juncetum maritimi and Junco maritimi-Caricetum extensae dominate in the marshy lowlands. Tract 10 (Figure 3) dif- fers from the previous one by much less swampy soils. Phytocoenosis of Carici colchicae-Holoschoenetum vul- garis, Secaletum sylvestre and Ephedro-Caricetum colchicae are rare on the shell beach ridges. Salt marshes, which are flooded in spring, dry up in the second half of summer and are overgrown with Salicornietum prostratae. In wet saline depressions, the communities of Tripolietum vul- garis and Astero tripolii-Phragmitetum are well represent- ed. Tree and shrub artificial communities on the island are represented by Elaeagnus angustifolia and Tamarix ra- mosissima phytocoenoses. On the beach ridge along the southern coast of the island there are Elaeagnus angustifo- lia in complex with Elymetum gigantei communities. Changes of vegetation over the 90‑year period Due to the intensification of xerophytization, some phytocoenoses have already disappeared, others are en- dangered. It is possible to investigate these changes in time due to publications of 1920–1940th (Desyatova- Shostenko & Levin, 1928; Desyatova-Shostenko, 1936; Illichevskyi, 1940). The main trends of vegetation dy- namics was studied by comparing with old profiles. Five ecological-coenotic profiles (from 0.2 to 3.6 km) in the direction from north to south were carried out. The choice of locations for the profiles is due to the availabil- ity of material for comparison - in the work of 1936 the profiles on the island were made by Desyatova-Shosten- ko (1936). Natural and artificial lakes on the island have been sig- nificantly freshwater since the early XX century and are now undergoing halophytization. Currently, communities of Lemna minor L. disappeared. Phytocoenosis of Typhe- tum angustifoliae and Schoenoplectetum lacustris were widespread along the shores of freshwater lakes and in wet depressions. In the XXI century, there are only a few finds of Schoenoplectus lacustris (L.) Palla, and Typha an- gustifolia L. has completely disappeared. Similarly, the area of communities with Cladium mariscus (L.) Pohl. decreased. Communities of Schedonorus pratensis (Huds.) P. Beauv. and Molinietum euxinae almost disappeared due 21/1 • 2022, 163–172 171 Anastasia Davydova Vegetation mapping of the Dzharylhach Island (Ukraine) to xerophytization, and in their place are now widespread phytocoenoses of Phragmitetum australis and Agropyretum elongatae. In the wet depressions there were thickets of Salix repens L. and S. cinerea L. Over an 90-year period, these communities were replaced by Phragmitetum austra- lis and phytocoenoses of Calamagrostis epigejos (L.) Roth. According to geobotanical relevés of the 1930th (Desy- atova-Shostenko & Levin, 1928; Desyatova-Shostenko, 1936) Artemisia arenaria DC. was widespread in the cen- tral part of the island, but now grows only on the beach ridge of the spit. Changes of vegetation over the 20‑year period In order to analyze the changes in vegetation, the author’s map (Figure 2) was compared with the vegetation map of 1997 (Ardamatskaya et al., 2000). The old map con- sisted of 21 positions with vegetation. Their characteris- tics were based on the dominant classification. Thus, the main trends in the vegetation of the Dzharylhach Island over 20 years have been identified: 1) due to the peculi- arities of the microrelief, the complex character of vegeta- tion has been preserved; 2) linear location of communi- ties from the bay to the sea proved stable; 3) decreased areas of psammophytic communities on shell-sand beach ridges in the southern and eastern parts of the island and changed to Agropyretum elongatae phytocoenoses; 4) de- creased areas of phytocoenoses with a predominance of Apera maritima Klokov, Bromus squarrosus L. and Calamagrostis epigejos (L.) Roth on salted sands and in- creased the area of Plantagini salsae-Artemision santonicae and Artemisio santonicae-Puccinellion fominii; 5) commu- nities of Schoenus nigricans L. and Juncus maritimus Lam. in wet depressions changed by Phragmitetum australis and Agropyretum elongatae at dry depressions. Conclusions The main trends of vegetation dynamics of the NNP Dzharylhatsky are overgrowth of sand and halophytic communities by certain species and communities. This is due to the instability and dynamism of ecosystems in natural conditions, which are vulnerable due to the pro- cesses of sand movement and catastrophic changes even without the intervention of recreational or economic activities. Landscape changes is characterized mainly by climatic changes, due to which freshwater and hydrophy- lous species and their communities disappear. Changes of individual phytocoenoses is mainly due to recreational effects, which leads to degradation and destruction of phytocoenoses. Thus, according to observations, the vegetation of the island is quite diverse – 16 classes, 19 orders, 22 alliances, 58 associations, 4 sub-associations, 4 derivative and 3 ba- sal communities were found on the Dzharylhach Island. The largest number of syntaxa was found in the central part of the island. The most widespread types of plant communities are aquatic (Zosteretea), halophytic (Festuco- Puccinellietea) and psammophytic (Festucetea vaginatae). Mapping the vegetation of the island and comparing these materials with works of eighty and twenty years ago, confirmed that under the influence of halophytization and xerophytization, freshwater communities disappear or reduce their area, and halophytic communities on the contrary increase their area. Acknowledgements The autor are very grateful to editor in chief Urban Šilc and two anonymous reviewers for comments and recommendations that greatly improved the manuscript. 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