Pryazovskyi National Nature Park

The dataset contains the records of vascular plant species occurrences and distribution in old cemeteries (OC) of the Lower Dnipro region (Southern Ukraine). The analysed cemeteries were located in different types of landscapes (agricultural, rural and urban) and represent various ways of using their area (currently used, closed, abandoned). The floristic list includes 440 species of vascular plants (437 in situ, 3 ex situ). The dataset demonstrates a sozological (Red-lists species) value of old cemeteries in Southern Ukraine. The cemeteries constitute refuges of native, rare and steppe flora and play a role of steppe habitat islands in a landscape almost completely transformed to arable land or urbanised. This is the first dataset which contains information about flora of old cemeteries in Lower Dnipro region (Southern Ukraine). The dataset comprises 2118 occurrences of vascular plants (440 species) recorded in the years 2008-2021 in 13 old cemeteries of the Lower Dnipro region. The dataset includes information about 85 occurrences of rare species (23 species in situ, 3 ex situ) and 652 occurrences of 117 steppe species.

Pelagic ecosystems are changing in response to the recent climate warming. The mesozooplankton and copepods in particular are important indicators of the state of aquatic ecosystems. Zooplankton in Antarctic waters has been monitored regularly to study biodiversity, food chains, and ecological cycles. In 2021–2022, pilot study of mesozooplankton groups was added to the marine biological research of the Ukrainian Antarctic Program. The preliminary information was obtained on the taxonomic composition and functional characteristics of the taxocene of copepods in the coastal waters of the Argentine Islands. The observed diversity is strongly influenced by the conditions and the available sampling gear. The samples were collected from motor boats using three kinds of plankton nets depending on the weather and ice conditions. From June to February, the predominant species were the common coastal species and species adapted to feeding in the cold upper layers in winter. Trawling samples collected from March to late May best illustrate the seasonal dynamics of the mesozooplankton communities’ temporary and permanent components. Twelve copepods from eight families were identified to the species level. Most constituent species were omnivorous (7 species), followed by detritophages (3 species). The community’s phytophages and predators were locally common. This trophic distribution likely is evidence that they were collected in the surface layer, which is not always favorable for feeding. Therefore, the percentage of omnivorous opportunists was relatively high. Some of the sampled material requires molecular-biological analysis, especially the copepods from the Oncaea Philippi, 1843 and Triconia Böttger-Schnack, 1999 genera. The older copepodites, in particular the adult specimens, were rarely collected. The state of the material was not ideal for unambiguous identification by morphological features. Comparing the results with the latest research on the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, we see that the species composition is highly similar (around 80%), except for the deep-water taxa.

Preserved and protected within the territory of the Kamyanska Sich National Nature Park areas of psammophytic steppe are natural habitats of the highly specialized and stenotopic northern mole vole Ellobius talpinus. Studies of recent settlements of the species have revealed their strong preference for slopes of riparian balkas and upper terraces of the Kamiansko-Mylivska section of the Kakhovka Reservoir covered with psammophytic vegetation. As places for colonies, these rodents definitely prefer dry loess-sandy soils of light composition, avoiding shrubbery and dense grass due to the danger of disguising in them flying and terrestrial predators. A total of 14 "living" colonies of the northern mole vole were registered, 9 of which were defined as small-family settlements (less than 100 m2). The other five colonies had a clearly multi-family structure and a large area (680–1720 m2), within which spatially isolated clusters of emissions were traced hypothetically perceived as separate family constructions (up to 270 m2). According to these landmarks, some large settlements contained 3 to 9 networks of family burrows located at a distance of 57 to 106 m. Five small uninhabited settlements (45–70 m2) were also recorded with signs of last year emissions. These settlements were located on the periphery of large colonies, 108–219 m far from the nearest emissions of "living" settlements. Estimates of the total number of inhabitants of the 14 "living" settlements in the territory of the Kamianska Sich National Nature Park range from 50 to 200 individuals. As of July 2021, the number of reproductive adults in the registered colonies of the species is 40–50, while the number of young of the current year of birth should be estimated at least 100–120 individuals. Colonies of the northern mole vole are characterized by the presence in their vicinities of spring ephemeroids such as T. hypanica, T. schrenkii, B. versicolor, and C. reticulatus, which are indicator species of primary virgin steppe biotopes. The results of surveys of northern mole vole colonies and ecological assessments of protected natural habitats of the Kamianska Sich National Nature Park provide grounds for a favourable prognosis of further preservation of the last range segment of the species in the territory of Right-Bank Ukraine.

The first records of Heterolocha laminaria (Herrich-Schäffer, 1852) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) in Ukraine are presented. Until the recent past, the European registrations of H. laminaria had been only reported from Rostov Region of Russia. New records were made at several localities within Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa and Poltava regions, in Southern, South-Western, South-Eastern and Central Ukraine. These findings were revealed from mid-June to mid-August in various habitat types: steppes, artificial deciduous and mixed forests, agrocenosis. The current records significantly shift westward the range limits of H. la­mi­na­ria. Thus, a newly-discovered locality in Savran Forest is the westernmost point in the entire species range. Most likely the westward expansion of this species has occurred in recent decades. The habitats, adults, and male genitalia of H. laminaria are illustrated.

This paper targets the nearly cosmopolitan weevil subfamily Lixinae. A phylogenetic analysis of one mitochondrial and two nuclear DNA fragments obtained from 87 Lixinae and 49 outgroup terminals strongly supports the monophyly of the subfamily. The molytine tribe Mecysolobini is the likeliest sister group of Lixinae; adults of both taxa share the likely synapomorphic condition of the greatly shortened labial palpi. Phylogenetic relationships within the subfamily are poorly resolved. None of three Lixinae tribes is recovered as monophyletic. The subfamilys oldest dichotomy is formed by a clade of two genera Rhabdorrhynchus plus Pachycerus sister to the rest of the subfamily. The genera Chromonotus, Larinus, Lixus, and Stephanocleonus are recovered as non-monophyletic. The genera Asproparthenis, Chromonotus, and Maximus form a strongly supported clade. The genus Eumecops is the likeliest sister to the clade formed by the genera Stephanocleonus plus Coniocleonus. The cleonine genus Scaphomorphus is a sister to a subset of externally most similar species of the genus Lixus; the same clade likely includes the genus Lixoglyptus not represented in the analysis. As an aside we provide a short summary of active flight in adult Cleonini.

The present study communicates the addition of newly recorded Cleonis pigra Scopoli, 1763 from Kashmir Valley and constitute first evidence of the occurrence of this species in the Kashmir Valley, India and extending the range of species into the Himalayan Region.

The aim. The main purpose of the study was to find out the peculiarities of autumn migrations of birds, in particular such little-studied species as the Dunnock. This is necessary for the development and implementation of a management plan in the National Park for a whole complexes of migratory birds and separate species, first of all rare or small in number quantity.Materials and methods. Our research was conducted at the Prypiat River near Svalovychi village in Liubeshiv district, Volyn region of Ukraine in September and October 2012–2017. Observations were performed visually, starting in the morning half an hour before sunrise and ending in the evening half an hour after sunset (all hours of the light part of a day, without interruption). The light part of a day was divided into hour of observations, taking into the daily changes of sunrise and sunset. Flight altitude was determined visually, and flight directions – by 8 rhumbs.Results. There were 2124 individuals of the Dunnock counted during the study of visible autumn migration birds at one observation point in 2012–2017. The most bird migrated in flocks, but a significant part of them flew alone. The most numerous migrants this species were in small flocks – 2–5 individuals (89.9 % of all counted birds in flocks). There are from 2 to 38 individuals in one flock, on average – 3.2±0.15 individuals. The main passage lasted from the 2nd decade of September to the middle of the 2nd decade of October. The majority of them flew in the morning, in the first 3 hours of observations (75.5–83.5 % of all counted birds in different years, in average 79.6 %). The majority birds of this species were observed in flight within altitudes between 30 and 40 m (59.4 %) and the predominant direction of flight was W (52.4 %) and some less – SW (45.4 %).Conclusions. According to the results of 6-years research, the peculiarities of visible autumn migrations of the Dunnock have been clarified (the main passage – the 2nd decade of September – middle of the 2nd decade of October, majority of birds flew in the first 3 hours of observations, used altitudes between 30 and 40 m and the W and SW directions of passage). The results of our research are the basis for the further study of this species, planning and implementation of conservation measures for birds in the National Park “Prypiat-Stokhid”. The obtained data are also a supplement to the state of study of this species in Ukraine

The paper summarizes original and literature data on the geographical distribution of Adosomus roridus (Pallas, 1781). The major part of the A. roridus range lies within the Eurasian Grass-Steppe. This range has no disjunction in the regions located to the north of the Black Sea. The northern limit of it runs along the line 54°N (East) – 44°N (West). In the latitudinal direction, the species range stretches from Piedmont, Italy (~8°E; Luigioni 1929) to West Kazakhstan. According to the literature sources, A. roridus occurs in xerothermic sunny habitats, life cycle is associated with some Asteraceae (Tanacetum vulgare, Artemisia spp. and possibly Achillea millefolium).