Pioneer Lichen Communities of the Teteriv River Basin (Ukraine)
N.V. Kapets1, O.O. Barsukov1, D.S. Vynokurov1, I.V. Khomyak2
1 M.H. Kholodnyi Institute of Botany, 2 Tereshchenkivska Str., Kyiv, 01004 Ukraine; E-mail: Kapets_n@ukr.net, narak-zempo@yandex.ru 
2 Ivan Franko Zhytomyr State University, 40 Velyka Berdychivska Str., Zhytomyr, 10008, Ukraine; E-mail: ecosyste_lab@ukr.net
Anotation. The results of phytosociological studies of pioneer lichen communities of siliceous outcrops carried out in 2014–2016 in Teteriv River basin (Ukraine) are provided. As a result of the phytosociological survey in the study area, 6 associations and 1 subassociation from 3 classes were distinguished.
Due to specific biological processes lichens can populate extreme habitats that would be unsuitable for most vascular plants, thus forming a special type of vegetation. Cryptogam communities can be classified as separate syntaxa. Lichen communities of Ukraine have been researched poorly, so far. Some information to this end was published first in the early 20th century. The objective of our research was to investigate the syntaxonomic structure of the pioneer lichen communities of siliceous outcrops in the Teteriv River basin. Five epilithic lichen association (Aspicilietum contortae, Aspicilio cinerei–Ramalinetum pollinariae, Cladonietum mitis, Parmelietum conspersae, Parmelietum somloensis), one subassociation of two alliances and two orders of the classes Rhizocarpetea geographici and Verrucarietea nigrescentis, and one epigeic lichen association (Cladonietum mitis), one alliance and one order of the class Ceratodonto purpurei-Polytrichetea piliferi have been described. Associations Aspicilietum contortae, Cladonietum mitis, Parmelietum conspersae, Parmelietum somloensis and alliance Aspicilion calcareae are new for Ukraine, as well as new association Aspicilio cinerei–Ramalinetum pollinariae is described. The epilithic lichen communities of the Teteriv River basin are common on siliceous outcrops of the Ukrainian Crystalline Shield. Only epigeic association Cladonietum mitis was described on siliceous screes near outcrops along the river bank. The distinctive features of all the studied associations are poor species composition including 3–14 of lichens and mosses species per relevés and high total cryptogam cover (up to 98%).
The results of our study covering lichen communities of Teteriv River basin is merely a small contribution to developing syntaxonomy of Ukraine's cryptogam vegetation. We hope that this field will be developed rapidly in Ukraine, and much more information will appear soon covering this subject.