Vascular plants of the Ternova gully

Study Extent

We studied the vegetation and flora of the Ternova gully.

Sampling

We carried out 11 releves and also compiled a list of species common to slopes of different aspect. The distribution of the species points was recorded using Garmin eTrex Vista HCx GPS navigator. As a result, a list of vascular plant species was compiled for the first time for these sites. We proposed the creation of a local botanical reserve on this territory.

Quality Control

After digitizing the data, we harmonised the taxonomic information according to the nomenclature sources: for vascular plants ““Vascular Plants of Ukraine. A Nomenclatural Checklist” - (Mosyakin & Fedoronchuk 1999) . Then we used GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (GBIF species matching tool: https://www.gbif.org/tools/species-lookup) for the taxonomic check and implemented minor corrections of species names regarding misprints and problematic taxa to avoid misinterpretation. We additionally checked and verified the header data of vegetation plots (Event Core and GBIF Relevé Extension, Occurrence Extension) using OpenRefine (https://openrefine.org/) and QGIS 3.38 (https://qgis.org) for quality control.

Method steps

1. Field work: recording the distribution points of the species; carrying out the relevés.
2. Compilation of a list of vascular plant species.
3. Data checking and cleaning.
4. Transformation of the dataset according to the Darwin Core standards.
5. Taxonomic check, final quality control.

1. Plantae
   rank: kingdom
2. Tracheophyta
   rank: phylum

The Ternova gully is situated near the Velykotsk village, Starobilskyi District, Luhansk region, Ukraine. The research area is located on the southern slopes of the Central Russian Upland, in the north of the steppe zone. The Ternova gully is a branched gully crossing the gentle left bank of the Cherepakha River (Derkul basin). The upper parts of the gully border on the territory of the Striltsivskyi Steppe branch of the Luhansk Nature Reserve, more precisely on the territory of the Kreidianyi Yar.