Salt meadows (Festuco-Puccinellietea) of the Biryuchij Island Spit in the Azov Sea, Ukraine

Phytosociological and ecological characteristics of salt meadows (class Festuco-Puccinellietea) of the Biryuchij Island Spit (Azov Sea, Ukraine) are given. The following associations have been studied in detail: (1) Plantagini salsae-Juncetum gerardii, on temporarily waterlogged solanchak-like soils in narrow depressions with relatively low calcium content, (2) Scorzonero parviflorae-Taraxacetum bessarabici influenced by grazing and trampling, in shallow depressions, with relatively low salt content. (3) Artemisio santonicae-Elytrigietum elongatae in mown sites, covering moderate elevations behind the coastal ridge, with calcium-rich, temporarily drying out soils. (4) Tripolio vulgaris-Aeluropetum littoralis occurs on moister soils of lower positions, moderately to highly saline. Two subassociations were recorded (5) Puccinellietum giganteae occurs on soils with different degrees of salinization and different texture, with an ecological optimum in temporarily flooded sites of degraded solonchaks. Plantagini salsae-Juncetum gerardii, Artemisio santonicae-Elytrigietum elongatae and Tripolio vulgaris-Aeluropetum littoralis are described as new associations in the present paper.