Integrated population analysis as a direction of the modern biological and ecological researches

Some historical aspects of the formation of population ecology and biology as a separate scientific field are highlighted. It is noted that at the present stage, an integrated approach of studying populations is increasingly used. The work provides information on the main components of complex population studies implemented at the scientific school of plant population ecology created at Sumy National Agrarian University by Prof. Yu.A. Zlobin. The main achievements of the representatives of this school are shown, and it is also noted that, on the basis of their scientific achievements, the number of studied objects is gradually expanding. An example of this is the use of integrated population analysis for the study of protected autochthonous dendrosozophytes of Ukrainian Polissia whose representative, in particular, is Oxycoccus palustris Pers. Using the example of this species, the basic aspects of the application of complex population analysis are described, including determining the size of the population field, population density, size and morphological characteristics of individuals that form the populations, as well as the ontogenetic, size, and vital structure of populations. Based on such studies, swamp and forest-swamp phytocenoses were differentiated according to the degree of favorableness for the existence and functioning of O. palustris populations. At the same time, populations that can be considered as objects of regulated procurement of plant materials of O. palustris were identified. The conditions of the oligotrophic swamp and the grouping of Sphagnetum (cuspidati) eriophorosum (vaginati) are proved to be the most favorable for the formation of Oxycoccus palustris coenopopulations with high population density, vitality, diversity of size structure and balanced structure Populations from this grouping can be considered as centers of regulated harvesting of plant products and plant materials of the investigated species. Compared to swamp, forest-swamp phytocoenoses were less favorable for the formation and existence of coenopopulations of O. palustris, although they also revealed coenopopulations with a complex of high population characteristics Based on the results of studies and elucidation of the characteristics of populations, the original coenopopulation principle of constructing phytocenocompositions from species of natural flora was also proposed and tested. Its essence is that in the selection of certain species in the composition of phytocenocompositions it is necessary to rely on the indicators of phytocenoses, in which its populations have signs of ability for stable and long-term existence in the composition of plant groups The determinants features in this complex are the area of the population field, population density and characteristics of the structure, especially ontogenetic and vitality. According to the first feature of these traits, it is necessary that the populations belong to the group of young, transient or maturing and not to be aging or old, and according to the second – to represent the category of prosperous.