Identification conformity of wetlands biotopes of the Northwest of the Black Sea region

This publication presents the analysis of the mostly used international and Ukrainian classification systems for wetland areas performed for identification of different-type marsh biotopes of steppe rivers in the Northwest Black Sea Region. Among the classification systems, the most well-known are the Ramsar Classification System for Wetland Type (1971) and Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States (Cowardin et al., 1979). In these systems, valley marsh biotopes are identified as riverine and palustrine, non-tidal, unstable (perennial impounded and seasonal/intermittent) freshwater marshes on mineral rich soils predominantly covered by grasslike plants (rush, reedmace, sedge). The delta marshes of the Danube, Dniester and Dnieper are referred to as tidal brackish and freshwater marshes. According to Ukrainian classification systems for hygromorphic geosystem, marsh biotopes are regarded as mouth wetlands, which is peculiar to delta marsh areas of the Danube and Dnieper interfluve. Thus, riverbed marshes of small and medium-sized rivers are located in other areas and are usually met both in the lower (continuous marsh areas), middle (fragmented marsh mosaic), and upper (coastland) river flow areas, which is caused by an unstable watercourse rate and transforming of their riverbed parts into marsh sections covered by eurytopic wetland species.