A Historical Landscape or a New Ecosystem: What Is Taking Shape at the Bottom of the Kakhovka Reservoir

At the bottom of the Kakhovka Reservoir, the historical landscape that existed before the flooding is being restored to some extent. However, it will not be an exact replica of what was here before the reservoir was created.

Ivan Moysienko, head of the Department of Botany at Kherson State University, Doctor of Biological Sciences, and professor, spoke about this in a comment toIntent.

“I think that this is, after all, a historical landscape; that vast landscape is being restored,” said the professor.

According to him, the restoration process is happening quickly, but it will take time to form a fully-fledged ecosystem. The area began to be colonized primarily by wind-pollinated plants, particularly willows.

“There aren’t that many insects yet, because insect-pollinated plants are only now beginning to colonize the reservoir. They’re a bit slower to establish themselves,” explained Moiseenko.

Accordingly, the number of insect-pollinated plants is gradually increasing, and along with them, populations of insects and other animals should recover.

The situation is similar with larger animals. For example, according to the scientist, deer are not yet able to fully settle in this area due to the dense young thickets.

“The forest is very dense. Deer need sparse forests where they can run around freely with their antlers. In other words, they simply cannot move around there,” the professor explained.

At the same time, zoologists have already recorded traces of some smaller predators, including foxes and weasels, in the area.

Moysienko emphasized that over time, the willows and other trees will mature, the forest will naturally begin to thin out, and then the conditions will become more suitable for larger animals.

However, it is no longer possible to fully restore the ecosystem that existed here before the flooding of the Kakhovka Reservoir.

“It cannot be 100% the same vast landscape. For example, the floodplains that have survived and were never flooded are no longer the same as they were 80 years ago, before the reservoir was flooded,” the scientist explained.

Thus, a new ecosystem is currently forming at the bottom of the former reservoir based on the natural restoration of the area. It shares many features with the historical landscape, but it will only be possible to fully understand what this area will become after a long period of development of the vegetation, wildlife, and other components of the ecosystem.

As Intent previously reported, the territory of the former Kakhovka Reservoir could become Ukraine’s largest nature reserve. It covers an area of approximately 215,000 hectares and consists primarily of undisturbed natural terrain.

Ірина Глухова