FUNCTIONAL ROLE OF WOODPECKERS (PICIIFORMERS) IN NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FORESTS OF MIDDLE DNEIPER AND NORTH AZOV REGION

The woodpeckers are the important component of forest ecosystems and play different functions such as functional links between various groups of animals and plants. They provide ускорение of transformation of primary productivity into secondary and significantly increase the level of biodiversity in artificial and natural forests by destructive and burrowing activity, promote the plants expansion. The food specialty of some woodpeckers determine their role in animal and plant communities and support the ecological stability and ecosystem equilibrium.