Abstract
The problem of preserving the biotic stability of forest ecosystems in the context of climate change is particularly relevant for the Ukrainian Carpathians, where climatic anomalies and anthropogenic influences exacerbate pathological processes and reduce the adaptive capacity of forest communities. The aim of the study was to theoretically summarise and critically analyse scientific ideas on the problem of biotic stability of Carpathian forests under the influence of climate change, with an emphasis on the role of climate-induced disturbances and internal biotic factors in the formation of pathological processes. The methodological basis of the study was a systematic and comparative analysis of scientific publications, a conceptual synthesis of literature data, and a generalisation of modern theoretical approaches in the field of forestry, ecology, and forest phytopathology. As a result, it was established that climate change is an active factor in reducing the biotic stability of forest ecosystems in the Ukrainian Carpathians, causing maladaptation of woody plants, disruption of competitive relationships between species, and an increase in the frequency of natural disturbances. It has been shown that climate-induced hydrothermal stresses create conditions for the realisation of the pathogenic potential of phytopathogenic organisms and play a decisive role in the formation of epiphytotic processes. It is substantiated that an important internal factor in the reduction of biotic stability is endophytic myco- and microbiota, in particular pathogenic obligates, which, under conditions of disruption of the homeostasis of the host plant, transition from a latent existence to active pathogenicity. It has been shown that the combination of climatic stresses and the presence of hidden infectious reservoirs causes the sudden and massive nature of many pathological phenomena in the Carpathian forests. The practical value of the work lies in the possibility of using the theoretical generalisations obtained to assess the level of biotic stability of forest ecosystems, predict phytopathological risks and develop adaptive forest management strategies aimed at maintaining and restoring their biotic stability in the context of climate change