Title
Central Pontic-Transvolgian grass steppes (Stipa lessingiana, Stipa capillata) with Arenaria procera, Phlomis puberulaa = in combination with vegetation on solonetz-soils (Artemisia pauciflora, Kochia prostrata, Tanacetum achilleifolium)
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Russia; Kazakstan: main distribution area east of 46° of eastern longitude and northern 50° of northern latitude. Isolated steppe islands at western slopes of the Ergeni hilly country
area frequency
29 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Stipeta lessingianae pauciherbosa, Stipeta capillatae pauciherbosa, Festuceta vallesiacae pauciherbosa Lavrenko 1940.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
The Pontic-Kazakh euryxerophilic Stipa lessingiana and the western palaeoarctic euryxerophytes Stipa capillata and Festuca valesiaca are the main components of these dry steppes. Stipa lessingiana dominates on sandier-loamier, and S. capillata on lighter soils. Admixtures of Koeleria macrantha, Carex supina and some rare herbs and dwarf semi-shrubs are typical, represented by typical steppe xerophytes. The synusium of ephemerals is well developed. The vertical and horizontal structure is analogous to that of M13. Some Pontic species which are typical for M12 and M13 are absent.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Herb layer
Stipa lessingiana, Festuca valesiaca, Koeleria macrantha, Carex supina, Galium ruthenicum, Taraxacum serotinum, Jurinea lineariloba, Alyssum desertorum, Androsace maxima, Agropyron desertorum, Leymus ramosus, Artemisia lerchiana, Artemisia austriaca, Kochia prostrata
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Stipa lessingiana, Arenaria procera subsp. procera, Phlomis puberula, Jurinea lineariloba; on solonetz soils: Artemisia pauciflora, Tanacetum achilleifolium
Ecological variants
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Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
The dry steppes of the Sal river region are distinguished by admixtures of Stipa ucrainica (a dominant on west-Pontic dry steppes) and some herbs (e.g. Achillea leptophylla) which are almost completely absent in trans-Volga. On the Volga terraces and in the steppes of the upper part of the river Sal region, the vegetation is represented by complexes of xerophilic herb-rich fescue-feather grass steppes and grass-dwarf semi-shrub communities.
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
Small-area incidences of trans-Volgian tomillares and tomillares steppes (Matthiola fragans, Silene suffrutescens, Hedysarum cretaceum) on limestone, and of East European open pedunculate oak forests (Quercus robur) with steppe species (Caragana frutex, Prunus tenella, Brachypodium pinnatum) at valley slopes; north-Turanian Artemisia pauciflora communities on solonetz soils; north-Turanian halophytic dwarf semi-shrub vegetation (Halocnemum strobilaceum, Kalidium foliatum, Atriplex cana, Artemisia santonicum) on solonetz soils and vegetation-free salt pans.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
steppes (M3, M5, M9, M10, M13, M15, M19, M20, M21), brackish water reed vegetation (R3), alluvial forests and scrubs (U13, U14, U42).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
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grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Pastures, steppe fragments, solonetz communities.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
Fields (aheat).
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
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Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
plains of the southern part of the Obščij Syrt; lower-lying plains adjacent to the Volga valley as well as at the western slopes of the Jergeni Hills.
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
lowland; 70-130 m
Geology (bedrock)
eolian (sand, bluff formation), fluviatile and marine sediments (Pleistocene, Pleistocene above Tertiary)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
dark chestnut and chestnut soils, here and there solonet-like, in complex with solonetz soils; (calcic sodic, luvic sodic and haplic sodic kastanozems; orthic solonetz)
soil texture
sandy-loamy, loamy-sandy
soil moisture, water balance
dry
soil reaction
neutral (chlorite- and sulphate-halination)
soil fertility
mesotrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
VII3
average annual temperature
5-6 °C
average annual precipitation
300 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
July 24-25 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
January -12 to -10 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
moderately continental, passing over to the continental climate.
Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
Interfluvial steppes have been transformed almost completely into arable land. Only fragments of the steppes altered by grazing remain in which Festuca valesiaca prevails, Poa bulbosa expands and feather grasses recede strongly.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
No details
causes of endangerment
Intense grazing, agricultural use.
required measures for protection and restitution
Establishment of protected nature reserves.
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
Reserves are missing.
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
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Most important references (author, year)
Gorbačev 1967; Lavrenko 1940; Lavrenko 1980; Novopokrovskij 1940; Rodin 1933
Compiled by
Z. Neuhäuslová based on documents by Z.V. Karamyševa
