Title
Transvolgian halophytic grass steppes (Stipa lessingiana, Festuca valesiaca, Agropyron desertorum, Kochia prostrata, Artemisia austriaca) in combination with vegetation on solonetz soils (Artemisia pauciflora)
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Russia; Kazakstan: intermediate current area of Volga and Ural, drier steppes along the southern border (a bit more southwards than 52° of northern latitude)
area frequency
12 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Stipeta lessingianae haloherbosa, Artemisieta pauciflorae.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
According to the species assemblage and the character of the vegetation, these steppes correspond to typical trans-Volgian-Kazakh types. A major phytocoenotic role is played here by trans-Volgian-Kazakh (Artemisia pauciflora), Kazakh-Mongolian (Agropyron desertorum), west Kazakh (Artemisia lerchiana), east Pontic-Kazakh (Tanacetum achilleifolium, Aster oleifolius) and other eastern species. The variety of the vegetation and soil complexes is characteristic here. In the moss layer the moss Tortula ruralis and lichens of dry and desert-like steppes are highly typical (fe.g. Aspicilia fruticulosa, Parmelia ryssolea, Parmelia vagans).
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Herb layer
Stipa lessingiana, Stipa capillata, Festuca valesiaca, Aster oleifolius, Tanacetum achilleifolium, Jurinea lineariloba, Artemisia pauciflora, Artemisia lerchiana
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
Tortula ruralis; Aspicilia fruticulosa, Parmelia ryssolea, Parmelia vagans
Diagnostically important species
Stipa lessingiana, Agropyron desertorum, Artemisia pauciflora
Ecological variants
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Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
Large areas in the interfluvial regions of the Volga and Ural are colonised by complexes with dominant xerophilic, hyperxerophilic and halo-xerophilic dwarf semi-shrubs on solonetz soils.
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
Complexes with Artemisia pauciflora or Artemisia pauciflora and Kochia prostrata, or with Artemisia pauciflora, Kochia prostrata and Tanacetum achilleifolium communities.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
steppes (M14, M19, M21), brackish water reed vegetation (R3).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
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grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Pastures, steppes, halophyte communities.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
Maize or sunflower fields.
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
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Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
low locations of the highlands of Obščij Syrt and plains
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
lowland; the absolute altitude decreases from the north-west to the south-east from 130 to 70 m
Geology (bedrock)
marine sediments (Pleistocene)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
solonetz-like chestnut soils, solonetz; (orthic solonetz; luvic sodic and haplic sodic kastanozems)
soil moisture, water balance
dry
soil fertility
oligo-mesotrophic, mesotrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
VII1b
average annual temperature
5-7 °C
average annual precipitation
300 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
July 24-25 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
January -15 to -10 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
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Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
Apart from the areas with soil halination, the northern part of the area has been transformed into arable land. In the south, pasture grounds with heavily degraded vegetation prevail.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
No details
causes of endangerment
Very heavy overgrazing.
required measures for protection and restitution
Regulation of grazing.
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
There are no reserves in the distribution area of this mapping unit.
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
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Most important references (author, year)
Larin, Šiffers & Levina et al. 1954; Lavrenko 1940; Lavrenko 1980; Levina 1954; Nikitin 1954
Compiled by
Z. Neuhäuslová based on documents by Z.V. Karamyševa
