Title
North Caspian moderately halophytic desert steppes (Stipa sareptana, Stipa lessingiana, Agropyron desertorum, Tanacetum achilleifolium, Aster oleifolius, Artemisia lerchiana, Ferula caspica) in combination with vegetation on solonetz soils (Artemisia pauciflora, Kochia prostrata)
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Russia; Kazakstan: Caspian depression in an undisrupted belt between Volga and Ural, on the geographical latitude of Volgograd with isolated northern outposts
area frequency
12 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Artemisieto (lerchiana)-Stipeta sareptanae, Artemisieto-Stipeta lessingianae, Artemisieta pauciflorae Lavrenko 1940.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
The vegetation cover is very heterogeneous and reveals a complicated surface structure. Complexes of various dwarf semi-shrub-grass-richer desert steppe and halophytic dwarf semi-shrub communities occur on solonetz soils. As one approaches the Caspian Sea the soil halination and the proportion of halophyte vegetation also increases. The vertical structure corresponds to that of M16 and M18. Floristically these are typical trans-Volgian-Kazakh steppes. Many north-Turanian and north-Turanian-Kazakh desert and desert steppe species are typical.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Herb layer
Stipa sareptana, Stipa lessingiana, Festuca valesiaca, Koeleria macrantha, Agropyron desertorum, Tanacetum achilleifolium, Aster tarbagatensis, Prangos odontalgica, Serratula erucifolia, Artemisia lerchiana, Artemisia pauciflora, Artemisia austriaca
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
Acarospora schleicheri, Cornicularia steppae, Parmelia vagans, Parmelia ryssolea, Diploschistes scruposus
Diagnostically important species
Stipa sareptana, Stipa lessingiana, Agropyron desertorum, Tanacetum achilleifolium, Aster tarbagatensis, Artemisia lerchiana, Artemisia pauciflora, Ferula caspica
Ecological variants
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Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
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Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
Small-area incidences of north-Turanian halophytic dwarf semi-shrub vegetation (Halocnemum strobilaceum, Kalidium foliatum, Atriplex cana, Artemisia santonicum) on solonetz soils and vegetation-free salt pans; "Pody" with meadow vegetation and solonchak communities (Elymus repens, Beckmannia eruciformis).
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
steppes (M9, M10, M14, M15), desert steppes (M20, M21), deserts (O1, O2, O3, O6), salt vegetation (P35) brackish water reed vegetation (R3), alluvial vegetation (U42).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Plantations of Acer negundo, Ulmus pumila, as well as Populus, Prunus and Pyrus species.
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Pasture grounds (Sheep, goats, cattle, horses).
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
Cereal fields (rye, barley, wheat, oats etc.), sometimes with irrigation.
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
Isolated farms; ruderal vegetation (e.g. Carduus, Onopordion, Euphorbia).
Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
lowlands close to the sea
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
lowland
Geology (bedrock)
fluviatile and marine sediments (Pleistocene)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
solonetz-like light chestnut soils in complex with solontchaks; (calcic sodic and haplic sodic kastanozems)
soil moisture, water balance
very dry
soil fertility
oligo-mesotrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
VII3
average annual temperature
7-10 °C
average annual precipitation
200-250 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
July 24-26 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
January -12 °C to -6 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
continental climate.
Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
"Pody" and limans have been transformed largely into areas of arable land.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
No details.
causes of endangerment
Agricultural use, heavy grazing.
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)
Ivanov 1954; Lavrenko 1940; Lavrenko 1980; Levina 1954; Levina 1964; Novikov 1936
Compiled by
Z. Neuhäuslová based on documents by Z.V. Karamyševa; U. Bohn
