Title
North Caspian halophytic desert steppes (Artemisia pauciflora, Artemisia lerchiana, Leymus ramosus, Agropyron desertorum, Stipa sareptana, Festuca valesiaca) in combination with Artemisia pauciflora- and Atriplex cana-communities, east of the Volga with Anabasis salsa-communities on solontchak-solonetz-soils
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Russia; Kazakstan: semicircular around the Caspian Sea at the margin of the Caspian depression, river valleys of Ašiozek, Kušum, watershed of the rivers Malyj and Bol'šoj Uzen'
area frequency
21 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Artemisieta pauciflorae, Artemisieta lerchianae, Atripleceta canae, Stipeta sareptanae.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
As the species assemblage and structure suggest, this mapping unit resembles M20. Like M20, vegetation complexes primarily with halophilous and halo-xerophilic dwarf semi-shrubs predominate here. This mapping unit is characterised by the major phytocoenotic role of halophilous species (Anabasis salsa, Atriplex cana etc.); these species form dwarf semi-shrub communities on more or less heavily developed solonchak/solonetz soils which arise due to the influence of high-standing halinated groundwater. Trans-Volgian-Kazakh and trans-Volgian-Kazakh-Mongolian desert steppe and north-Turanian desert species predominate in the species assemblage. Island-like, scattered steppe communities as well as individual steppe species are characteristic.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Herb layer
in solonetz-communities: Artemisia pauciflora, Artemisia lerchiana, Leymus ramosus, Atriplex cana, Anabasis salsa; in desert steppes: Artemisia lerchiana, Artemisia pauciflora, Festuca valesiaca, Stipa sareptana, Stipa lessingiana, Agropyron desertorum
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Artemisia lerchiana, Leymus ramosus, Agropyron desertorum, Artemisia pauciflora, Atriplex cana, Anabasis salsa; Stipa sareptana, Stipa lessingiana
Ecological variants
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Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
Limans are typical and can occupy up to 25 % of the area (see M18).
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
In limans: Elymus repens communities and solontchak (Sor) vegetation.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
steppes (M14, M15, M18, M19, M20), deserts (O1, O6), salt vegetation (P35), alluvial vegetation (U42).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
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grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Pasture grounds.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
Cereal fields, fodder plant fields.
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
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Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
shallow plains inclined from north to south, which are covered with limans and sorens (solontchak lowlands)
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
lowland; average altitude below 50 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)
more or less solontchak-like solonetz soils and strongly solonetz-like light chestnut soils; (orthic solonetz; orthic solonchaks; luvic sodic kastanozems)
soil texture
clay and loam; halomorphic soil
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 -11 °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)
Limans have been converted for the most part into arable land.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
No details
causes of endangerment
No details
required measures for protection and restitution
Designation of protected areas.
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 1980; Levina 1964; Nikitin 1954
Compiled by
Z. Neuhäuslová based on documents by Z.V. Karamyševa; U. Bohn
