M5: West and central Pontic herb-grass steppes (Stipa ucrainica, Stipa lessingiana) with Caragana mollis, in the Dobrudscha alternating with rock communities (Festuca callieri, Agropyron cristatum subsp. brandzae, Thymus moldavicus, Adonis wolgensis)

CountryRomania, Moldova, Republic of, Russian Federation, Ukraine
Province eastern half of the Beregan-plain, in the south of the Moldova, central part of the Dobrudscha between Danube and Black sea; Republic of Moldavia; Ukraine; Russia
References

Bilyk 1973b; Dihoru & Doniţă 1970; Grin’ 1956; Kleopov 1927; Klokov 1927; Kuznecova 1956; Lavrenko 1980; Osyčnjuk, Bilyk, Tkačenko, Genov & Šupranov 1976; Panova 1962; Panova 1976; Popescu, Sanda & Doltu 1980; Tkačenko 1982; Tkačenko 1985; Tkačenko & Kostylev 1985

Remarks

CONIF
BLD
BLE
SCL
LEG
ZONPALM
ARBFERN
D-HERB
M-HERB
AZONAL WOODY
AZONAL NON-WOODY
AQUATIC
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
Sum of taxa
CONIF
0.00
BLD
1.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.75
LEG
0.25
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
14.30
M-HERB
7.10
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.60
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
Percentage of zonal taxa
CONIF
0.00
BLD
4.27
BLE
0.00
SCL
3.21
LEG
1.07
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
61.11
M-HERB
30.34
Percentage of zonal woody angiosperms
BLD
50.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
37.50
LEG
12.50
ZONPALM
0.00
Sum of all taxa24.00
Sum of zonal taxa23.40
Sum of zonal woody angiosperms2.00
Sum of % SCL + LEG50.00
Sum of % D-HERB + M-HERB (ZONAL HERB)91.45

Vegetation types

No vegetation types.

EuroVegMap information

Title

West and central Pontic herb-grass steppes (Stipa ucrainica, Stipa lessingiana) with Caragana mollis, in the Dobrudscha alternating with rock communities (Festuca callieri, Agropyron cristatum subsp. brandzae, Thymus moldavicus, Adonis wolgensis)

Geographical distribution

Country/territory
Romania: eastern half of the Beregan-plain, in the south of the Moldova, central part of the Dobrudscha between Danube and Black sea; Republic of Moldavia; Ukraine; Russia: southern slopes of the Moldavian, Podolian, Dnjepr- and Azovian highlands, southern part of the central Russian highlands and Donez hilly country. In the south as far as to the lower courses of the Don or to the northern margin of the Stavropol' highlands
area covered
114740 km²
area frequency
29 polygons.

Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)

Stipo ucrainicae-Festucetum valesiacae Dihoru 1970, Festuca valesiaca + Stipa lessingiana-ass. Puscaru et al. 1963, Medicagini-Festucetum valesiacae Wagner 1941, Agropyretum pectiniforme (Prod. 1939) Dihoru 1970, Agropyro-Thymetum zygoidi Dihoru 1970, Festucetum callieri Serbanescu, Prunetum moldavicae Dihoru 1969, Amygdaletum nanae Soó 1959, 1965.

Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)

Xerophytic tussock grasses set the tone: Stipa lessingiana, Stipa capillata, Stipa ucrainica (in southern parts and on southern slopes), Stipa pulcherrima (on stony sites), Stipa dasyphylla, Stipa tirsa (mainly in the northern part), Festuca valesiaca. Other grasses also appear (Phleum phleoides, Poa angustifolia, Elymus hispidus subsp. barbulatus, Melica ciliata). The large numbers of steppe herbs lend the steppe a colourful appearance.

Dominant and most frequent species in different layers

Tree layer
---
Shrub layer
Caragana mollis
Lianas
---
Herb layer
Stipa lessingiana, Stipa capillata, Stipa ucrainica, Festuca valesiaca, Agropyron cristatum subsp. pectinatum, Elymus hispidus subsp. barbulatus, Melica ciliata, Filipendula vulgaris, Campanula sibirica, Campanula glomerata, Galium verum, Trifolium montanum, Thymus kosteleckyanus, Achillea setacea, Linum tenuifolium, Eryngium campestre, Trinia hispida, Aster oleifolius, Alyssum-, Tulipa-, Poa-, Draba-, Gagea-species
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details

Diagnostically important species

Stipa lessingiana, Stipa capillata, Stipa ucrainica, Caragana mollis

Ecological variants

In the Dobrudscha rock community with Festuca callieri, Agropyron cristatum subsp. brandzae, Thymus moldavicus, Adonis wolgensis; along the Dniester and Bug rivers with Stipa graniteicola, Jurinea tyraica; at the Donets and the Sea of Azov there are petrophyte communities with numerous endemics and rare species with a disjuncted range (see under 'Natural accompanying vegetation').

Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)

In Romania, Agropyron cristatum steppes with the typical herbs Galium humifusum, Xeranthemum annuum, Tanacetum millefolium, Linaria genistifolia, Allium sphaerocephalon, Goniolimon besseranum, Centaurea diffusa, Euphorbia nicaeensis subsp. stepposa and Alyssum desertorum etc. dominate on drier sites. In the steppes of the interfluvial regions between the Prut and Dnieper rivers, some mesoxerophytic steppe elements advance towards the south (Stipa pennata, Stipa dasyphylla, Clematis integrifolia etc.).

Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)

Small-area incidences of petrophytic herb grass steppes (Stipa tirsa, Stipa zalesskii, Stipa dasyphylla, Stipa pulcherrima, Festuca valesiaca, Achillea nobilis, Teucrium capitatum, Ephedra distachya) on slate and sandstone in the Donets area; Azovian tomillares and tomillares steppes (Thymus calcareus, Achillea glaberrima, Centaurea pseudoleucolepis, Stipa anomala, Festuca valesiaca) on silicate rock (granite, gneiss); tomillares and tomillares steppes (Koeleria talievii, Stipa cretacea, Erysimum cretaceum, Daphne sophia, Thymus calcareus, Hyssopus cretaceus, Artemisia hololeuca) on chalk and marlstone in the area of the Donets and Don rivers; Festuca valesiaca steppes in complex with halophytic dwarf semi-shrubs; shrub communities with Prunus spinosa, Prunus fruticosa, Prunus tenella, Caragana frutex, Caragana mollis, Paliurus spina-christi (in the west) in lowlands and on shaded slopes; east European open pedunculate oak forests (Quercus robur) with steppe species (Caragana frutex, Prunus tenella, Brachypodium pinnatum) at valley slopes; forests with Quercus pubescens, Quercus virgiliana, Quercus pedunculiflora, Fraxinus ornus, Carpinus orientalis; salt marshes.

Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)

hornbeam-oak forests (F168), Oriental hornbeam-downy oak forests (G60), forest steppes (L2, L7, L8, L12, L13, L16), steppes (M1, M2, M6, M8, M12, M13, M14), desert steppes (M16), dune vegetation (P14, P15), salt vegetation (P29, P30, P34), freshwater and brackish water reed vegetation (R1, R3), alluvial and moist forests as well as scrubs (U14, U16, U18, U20, U21, U42).

Land use, substitute communities

forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Forests as protective strips.
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Pasture grounds.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
Wheat fields.
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
---

Site conditions of the mapping unit

Landscape type, geomorphology
flat or weakly undulating plains with river valleys and deep-cut ravines
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
lowland, colline; 50-200 m, on highlands up to 300 m, in the Stavropol’ hilly country up tp 600 m
Geology (bedrock)
eolian (bluff formation) sediments (Pleistocene, Pleistocene above Tertiary, Cretaceous); granite (Precambrian: Ukranian crystal shield)
Soil conditions
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
few humic black earths, black earth-variants with a thick humus layer (Azovian black soils); (haplic, luvic sodic and calcic petrocalcic chernozems; calcic and haplic sodic kastanozems; haplic phaeozems)
soil texture
sandy-loamy
soil moisture, water balance
moderately dry
soil reaction
neutral
soil fertility
mesotrophic, meso-eutrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
VII1b
average annual temperature
7-8 °C (in the east); 10-12 °C (in the west)
average annual precipitation
350-500 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
22-23 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
-9 to -5 °C (in the east); -2 to 0 °C (in the west)
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
typical are eastern dry winds and frequent droughts. Moderately continental climate, continentality increases from the west to the east.

Importance for nature protection

Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
The steppes have been almost completely transformed into arable land. Only small natural remnants that are used as pastures remain preserved at slopes. An appropriate protective regime is particularly important, since an absolute protection would lead to the suppression of tussock grasses due to the spread of rhizome grasses (Poa angustifolia, Bromus inermis, Elymus repens, Elymus hispidus subsp. barbulatus).
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
No details
causes of endangerment
agricultural use, grazing.
required measures for protection and restitution
Preservation of semi-natural stands in protected areas, strict regulation of the grazing regime.

Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection

of the natural vegetation
Romania: Dobrudscha (Fîntînita reserve); Ukraine, Russia: Chomutovskaja-steppe (Donez region), Kamennyje mogily in the hilly country of Azov.
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
---

Most important references (author, year)

Bilyk 1973b; Dihoru & Doniţă 1970; Grin’ 1956; Kleopov 1927; Klokov 1927; Kuznecova 1956; Lavrenko 1980; Osyčnjuk, Bilyk, Tkačenko, Genov & Šupranov 1976; Panova 1962; Panova 1976; Popescu, Sanda & Doltu 1980; Tkačenko 1982; Tkačenko 1985; Tkačenko & Kostylev 1985

Compiled by

Z. Neuhäuslová based on documents by Z.V. Karamyševa and N.Doniţă

Taxons

Taxon
CONIF
BLD
BLE
SCL
LEG
ZONPALM
ARBFERN
D-HERB
M-HERB
AZONAL WOODY
AZONAL NON-WOODY
AQUATIC
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.80
M-HERB
0.20
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.80
M-HERB
0.20
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.50
M-HERB
0.50
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
1.00
M-HERB
0.00
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.50
M-HERB
0.50
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.70
M-HERB
0.30
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.50
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.50
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.00
M-HERB
0.00
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.50
M-HERB
0.50
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.70
M-HERB
0.30
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.80
M-HERB
0.20
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.40
M-HERB
0.60
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.50
M-HERB
0.50
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.50
M-HERB
0.30
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.20
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.20
M-HERB
0.80
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.80
M-HERB
0.20
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.90
M-HERB
0.10
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.40
M-HERB
0.40
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.20
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.70
M-HERB
0.30
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.90
M-HERB
0.10
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
1.00
M-HERB
0.00
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.50
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.25
LEG
0.25
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.00
M-HERB
0.00
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.40
M-HERB
0.40
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.20
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.80
M-HERB
0.20
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.50
M-HERB
0.50
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00