Title
Caspian pelitophytic, intensely halophytic dwarf semishrub desert complex on salinous clay soils and solontchak-solonetz with Anabasis salsa- and Atriplex cana-communitiesa = alternating with O1
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Kazakhstan: Caspian lowland - small fields along the lower course of the Ural
area frequency
2 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Communities consisting of Anabasis salsa, Atriplex cana, Suaeda spp., Salsola spp., Camphorosma monspeliaca, annual halophytes (Salsola foliosa, Climacoptera brachiata among others), Artemisia pauciflora, Artemisia santonicum and Artemisia lerchiana.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
The degree of cover of the species deficient (3-5 species) communities reaches 30‑40%. Not rarely, other halophilous dwarf semishrubs accompany the dominant Anabasis salsa with a low abundance, and in some types annual halophilous species occur more frequently.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Herb layer
Anabasis salsa, Atriplex cana, Salsola foliosa, Climacoptera brachiata, Suaeda spp., Salsola spp., Camphorosma monspeliaca, Artemisia pauciflora, Artemisia santonicum, Artemisia lerchiana
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Anabasis salsa, Atriplex cana, Salsola foliosa, Climacoptera brachiata, Artemisia pauciflora
Ecological variants
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Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
In the east the complex of Anabasis salsa, halophytic and Artemisia lerchiana communities is replaced by the complex of Anabasis salsa, halophytic and Artemisia semiarida communities, and in the south by Anabasis salsa, halophytic and Artemisia terrae-albae communities.
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
Small area occurrences of north-Turanian halophytic dwarf semishrub 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)
northern dwarf semishrub deserts (O4, O6), salt vegetation (P31), brackish water reed vegetation (R3), alluvial forests and scrubs (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.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
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settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
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Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
flat and weakly undulating plains
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
lowland; 15 bis 10 m below sea level
Geology (bedrock)
eolian and marine sediments (Holocene, Pleistocene)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
saliceous brown desert-soils, solonchak-solonetz; (haplic xerosols; orthic solonetz)
soil moisture, water balance
dry
soil fertility
oligotrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
VII3
average annual temperature
7-8 °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 to -10 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
distinctively continental, arid.
Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
In parts damaged by grazing, whereas in others natural stands are still preserved (Volga-Ural intrafluvial region).
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
all communities.
causes of endangerment
Intensive grazing.
required measures for protection and restitution
Moderately grazing.
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
Kazakhstan: along the lower course of the Ural.
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
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Most important references (author, year)
Kunaev (Red.) 1982; Lavrenko 1962; Lavrenko & Nikol’skaja 1963; Prozorovskij 1940; Rodin & Rubcov 1956; Safronova 1975; Safronova 1980b
Compiled by
Z. Neuhäuslová based on documents by I. Safronova
