Studies on the halophyte desert vegetation in the Northern Caspian Region (Caspian Lowland and Mangyshlak)

We have performed the phytoecological mapping of the Northern Caspian Region in scale 1 : 2 500 000. The territory includes the Caspian Lowland and the Mangyshlak Peninsula between 45°-53°30 E and 49°-42° N. The earlier published maps of the same scale showed either vegetation of the Caspian Lowland or that of the Mangyshlak Peninsula. We have shown both territories on one map, which has permitted to reflect the peculiar features of the Northern Caspian Region: extensive distribution of the dwarf-semishrub communities not only in desert but also in the steppe zone; differences of desert vegetation cover between areas west and east of the Ural River; the running of zonal steppe/desert boundary along 44° N on the west coast of Caspian Sea whereas on the east coast the middle deserts occur at the same latitude: etc. Our studies were based upon a broad understanding of the desert and steppe types of vegetation. To the desert type of vegetation on the plains of Caspian Region and Turan belong the communities of xerophilous and hyperxerophilous micro- and mesothermic plants of various growth forms, mostly dwarf-semishrubs, semishrubs and shrubs, to the steppe type - plant communities consisting mostly of perennial more or less microthermic xerophilous herbaceous plants, predominantly of bunchgrasses, locally tufted sedges and perennial herbs. One should add that stony-rubble and salted substrates in steppe zone are characterized by distribution of dwarf-semishrub communities. Some researchers, apart from steppe and desert zones distinguish semidesert one in the Caspian Lowland, however it is accepted that there is no semidesert type of vegetation. Therefore it is difficult to agree with the recognition of the semidesert zone. The drawing of zonal boundary between steppe and desert in the Northern Caspian Region involves definite difficulties depending on environmental features of the region and strong anthropogenic press. So, on sand massifs and saline soils vegetation is the same both in desert and steppe zones. Vegetation cover of the Western Caspian Region is transformed considerably under anthropogenic influence. It is known that in steppe region at ploughing up of the worm- wood-bunchgrass steppes one of the stages of restoration of fallow lands is the wormwood one, physiognomically similar to desert. The same appearance is assumed by steppe at the strong grazing when grasses are destroyed and wormwoods is growing up. Such anthropogenic wormwood communities are widely spread at the boundary between zones. This resulted in that on earlier published vegetation maps the desert zone in the interfluve of Volga-Ural was shifted fairly far to the North up to 49°N. At present we believe that it is possible to assign the northern part of Ryn-Sands to steppe zone and to draw the zonal boundary along the latitude of 48°30 N. The boundary is determined by climate, geological history, hydrology, edaphic conditions and. vegetation. Somewhat differently than earlier we draw the zonal boundary in the Caspian Lowland between the Volga River and the Ergeni Height. It goes from Prishib's settlement to south-west to Yashkul's settlement (45°30 E) and further westward of Achinery's settlement to south-east up to the Kuma River. We could specify its position since during the last years the part of fallow lands, occupying large areas to the west and north of this line, restored up to steppes of Stipa sareptana-Artemisia lerchiana and those of Agropyron desertorum-Artemisia lerchiana. In the course of cartographic works we compiled the vegetation map of the Northern Caspian Region. This map became the base for series of maps: phytoecological one. the map of dominating plant formations, the map of edaphic variants of plant communities, the map of transformation of ecosystems of the Lower Volga Region. Phytoecological map (Fig. 1) gives an idea of latitudinal differentiation of vegetation in the Northern Caspian Region which depends on climate, and reflects its interrelation with soil conditions on plains and with lithological composition in low mountains. The map of edaphic variants of plant communities (Fig. 2) well reflects the peculiar features of various parts of the Northern Caspian Region: between the Terek River and the Ural River psammophyte and hemipsammophyte variants there predominate; east of the Ural River halophyte ones prevail: on the Mangyshlak Peninsula all variants are represented. Pelitophyte variants predominate in the west of the Region and along its northern margin within the limits of steppe zone. On the map of dominating formations (Fig. 3) we could show the distribution of 17 formations and 1 group of formations. A part of formations is restricted exclusively to steppe zone or desert zone, another part is spread throughout the both. This map helps to understand such peculiar feature of the region as wide distribution of dwarf-semishrub communities not only in deserts but also in steppes, which is due to presence of large areas of sands and saline soils in region. The Caspian Region was intensively used by man for a long time. By present time vegetation cover is noticeable transformed. We tried to show cartographically the degree of this transformation and differences in economical utilization of the Lower Volga area (Fig. 4). 4 degrees of transformation are distinguished: Tl-weak, T2-moderate, T3-strong, T4-very strong. Each polygon is considered from standpoint of type of anthropogenic influence: such as pastures (index «a»), fallow lands (index «b»). For pastures degree of grazing is recorded - from weak grazing to overgrazing. For fallow lands the stage of restoration is detected: from the tall weed one up to the perennial herb one conventionally restored.

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The desert vegetation communities of the Lower Volga Valley

Feddes Repertorium ◽

10.1002/fedr.4921050716 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 105 (7-8) ◽

pp. 499-515 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

V. B. Golub

Keyword(s):

Desert Vegetation ◽

Vegetation Communities ◽

Lower Volga

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Halophytic vegetation on the west Caspian lowland

Сибирский экологический журнал ◽

10.15372/sej20200506 ◽

2020 ◽

Keyword(s):

The West ◽

Caspian Lowland

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Religious Identity Transgression In Students' Community Of Caspian Region And Southern Russia

10.15405/epsbs.2019.12.04.361 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Anna Romanova

Keyword(s):

Religious Identity ◽

Caspian Region ◽

Southern Russia

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THE CONCEPT OF THE BALTIC-BLACK SEA ARC AND UKRAINIAN FOREIGN POLICY (1990 - EARLY 2000)

RSUH/RGGU Bulletin. Series Eurasian studies. History. Political science. International relations ◽

10.28995/2686-7648-2020-4-89-108 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 89-108

Author(s):

Alexandr S. Levchenkov ◽

Keyword(s):

Economic Development ◽

Foreign Policy ◽

Black Sea ◽

The Black Sea ◽

Caspian Region ◽

Soviet Space ◽

The Baltic ◽

Political Economic ◽

Eastern Baltic ◽

Post Soviet Space

The article analyzes the influence of the concepts of the Intermarium and the Baltic-Black Sea Arc on the formation of Ukraine’s foreign policy in 1990 – early 2000. The use of these concepts in American, European and Ukrainian geopolitical thought, which historically included the idea of opposing Russian influence in the region, contributed to the increase in tension and was aimed at further disintegration of the Western flank of the post-Soviet space. The article proves that the design of the Euro-Atlantic vector of Ukraine’s foreign policy was already active under the first two Ukrainian presidents – Leonid Kravchuk (1991–1994) and Leonid Kuchma (1994–2005). One of the concrete attempts to implement the idea of forming a common political, economic, transport and logistics space of the Black Sea-Caspian region with a promising expansion of the cooperation zone to the whole of Eastern Europe and the Eastern Baltic during the presidency of Leonid Kuchma was the foundation and launch of a new regional organization, Organization for Democracy and Economic Development, better known as GUAM (composed by the initial letters of names of member states – Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova; when Uzbekistan was also a member of Organization for Democracy and Economic Development, the name of the organization was GUUAM), which is an alternative to Eurasian projects with the participation of Russia.

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Comparative studies of the agrophytocenoses with various structure in the arid lands of the Northern Caspian region

Vestnik of the Mari State University Chapter “Agriculture Economics” ◽

10.30914/2411-9687-2018-4-2-9-16 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 9-16

Author(s):

G. K. Bulakhtina ◽

◽

A. V. Kudryashov ◽

N. I. Kudryashova ◽

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...

Keyword(s):

Comparative Studies ◽

Arid Lands ◽

Caspian Region

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The Southern Gas Corridor infrastructure project – implications for the energy security of the European Union

Rocznik Instytutu Europy Środkowo-Wschodniej ◽

10.36874/riesw.2019.4.4 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 17 (4) ◽

pp. 79-99

Author(s):

Justyna Misiągiewicz

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

Soviet Union ◽

Energy Security ◽

Energy System ◽

Caspian Region ◽

The European Union ◽

Energy Field ◽

Eu Member States ◽

Infrastructure Project ◽

The Eu

Nowadays, energy security is a growing concern in state foreignpolicy. Interdependency in the energy field is a very important dimensionof contemporary relations between states and transnational corporations.Energy security is becoming a key issue for the European Union (EU). TheUnion is one of the world’s fastest-growing energy markets and the biggestimporter of energy resources. For the foreseeable future, Europe’s energydependence will probably increase. Facing a shortage of energy, Europe isdependent on imports and the EU member states need to diversify their energysupplies. The Caspian region contains some of the largest undevelopedoil and gas reserves in the world. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, thenewly independent Caspian states became open to foreign investment. Thegrowing energy needs have given the EU a strong interest in developing tieswith energy-producing states in the Caspian region to build the necessarypipeline infrastructure. In this analysis, the pipeline infrastructure that exists orwill be built in the near future will be presented. The analysis will concentrateon routes transporting gas from the Caspian region and the most importantproblems and solutions in designing the midstream energy system in the region.The key aim of the article is to analyse the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC)infrastructure project, which will inevitably contribute to the EU’s energy securityinterest.

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