Influence of Anthropogenic Pressure on Environmental Characteristics of Meadow Habitats in the Forest and Forest-Steppe Zones

2016 ◽  
pp. 421-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. A. Goncharova ◽  
L. N. Skripalshikova ◽  
A. P. Barchenkov

The aim of the paper is the floristic analysis at the Krasnoyarsk forest-steppe pine cenoses. This problemrequires detailed research under the constant anthropogenic pressure. A flora inventory was carried out, vascular plantsspecies composition was determined. As a result, a summary of the flora was compiled, which includes 126 species from107 genera, 46 families, 6 classes, 5 divisions. Floristic analysis was carried out by the method of specific flora, taking intoaccount herbarium materials. The taxonomic, chorological, zonal, ecological, biomorphological flora structure featureswere determined based on the analysis of floristic data. The protected taxes have been identified. The peculiarities ofvegetation cover species composition are marked on the basis of the comprehensive flora analysis. The authors madethe conclusion that mesophytes of the light-coniferous and forest-steppe belt-zone groups with the Eurasian and EuroSiberian ranges predominate in the pine cenoses flora at the Krasnoyarsk forest-steppe. The most part of species havethe life forms hemicryptophytes and cryptophytes. Species to be protected have been discovered: Cypripedium calceolus,C. guttatum, C. macranthon, Neottianthe cucullata.


2021 ◽  
pp. 38-53
Author(s):  
O.G. Golubtsov ◽  
◽  
L.Yu. Sorokina ◽  
L.M. Tymuliak ◽  
V.M. Chekhniy ◽  
...  

The purpose of the publication is to present the results of the study of anthropogenic changes in the landscapes of the Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine, implemented by assessing the indicators of landscapes anthropogenic transformation, their diversity and fragmentation. The basic research methods are methods of geospatial GIS analysis and decoding of remote sensing data of the Earth, geoinformation mapping. According to the indicators of anthropogenic transformation of landscapes at the level of physical-geographical regions and districts of the Forest-Steppe zone, the features of changes for the period 1992-2018 are determined. The results of assessment of anthropogenic changes in forest-steppe landscapes of Ukraine show that in 1992 as well as in 2018 the vast majority of the landscapes of the territory are strongly and excessively transformed by anthropogenic activity. Such patterns persist, despite the fact that during the analyzed period in part of the investigated area there is a certain decrease in anthropogenic pressure on landscapes. The regular relations between the indicators of anthropic landscape diversity and fragmentation of landscapes are determined, which corroborates to their certain conditionality by the degree and nature of anthropogenic transformation of the territory. The novelty of the study are the proposed methods of spatial and temporal changes in landscapes estimating and identifying such changes in landscapes at the level of physical and geographical regions for the period 1992-2018 and revealing trends in the structure of land use, especially agricultural lands, forests, built-up territories as the leading types of land use in the Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine.


2003 ◽  
pp. 51-61
Author(s):  
N. I. Makunina ◽  
T. V. Maltseva

The forest belt of the KuznetskyAlatau eastern macro­slope consists of two subunits, namely the boreal-montane and the hemiboreal (sub)belts. In the upper one, the tall-herb communities of the class Mulgedio-Aconitetea are formed in place of the climax fir (Abiessibirica) forest. If being subject to regular mowing or grazing, these tall-herb communities are replaced by the «true» meadows of the ass. Trifoliopratensis—Alchemilletum vulgaris, order Arrhenatheretalia, whereas forest meadows of the ass. Trollioasiaticae—Poetumsibiricae replace the mixed forest composed of Pinussibirica, Piceaobovata, Betula pendula and a few of Larixsibirica in the lower subbelt. With the anthropogenic pressure increase, the «true» meadows of the ass. Filipenduloulmariae—Alchemille­tum vulgaris and then of the ass. Potentilloanserinae–Alchemilletum vulgaris (Arrhenatheretalia) represent the next two digression stages, respectively. Forest meadows of the ass. Hesperidosibiricae—Poetumsibiricae, similar to those of the forest-steppe belt, are formed on dry sunny slopes in the bottom part of the hemiboreal belt.


2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 124-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. B. Chaplygina ◽  
T. V. Shupova ◽  
A. S. Nadtochiy

In the recreational zone of "Homilshanski Lisy" National Park 137 species of birds were identified during the period 1980–2015, of which 127 species nest, 8 winter, and 2 observed during the spring migration. The nesting species are distributed in 4 ecological groups dominated by dendrophylls (67 species), with fewer limnophylls-fresh water species (29), campophylls-open country species (16) and sclerophylls (11). Among the nesting birds 11 landscape-genetic faunal assemblages were distinguished, dominated by typical nemoral-woodland (19%), tropical (14%) and forest-steppe (13%) species. The average density of the birds nesting in the park amounts to 1.2 ± 0.2 with n overall density of 148.3 pairs/km route line. The habitat distribution of the bird population was relatively even. The most intensively populated habitat was upland oak forest, the least were pine and mixed forests. It was found that the communities of breeding birds in tree plantations changed due to the natural aging process of forests, which has led to an increase in the number of birds of prey (Falconiiformes), woodpeckers (Piciformes), secondary hollow-nesting birds. The bird communities of floodplain and steppe meadows, as well as habitats in residential areas subject to constant recreational pressure, changed under the pressure of anthropogenic loading. The favorable natural and geographical location of the park and the diversity of its habitats contributed to the emergence in the list of fauna of which are expanding their range. Analysis of the dominant species in the community points to a significant negative impact of recreational pressure on all habitats of the park. The dominant birds in the pinewood community list included only one campophyll, tree pipit (Anthus trivialis L.). For the steppe meadows, in addition to the dominant colonial birds that nest in holes , the yellow wagtail (Motacilla flava L.) was marked as subdominant. In general, in the recreational area of NPP "Homilshanski Lisy" 30 common species (24.2%, total abundance 0.198) nest on the ground. The variety and balance of breeding bird communities in most habitats is stable, but in the meadow ecosystem communities the uniformity of the distribution of species abundance is being significantly disrupted. The Jacquard and Sorenson performance indices for floodplain and steppe meadows are 0.4 and 0.5, and for grove and pine woods, respectively, 0.7 and 0.8. Taking into account the data of the cluster analysis, the distribution curves of shared abundance and participation indicatee sinanthropic breeding bird communities. It follows that anthropogenic pressure exerts the most significant effect on the birds’ occupation of breeding habitats in the recreational zone NPP "Homilshanski Lisy". The highest performance is characterized by the condition of the avifauna of forest habitats, such as oak forest and pine woods, the most threatened breeding bird communities being those of floodplain meadows.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 1081-1103
Author(s):  
Angelica Feurdean ◽  
Roxana Grindean ◽  
Gabriela Florescu ◽  
Ioan Tanţău ◽  
Eva M. Niedermeyer ◽  
...  

Abstract. Forest steppes are dynamic ecosystems, highly susceptible to changes in climate, disturbances and land use. Here we examine the Holocene history of the European forest steppe ecotone in the lower Danube Plain to better understand its sensitivity to climate fluctuations, fire and human impact, and the timing of its transition into a cultural forest steppe. We used multi-proxy analyses (pollen, n-alkanes, coprophilous fungi, charcoal and geochemistry) of a 6000-year sequence from Lake Oltina (southeastern Romania) combined with a REVEALS (Regional Estimates of Vegetation Abundance from Large Sites) model of quantitative vegetation cover. We found a greater tree cover, composed of xerothermic (Carpinus orientalis and Quercus) and temperate (Carpinus betulus, Tilia, Ulmus and Fraxinus) tree taxa, between 6000 and 2500 cal yr BP. Maximum tree cover (∼ 50 %), dominated by C. orientalis occurred between 4200 and 2500 cal yr BP at a time of wetter climatic conditions and moderate fire activity. Compared to other European forest steppe areas, the dominance of C. orientalis represents the most distinct feature of the woodland's composition at this time. Tree loss was underway by 2500 yr BP (Iron Age), with the REVEALS model indicating a fall to ∼ 20 % tree cover from the Late Holocene forest maximum, linked to clearance for agriculture, while climate conditions remained wet. Biomass burning increased markedly at 2500 cal yr BP, suggesting that fire was regularly used as a management tool until 1000 cal yr BP when woody vegetation became scarce. A sparse tree cover, with only weak signs of forest recovery, then became a permanent characteristic of the lower Danube Plain, highlighting more or less continuous anthropogenic pressure. The timing of anthropogenic ecosystem transformation here (2500 cal yr BP) falls between that in central-eastern (between 3700 and 3000 cal yr BP) and eastern (after 2000 cal yr BP) Europe. Our study is the first quantitative land cover estimate at the forest steppe ecotone in southeastern Europe spanning 6000 years. It provides critical empirical evidence that, at a broad spatial scale, the present-day forest steppe and woodlands reflect the potential natural vegetation in this region under current climate conditions. However, the extent of tree cover and its composition have been neither stable in time nor shaped solely by the climate. Consequently, vegetation change must be seen as dynamic and reflecting wider changes in environmental conditions including natural disturbances and human impact.


2012 ◽  
pp. 78-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. N. Lashchinskiy ◽  
N. V. Lashchinskaya

Small-leaved forests of the galley and ravine systems on the Priobskoe plateau (West Siberia) belong to the Brachypodio pinnati–Betuletea pendulae class and the Calamagrostio epigei–Betuletalia pendulae order. All forest types were classified according to the Braun-Blanquet approach. Three new associations and four subassociations were described. Floristic composition presented by mixture of forest, meadow and steppe species reveals the geographical position and the environmental conditions of forest habitats. Forest distribution depends on the slope exposition and steepness. In spite of strong anthropogenic pressure many of forest patches could be considered as refuges of natural biodiversity in forest-steppe zone.


2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (5) ◽  
pp. 363-368
Author(s):  
M.D. Burlaka . ◽  

A new population of a regionally threatened species Ophioglossum vulgatum is reported. It is the southernmost record of the species within Zhytomyr Region and the only one in its forest-steppe part. The population is comprised of four parts with overall area of about 16 m2 and total number ca. 1000 specimens. A two-fold observation of the locality revealed fluctuation in number and density of specimens. The population is located within a settled area and is exposed to moderate anthropogenic pressure. Further monitoring is needed to detect population trend.


Author(s):  
B. I. Levchenko ◽  
L. V. Degtyareva ◽  
A. A. Zaitsev ◽  
M. P. Grigor’Ev ◽  
V. V. Ostapovich

Epizootiological monitoring of the forest-steppe area of the natural tularemia focus in the Stavropol region has revealed that the role of particular species of small mammals in the persistence of natural tularemia focality is unequal. Epizootic activity of the focus in 1959-1970 was determined by the numerous species of rodents: Microtus arvalis , mice of Syvaemus genus and Mus musculus . In 1972-2010 there occurred significant changes in the grouping of the main tularemia agent carriers under the influence of strong anthropogenic pressure. Nowadays the leading role is played by the widely-spread and subsistent mice of Sylvaemus genus and C. suaveolens , the latter ones being responsible for 31.2 % of overall, isolated from small mammals, tularemia agent strains. In addition to this, epizootic significance of M. arvalis has greatly changed. Index of strains isolated from field vole has lowered from 55.3 up to 28.4. Numbers of M. arvalis and Mus musculus are continuously on the low level, which is due to the absence of favorable breeding conditions. It reduces their impact on the persistence of natural focality in the territory under surveillance significantly.


2020 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 71-83
Author(s):  
Nataliia Korohoda ◽  
Oleksandr Halahan

This work examines the method of geoinformation modeling in determining the degree of soil pollution by Pb compounds in the highway ecosystems, used as agricultural areas. The methodology allows identifying the spatial parameters of the area of pollution and the territories safe for cultivating crops by determining the actual level of soil contamination. The actual level of pollution (ALP) reflects the estimated balance of Pb compounds in soils over a specified period of time and the duration of pollution (or decontamination) period under the conditions of existing anthropogenic pressure. ALP is defined as the difference between the calculated amount of Pb compounds that have been introduced into the soils of the geosystems from the main sources of emissions and their calculated amount that has been lost from the soil and/or removed from migratory flows (by being transferred to the state conditionally inaccessible by plants), for the same time interval. Methodology verification took place in the geographic area representative of forest-steppe zone of Ukraine by its environmental conditions and agricultural use. Methodology implementation was conducted by building spatial regional databases, utilizing the data from field and laboratory soils studies and open sources of digital spatial data. Based on geoinformation modeling, we determined the configuration and quantitative characteristics of the primary zone of contamination of the soil surface layer with Pb compounds. We presented the calculation procedure of quantitative indicators of soil decontamination from Pb compounds as they redistribute through the soil profile via main geochemical scenarios. We also provided the rate of this process under the conditions of the existing anthropogenic pressure. Using modeling results, we mapped areas of removal, transit and accumulation of Pb compounds and territories receiving pollution from highway geosystems. Verification of the modeling results during laboratory studies proved the objectivity of the proposed methodology in determining the current levels of pollution with Pb compounds. Our methodology could be utilized for a set of different environmental factors as well as other heavy metals with a purpose of identifying areas safe for cultivating crops.


Author(s):  
L. Gavrylyuk ◽  
A. Nemchenko

To reduce destructive anthropogenic pressure on the environment, modern energy envisages the widespread use of bioenergy raw materials. The article is devoted to the perspective of the species of bioenergetic cultures in the West Forest-steppe region — the willow rootworm — Salix viminalis L. The author's focuses on the most acute problem in the technology of growing this crop — the need to protect young plants in the first year of vegetation from weeds.


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