Impact of natural fires on the vegetation cover of steppe and forest-steppe zones (European part of Russia, Middle Volga region)

В Н Ильина ,Anna Mitroshenkova,Stanislav Rogov,Stepan Senator ,Vera Solovyeva

doi:10.1051/e3sconf/202126501019

Abstract

The effect of natural fires on the vegetation cover of steppe and forest-steppe zones in the south-east of European Russia (the middle course of the Volga River) has been evaluated. The research used methods of studying biosystems at organism, species, population and cenotic levels. The study revealed the possibility of regrowth of aboveground plant parts after fires, changes in the population structure of species, and resistance of populations and zonal plant communities to the effects of natural fires. The most vulnerable among zonal vegetation types are pine forests, feather-grass and petrophytic steppes. Frequency, intensity and area of natural fires in the Middle Volga region cause significant changes in the structure of vegetation cover and reduction of biodiversity. The results obtained in the study of the impact of fires on vegetation can be used in the planning and implementation of environmental and reforestation measures.

Highlights

Preventing and combating natural fires has become a global environmental problem [18], as is clearly shown by the unfortunate events that occur annually on almost all continents.Natural fires are one of the main ecological factors that have a significant impact on almost the entire spectrum of zonal ecosystems in the Middle Volga basin
The Middle Volga region is characterized by a high degree of economic development, the preserved areas with natural vegetation cover have a small area, and natural fires are a rather critical phenomenon
The aim of this work is to characterize the main trends of vegetation cover development in the Middle Volga basin after the impact of natural fires

Summary

Introduction

Preventing and combating natural fires has become a global environmental problem [18], as is clearly shown by the unfortunate events that occur annually on almost all continents.Natural fires are one of the main ecological factors that have a significant impact on almost the entire spectrum of zonal ecosystems (pine and pine-broadleaved forests, meadow and mixed steppes) in the Middle Volga basin. All arising natural fires are related with economic and recreational activities of the population (Fig. 1). In some cases, they are associated with deliberate arson. The role of natural fires is not always evaluated negatively, there are positive aspects too. Fires in the forest-steppe and steppe zones of the south-east of European Russia have more of a negative rather than stimulating effect on the development of vegetation cover and related components of ecosystems. Small areas of steppe vegetation (Figs. 2, 3), located disjunctively, are susceptible to the pyrogenic factor when restoration of natural vegetation cover is impossible due to the transfer of plant buds

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion