Natural Steppe Research Articles

Two-Dimensional Correlation IR Spectroscopy of Humic Substances of Chernozem Size Fractions of Different Land Use

Diffuse reflectance FTIR measurements with two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS) are used for accurate band identification of chernozem comprising soil organic matter (SOM), including humic substances and mineral silicate matrix. Samples of different land use (native steppe, shelterbelt, bare fallow, and arable land) of a long-term field experiment were compared. Homospectral 2D-COS maps for size fractions obtained by wet fractionation were built, and the fraction size was used as a correlation-building variable (external perturbation) of 2D-COS. Synchronous 2D-COS maps are characterized by main correlation regions at 4000–3600 (hydrogen bonds), 1800–1150 (SOM), and 1100–200 cm−1 (quartz matrix). SOM range can be used as a signature of the samples distinguishing two pairs, native steppe–bare fallow and arable land–shelterbelt, by correlations at 1340–1320 cm−1 (CH2) and 1670 cm−1 (aromatic –C=C–). Asynchronous 2D-COS maps show bands at 3690–3620, 2930–2830, in the range of 1640–1250 (8 bands), 1160, 1070, 797, 697, 505, and 400 cm−1, the latter 5 indicate the increasing proportion of silicate to quartz in small fractions. The manifestation of asynchronous correlation bands at 1650, 1580–1560, 1444, 1340, and 1250 cm−1, which have no major contribution from inorganic soil components, are due to carbonyl, carboxylate, and aromatic C–C; their appearance order (accumulation of corresponding substances in larger factions) is different for each land use. The proposed approach provides the identifying SOM components with enough reliability for SOM IR bands that are weaker compared to mineral matrix bands in original IR spectra.

Multi-temporal assessment of land surface temperatures as an indicator of land use/cover changes and climate variability in the Develi Basin, Turkey.

Land surface temperature (LST) is an important parameter that reflects land surface processes of water and energy balance and has been used in assessment of land use/cover changes. However, the use of LST in monitoring changes in non-urban areas such as agricultural areas and wetlands is still limited. In this study, we aim to determine the spatial and temporal changes in LST in a semi-arid agricultural basin in Turkey (Develi Basin), where land use/cover and climatic conditions showed considerable variability since 1980s. Irrigated agriculture have expanded in the basin since 1987, after the construction of a large irrigation project. The basin hosts an internationally important wetland, called the Sultan Marshes, affected negatively by irrigation expansion. The study covers a 39-year period from 1984 to 2022. Four Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) images acquired in 1984, 1987, 2003, and 2007 and two Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS images acquired in 2014 and 2022 were used in the analyses. The land use/cover changes were evaluated based on Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). LST was estimated through top-of-atmosphere brightness temperature from thermal bands of Landsat images. Climate variability from 2014 to 2022 was analyzed with statistical methods. The results indicated that Develi Basin faced both spatial and temporal land use/cover changes. The area covered with natural steppe vegetation and water bodies decreased in the basin. In contrast, the sparsely and densely vegetated soil covers, which mostly denote agricultural areas, increased. Changes in LST values were observed from 1984 to 2022 as a result of climatic factors and land use/cover changes. LST changes were variable across different land use/cover types; LST decreased in irrigated areas and increased in lakes that went dry over years. LST changes proved useful for evaluating land use/cover changes and climatic variations in agricultural basins.

Co‐occurrence patterns in a steppe bird community: insights into the role of dominance and competition

Spatial co‐occurrence patterns are determined by environmental factors, such as food availability or habitat characteristics and by biotic associations. When resources are limited, competition which implies a dominant hierarchy can shape species assemblage. Here, we study space and time co‐occurrence of steppe passerines during the breeding season in a natural steppe habitat, its modulation by environmental filtering, potential biotic interactions and random processes. We applied the joint species distribution model of hierarchical modelling of species community (HMSC) to data on species presence–absence and environmental, temporal and spatial covariates acquired from seven plots in a natural steppe in central Spain during two consecutive years. Our results reveal the patterns of bird species co‐occurrence and suggest that this assemblage might be competitively structured. The assemblage appears to be configured around one dominant species, the Eurasian skylark, which establishes principally negative associations with many of the coexistent species. Our results contribute to the understanding of how competition and dominance processes, together with ecological constraints and other biotic associations, shape bird assemblages.

Relationship of Plant Species Diversity and Sampling Area Under Different Grazing Intensities in the Steppe of Northern China

The relationship between sampling area of plant community and number of species contained in it has an importance in vegetation ecology. Using a nested quadrat survey, the relationship between plant species and sampling area was discussed under different grazing pressure in the steppe and the determination of minimum sampling area was calculated herein. Ten curve models were selected to fit the species-area relation of plant community in a typical steppe of northern China. The residual standard deviation, correlation index, average value of absolute deviation, and average value of absolute relative deviation were used as the evaluation indexes for model fitting. The results show that the curve equations S = B + CAZ and S = C(1-e−BA)Z have the best simulation effect. According to the simulation results, the minimum sampling areas are determined as 1.16 m2 (T0), 1.23 m2 (T7), 1.28 m2 (T10), and 1.10 m2 (T14), presenting the minimum sampling area is feasible when the second derivative is zero. Generally, sheep grazing reduced the species richness of steppe, though some of the plans flourished while some others disappeared or dismissed, but increased spatial heterogeneity, especially on a smaller scale. However, there are also variances in different area scales and grazing intensities. When the sampling area was small (< 2 m2), heavy grazing T14 increased the number of plant species per unit area, yet light grazing T8 reduced the number of plant species per unit area of steppe. When the sampling area was large (> 16 m2), grazing reduced the number of plant species per unit area in the natural steppe. Anyhow, the effect of grazing intensity on plant species fluctuated greatly when the sampling area was medium (2 m2 ∼ 16 m2). In general, the similarity of plant communities had an increasing trend with accumulated sampling area, though it varied at different grazing intensities.

Ancient settlements as natural heritage sites: the first occurrence dataset on vascular plant species from ancient settlements in the Lower Dnipro region (Ukraine).

This work is a long-term outcome of an international Ukrainian-Polish teamwork, aiming to assess the role of ancient settlements for steppe conservation and protection. The dataset contains georeferenced occurrences of vascular plant species on 18 ancient settlements (Lower Dnipro, southern Ukraine), collected during the 2015-2020 period. Additionally, to the total species list, the publication presents the taxonomic coverage (according to GBIF Backbone Taxonomy), the frequency classes of occurrences of the total taxa and the floristic differences amongst studied sites. The report also shows the high sozological value of the studied ancient settlements, the high levels of vascular plant species richness and the various means of the plant species protection (according to the Bern Convention, the Red Data Book of Ukraine and regional Red Lists). This work provides the first occurrence dataset from ancient settlements in Ukraine. The dataset includes 3,210 occurrences of vascular plants recorded during the study period of 2015-2020 conducted in the Lower Dnipro region. As ancient settlements were generally considered as steppe refuges, great attention was paid to the native steppe species, as well as to the rare components of the flora. The dataset includes 1,525 occurrences of steppe species and 87 occurrences of rare species, respectively. The dataset could be useful for further research of ancient settlements` floristic richness, but also analyses and comparison with other objects of cultural origin (e.g. kurgans, hillforts, old cemeteries, forgotten parks, sacred groves etc.).

Carbon Neutrality of Ukraine as a Determinant of Green Development

The article presents the research results on some aspects of achieving carbon neutrality in Ukraine. Carbon neutrality is a challenge for the whole world. In 2020, the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere reached a historical maximum. The work aims to study the features of achieving carbon neutrality in Ukraine. The tasks of the work are the analysis of the components of the transition to low-carbon development, analysis of the consumption of fossil fuels, and activities related to the preservation of forests, natural steppe, and meadow ecosystems. Interest in carbon neutrality issues grows yearly, with a particularly in 2021–2022. Most articles on carbon neutrality were published by scientists from China, the USA, Great Britain, Turkey, and Pakistan. They are mainly devoted to carbon dioxide emissions, economic growth, renewable energy, energy consumption, financial development, co-integration, dioxin emissions, etc. Positive trends regarding the achievement of carbon neutrality have been identified: the supply of natural gas, coal, and peat has decreased, while the supply of renewable energy sources has increased; the share of coal and peat decreased by 26.4%, and the percentage of energy produced from renewable sources increased to 6.6%; the use of coal and peat decreased by 8.5%, natural gas by 5%, and biofuels increased by 16%; the share of biofuel use increased to 5.8%. Expenditures for environmental protection increased by 88.5%, for preserving biodiversity and habitat – by 3.6 times, and costs for air protection and climate change problems – by 2.5 times. The share of expenditures on the protection of biodiversity and habitat increased to 3.2%, and costs on atmospheric air protection and climate change problems to 19.3%. Negative trends that restrain the development of a carbon-neutral economy were also revealed: a low share of renewable sources in the structure of supply and use. Thus, the percentage of biofuel in aggregate use remains low – only 5.8% in 2020. The area of forest loss is increasing, and the area of forest regeneration has decreased by 36%. The area of reforestation remained at the same level, but the area of afforestation decreased ten times during 2010–2020. The scientific novelty consists in the development of theoretical foundations for the identification of regularities in the formation of the energy transformation theory, which differs from the existing ones using bibliometric (VOSviewer v. 1.6.13) analysis.

Estimation of Carbon Balance in Steppe Ecosystems of Russia

Steppe ecosystems, occupying about 8% of the terrestrial area, are an essential element of the global carbon cycle in the atmosphere–vegetation–soil system. Based on the geoinformation-analytical method, the database of empirically measured values of the net primary production and the climate-driven regression model that makes it possible to estimate the intensity of carbon dioxide flux from soils into the atmosphere, the carbon (C–СО2) balance of natural steppe ecosystems in Russia was estimated. Natural steppes in Russia serve as a significant sink of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The intensity of this carbon flux can be estimated as 231 ± 202 gC/m2 per year. The annual accumulation of carbon dioxide in the natural steppe ecosystems of Russia is evaluated as 111 ± 97 MtC. According to the obtained estimates, the steppe ecosystems under study provide from 8 to 19% of the atmospheric carbon sink to the terrestrial ecosystems of Russia.

Artificial Forest Stands’ Impact on Soils’ Biological Activity in Khakassian Steppes

Artificial afforestation is especially important for dry steppe regions, where forests perform complex soil-protective, climate-forming, health-improving and aesthetic functions. Therefore, in 1975–1978 in the Shirinskaya dry steppe of the Republic of Khakassia on the premises of the Sukachev’s Institute of Forestry, several experimental artificial multispecific plantations of tree and shrub species were created. The studies were carried out in ten biodendrogroups (BDG) of the Shirinskaya steppe. For comparison, a site of a virgin natural steppe phytocenosis, located in close proximity, was taken. The purpose of these studies was to study the influence of tree and shrub vegetation on the edaphic conditions change, the ground cover succession, and the change in the soil functioning regime. The maximum positive effect on the biogenic indicators functional activity is exerted by BDG with edificatory coniferous species, under the crowns of which subordinate shrubs with a sufficient amount of leaves develop. Artificial forest plantations contribute to the formation of litter and an increase in the micromycetes’ proportion. A correlation was established between abiotic factors, especially illumination, and the growth of terrestrial herbaceous phytomass. Changes in ecological and phytocenotic factors contribute to an increase in biological diversity by optimizing the phytomass reserves and structure, and the emergence of new herbaceous vegetation types. Thus, ecologically stable artificial forest biocenoses can form under the dry steppe conditions.

Promoting vegetation coverage using fertilization treatments in abandoned farmland in Mongolia

AbstractWe investigated the changes in vegetation responses following fertilization in abandoned farmland in Mongolia. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium were sprayed alone or in combination on abandoned farmland on a typical steppe in Mongolia, and changes in soil nutrients, species composition and vegetation cover were investigated. Abandoned farmland had lower vegetation cover and soil N and P levels than natural grassland. Phosphorus fertilization significantly affected soil phosphate levels. Nitrogen fertilization in abandoned farmland effectively increased vegetation cover. Moreover, combined N and P fertilization increased plant cover over either element alone, possibly via improved uptake of nitrate ions and the promotion of growth. The effect of increasing cover following fertilization was primarily observed in the genus Artemisia. These results suggest that fertilization of abandoned farmland might not contribute to a return to natural steppe vegetation but rather increase the vegetation cover of annual forbs such as field weeds. Species composition did not appear to be affected by fertilization. This speaks to the difficulty of promoting species regeneration in abandoned farmland using fertilization alone. However, combining fertilization with the introduction of native plant material, e.g., seed sowing, may be beneficial in early restoration treatments, given the promotion of plant growth via fertilization and the importance of reducing wind erosion via the establishment of ground cover.

Soil Mycobiome Diversity under Different Tillage Practices in the South of West Siberia

Managing soil biodiversity by reduced or no tillage is an increasingly popular approach. Soil mycobiome in Siberian agroecosystems has been scarcely studied; little is known about its changes due to tillage. We studied mycobiome in Chernozem under natural steppe vegetation and cropped for wheat by conventional or no tillage in a long-term field trial in West Siberia, Russia, by using ITS2 rDNA gene marker (Illumina MiSeq sequencing). Half of the identified OTUs were Ascomycota with 82% of the total number of sequence reads and showing, like other phyla (Basidiomycota, Zygomycota, Mortierellomycota, Chytridiomycota, Glomeromycota), field-related differential abundance. Several dominant genera (Mortierella, Chaetomium, Clonostachys, Gibberella, Fusarium, and Hypocrea) had increased abundance in both cropped soils as compared with the undisturbed one and therefore can be safely assumed to be associated with wheat residues. Fungal OTUs’ richness in cropped soils was less than in the undisturbed one; however, no tillage shifted soil mycobiome composition closer to the latter, albeit, it was still similar to the ploughed soil, despite different organic matter and wheat residue content. The study provided the first inventory of soil mycobiome under different tillage treatments in the south of West Siberia, where wheat production is an important section of the regional economy.

Methodological toolkit for assessing the impact of renewable energy on the balanced development and preservation of the regional carbon cycle

The article provides methodological tools that allow to carry out a socio-ecological and economic assessment of the balance of regions in the development of renewable (alternative) energy sources. When forecasting the development of renewable energy in the region, it was taken into account that, unlike fossil fuel-based energy, it does not have a significant impact on the environment, since it uses material and energy flows circulating in natural systems. During the study, it was found that only one transition to renewable energy sources will not allow achieving carbon balance in the regions. The landscape features of the region significantly affect the possibility of its conservation. Therefore, in each region, it will be necessary to identify the area of territories with a special nature conservation status that will allow maintaining the carbon cycle. Methodological tools were tested on the example of the Chelyabinsk region of the Russian Federation. As a result, it was found to maintain a balanced carbon cycle, it will be necessary to increase the share of natural steppes to 49.1% of the total area of the region, and achieve the value of renewable energy in the regional energy balance up to 93%.

Распределение микроэлементов в естественных почвах Ростовской агломерации под различными типами растительных сообществ

The article deals with the content and distribution of microelements in the profile of native soils of the Rostov agglomeration under different types of woody plant communities. Determination of microelement content was carried out by X-ray fluorescence method on &amp;quot;Spectroscan MAKS-GV&amp;quot; device. Calcic Chernozems (Pachic) under natural steppe vegetation and their analogues under artificial tree formations were studied. Man-made forest plantations in the steppe zone provide conditions for accumulation of zinc and lead in the upper humus-accumulative horizons, and copper at the carbonate barrier layer in illuvial-carbonate horizons of chernozem.

Шилийн Богд орчмын хээрийн түймрийн шаталтын зэрэглэлийг тооцоолох болон нөхөн сэргэх үйл явцын мониторинг судалгаа

Due to the increase in global climate change and related natural disasters, satellite observation and mapping technology have made it possible to monitor, predict, evaluate, and detect the environment, which is a clear indication of the importance of remote sensing. The main purpose of this study is to monitor the occurrence of fire disasters as a result of Sentinel-2 satellite imaging technology, to determine the burned area with its classification and the recovery process. The study area was sampled in the southeastern part of Mongolia, near the Shiliin Bogd mountain at the natural steppe zone. In terms of research methodology, the normalized burn ratio (NBR) index was used to map the area of ​​the fire site and the classification of the burned area into 5 categories: unburned, low, low-medium, high-medium, and high, which are process-defined work. As a result of the estimation, the burned area was mapped from the satellite images and the total burned area was 1164.27 km2, of which 757.34 km2 (65 percent) was weak, 404.57 km2 (34.7 percent) was low-medium and the remaining 2.36 km2 (0.3 percent) was high-medium. Finally, we believe that this research is important for emergency workers, researchers, and environmental specialists.

Extensive sheep grazing is associated with trends in steppe birds in Spain: recommendations for the Common Agricultural Policy.

Iberian natural steppes have traditionally been used for extensive sheep grazing, which has been noted to be positively associated with steppe bird abundance and diversity. Sheep numbers in Spain, which harbors the largest European populations of many steppe bird species, decreased by 9.2 million (37.3%) between 1992 and 2020. Steppe birds in Spain have faced dramatic declines during the same period, but there is a lack of knowledge about the potential association between sheep and open-habitat bird declines. We used sheep data from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture and bird data (1998–2018) from the Spanish Common Bird Monitoring Program to assess the association at the Spanish scale between sheep decline and the Farmland Bird Index (FBI) and the Natural Shrub-steppe Bird Index (SBI). We also used an independent dataset on population trends of the Dupont’s Lark (Chersophilus duponti) to assess the relationship between sheep numbers and the decline of this threatened steppe specialist passerine in Spain, whose European population is restricted to Iberian natural steppes. To test for a spurious relationship between temporal series, variables were tested for cointegration. After confirming cointegration, we found a strong positive relationship between sheep abundance and the trends of the FBI and SBI indices during the period 1998–2018. The association between sheep abundance and trends of the Dupont’s Lark (2004–2015) was positive although it was not statistically significant. Although the main causes of decline of farmland and steppe birds are mainly related to agricultural intensification and land use changes, the correlation found, using two independent cointegrated datasets, between the reduction in farmland and shrub-steppe birds and sheep numbers at the country scale suggests that the decline of steppe birds in Spain may be also associated with the decline in sheep numbers. This agrees with previous studies that found a positive relationship between intermediate levels of sheep grazing and steppe bird abundance in Iberian steppes. Further research (e.g. experimental studies) is needed to corroborate our study and identify the most appropriate level of grazing intensity for protecting the most farmland and shrub-steppe birds. Our results suggest that the promotion of extensive grazing should be considered as a key factor in future Common Agricultural Policy reforms and conservation programmes to protect steppe birds.

Productivity of natural phytocenoses of the Namsky agrolandscape in Yakutia under organic and mineral nutrition regimes

The results of the study of the productivity potential of natural phytocenoses of different species composition in the Namsky agrolandscape of the middle taiga subzone of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) are presented. The research was conducted in 2009-2016. The soils of the experimental plot are permafrost soils with a thin humus layer. The effect of mineral and organic fertilizers on the productivity of steppe meadows was studied. On herb-grass, wheatgrass, steppificated phytocenoses the following practices of organo-mineral nutrition of plants were used: control (no fertilizer); humus 20 t/ha; humus 20 t/ha once every 4 years + N60P60K60 annually; N30P30K30 annually; humus 20 t/ha annually. The optimum rates of organic and mineral nutrients to improve the productivity potential of natural steppe meadows have been established. The highest productivity potential in the Namsky agrolandscape was obtained with the combined application of organic and mineral fertilizers (humus 20 t/ha once every 4 years + N60P60K60 annually). On herb-grass and wheatgrass phytocenoses hay yield reached 23.0-24.1 c/ha. Yield per 1 ha of metabolizable energy was 27.0-22.4 GJ, fodder units 1472-1663, crude protein 336-371 kg. The content of digestible protein in 1 fodder unit in herb-grass was 92 g, in wheatgrass - 102 g. The annual application of mineral fertilizers at a dose of 60 kg/ha of the active substance provided a 2-fold increase in the productivity of natural phytocenoses, depending on agroclimatic conditions of the growing season. The influence of mineral fertilizers and their joint application with organic fertilizers on the yield of natural phytocenoses is statistically reliable, which indicates the possibility of regulating the productivity of steppificated phytocenoses.

CARBON NEUTRALITY OF UKRAINE BY 2050

The article presents the research results on some aspects of achieving carbon neutrality in Ukraine. Carbon neutrality is a challenge for the whole world. In 2020, the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere reached a historical maximum. The work aims to study the features of achieving carbon neutrality in Ukraine. The tasks of the work are the analysis of the components of the transition to low-carbon development, analysis of the consumption of fossil fuels, and activities related to the preservation of forests, natural steppe, and meadow ecosystems. Interest in carbon neutrality issues grows yearly, with a particularly in 2021-2022. Most articles on carbon neutrality were published by scientists from China, the USA, Great Britain, Turkey, and Pakistan. They are mainly devoted to carbon dioxide emissions, economic growth, renewable energy, energy consumption, financial development, co-integration, dioxin emissions, etc. Positive trends regarding the achievement of carbon neutrality have been identified: the supply of natural gas, coal, and peat has decreased, while the supply of renewable energy sources has increased; the share of coal and peat decreased by 26.4%, and the percentage of energy produced from renewable sources increased to 6.6%; the use of coal and peat decreased by 8.5%, natural gas by 5%, and biofuels increased by 16%; the share of biofuel use increased to 5.8%. Expenditures for environmental protection increased by 88.5%, for preserving biodiversity and habitat - by 3.6 times, and costs for air protection and climate change problems - by 2.5 times. The share of expenditures on the protection of biodiversity and habitat increased to 3.2%, and costs on atmospheric air protection and climate change problems to 19.3%. Negative trends that restrain the development of a carbon-neutral economy were also revealed: a low share of renewable sources in the structure of supply and use. Thus, the percentage of biofuel in aggregate use remains low - only 5.8% in 2020. The area of forest loss is increasing, and the area of forest regeneration has decreased by 36%. The area of reforestation remained at the same level, but the area of afforestation decreased ten times during 2010-2020.

New discovery of Opuntia humifusa (Cactaceae) in the vicinity of Kyiv

Наводяться дані щодо нової знахідки інвазійного виду Opuntia humifusa (Raf.) Raf. (Cactaceae A.L. Juss.) з материкової частини території України (околиці села Ходосівка Обухівського району Київської області). Описано нововиявлене місцезнаходження, охарактеризовано малочисельну популяцію виду. Наводиться кількість виявлених локацій у межах популяції – 5, а також кількість знайдених екземплярів – 11. Охарактеризовано вікові спектри особин популяції O. humifusa. Переважаючими віковими станами є генеративні – 45,5 %, що вказує на успішну акліматизацію та натуралізацію виду в умовах лісостепової зони України. Зроблено геоботанічні описи та вказано синтаксономічні особливості місцезростань O. humifusa. Особини цього виду властиві стрімким рухливим глинистим схилам в урочищі «Планерна гора», де вони віднесені до угруповань класів Festuco-Brometea Br.-Bl. et Tx. in Br.-Bl. 1949 та Artemisietea vulgaris Lohmeyer, Preising et R.Tüxen ex von Rochow 1951. Рослинність рудералізованих степових місцезростань O. humifusa є флористично збідненою з розрідженим травостоєм. Популяції притаманні рухливим схилам (кут нахилу до 35–40°), на яких відбуваються ерозійні процеси. Загальне проективне покриття угруповань коливається у діапазоні 50–90 %, зменшуючись на стрімких схилах і зростаючи на пологих. Висловлюється припущення про ймовірне джерело заносу діаспор O. humifusa в околиці міста Києва та шляхи її експансії з півдня на північ. Зазначається пріоритетність насіннєвого розмноження O. humifusa, зумовленого антропохорним переносом. Показано шляхи акліматизації цього виду у різні регіони материкової України, натуралізацію у природні степові фітоценози степової зони та поширення у природні рослинні угруповання лісостепової зони. З огляду на сучасні кліматичні зміни та тенденцію розповсюдження O. humifusa, цей інвазійний вид потребує подальшого моніторингу поширення на території України з розробкою відповідних попереджувальних заходів.

Populations of Agrostis diluta Kurcz. and Psathyrostachys caespitosa (Sukaczev) Peschkova in Yakutia: dynamics of vitality

In Yakutia, natural floodplain meadows and steppes have long been involved in economic activities. To develop methods of rational use, one needs to constantly consider the state of vegetation, mainly its constituent populations. Our research focuses on studying the dynamics of the vitality of the populations of the Agrostis diluta Kurcz. and steppe Psathyrostachys caespitosa (Sukaczev) Peschkova cereals. These species play an essential role in the composition of vegetation cover. We determined the vitality coefficient IVC. Our study of populations over several years has revealed the dynamic mobility of the vital structure, which is of adaptive significance and ensures the sustainability of populations. We have found that the vital structure of the cereal populations of the meadow Agrostis diluta and the steppe Psathyrostachys caespitosa during long-term studies (2007&amp;ndash;2013 and 2007&amp;ndash;2016, respectively) is heterogeneous. In unfavorable humidification conditions, we characterize years as depressive. Under favorable conditions of humidification, they quickly turn into thriving plants. In addition to the weather of the vegetation periods, habitat specificity affects the vitality of species populations that differ in ecological and coenotic characteristics. The Q quality index and IVC correspond to each other by year and form a clear descending order during the transition from a thriving to a depressive state. Currently, the vital state of the populations of both species is satisfactory.

ДОЛГАЯ ДОРОГА К СВЕТУ (к 90-летию Т.Л. БЫСТРИЦКОЙ)

Tatyana Lvovna Bystritskaya is a prominent representative of the post-war pleyade of Soviet soil scientists, who laid the foundations of functional ecological soil science in connection with the problem of bioproductivity of terrestrial ecosystems. She can rightfully be considered as one of the most signifi Russian researchers of the year-round carbon cycle and conjugated biophilic elements in natural and anthropogenic steppe ecosystems on the chernozem soils of the USSR. Tatyana Lvovna Bystritskaya is also the developer of the methodology for instrumental monitoring of “soil life” (the daily and seasonal dynamics of soil solutions using ion-selective electrodes), an international expert on black fusion soils of Eurasia and on the fusion processes unfavorable to agricultural soils, author and co-author of classical monographs on the bioproductivity of herbal ecosystems in connection with soil processes and nature management, on the genesis and evolution of soils in the opolian landscapes of Central Russia, on the vertisols of Eurasia, soil solutions of chernozems and gray forest soils in Russia and Ukraine. In November this year, Tatyana Lvovna celebrates her ninetieth birthday, and we present this publication as a humble gift on this momentous occasion.

Comparative Study of Insect Biodiversity in Cultivated and Natural Steppes in the Region of Sidi Kacem of Northwest Morocco

a peer-reviewed, open access online international journal which publishes original research papers. The journal welcomes submission from scholars and experts for possible publication from all over the world. The scope of the journal includes: Pharmaceutical research, chemistry and biochemistry of naturally occurring compounds, biological evaluation of crude extracts, ethnomedicine, traditional and complementary medicine, ethnopharmacology, biomedical research, Biotechnology, Evaluation of natural substances of land and sea and of plants, microbes and animals, pharmacognosy, bioavailability, clinical, pharmacological, toxicological studies and pharmacokinetics of phytochemicals, Isolation and characterization of compounds, structure elucidation, synthesis and experimental biosynthesis of natural Product as well as developments of methods in these areas are welcomed in the journal.