Semi-desert Zone Research Articles

The Breeding Success of Lesser Kestrels Falco naumanni in Mongolia

We examined the breeding success of Lesser Kestrels Falco naumanni in Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, a semi-desert zone in southeast Mongolian. We found that the mean number of nests per colony was 7.4. Lesser Kestrels laid eggs between 24 May and 2 June each year. Mean clutch size was 4.0±0.7 SE, with a mean incubation period of 28±2 SE days. We recorded an overall hatching success rate of 84.2% and overall fledgling success rate of 89.7%, hence a mean fledgling per breeding attempt was 2.79. Our findings revealed relatively high hatching and fledgling rates for our study population, and bode well for the conservation of this small falcon in its poorly-known breeding range.

Arealogical Features of Essential Oil Plants of the Natural Flora of the Foothill Semi-Desert Zone of the Turkestan Region According to the Seasons

The article presents the features of the distribution of essential oil plants of the flora of the foothill semi-desert zone of the Turkestan region, the results of scientific research on the area logical features of the types of essential oil plants in the spring, their stocks are estimated, their scientific and practical value is determined. The leading approach to the study of this problem is the route reconnaissance method, which made it possible to identify 34 contours of the distribution areas of essential oil plants during spring field surveys. The floristic list based on field survey data for the period April-May is 155 species belonging to 106 genera and 34 families. By the number of species in the families prevail: Asterаceae, Fabаceae, Lamiаceae and Brassicаceae. The materials of the article suggest practical significance for university professors of biological specialties and biology students.

African climate response to orbital and glacial forcing in 140,000-y simulation with implications for early modern human environments

A climate/vegetation model simulates episodic wetter and drier periods at the 21,000-y precession period in eastern North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Levant over the past 140,000 y. Large orbitally forced wet/dry extremes occur during interglacial time, ∼130 to 80 ka, and conditions between these two extremes prevail during glacial time, ∼70 to 15 ka. Orbital precession causes high seasonality in Northern Hemisphere (NH) insolation at ∼125, 105, and 83 ka, with stronger and northward extended summer monsoon rains in North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and increased winter rains in the Mediterranean Basin. The combined effects of these two seasonally distinct rainfall regimes increase vegetation and narrow the width of the Saharan-Arabian desert and semidesert zones. During the opposite phase of the precession cycle (∼115, 95, and 73 ka), NH seasonality is low, and decreased summer insolation and increased winter insolation cause monsoon and storm track rains to decrease and the width of the desert zone to increase. During glacial time (∼70 to 15 ka), forcing from large ice sheets and lowered greenhouse gas concentrations combine to increase winter Mediterranean storm track precipitation; the southward retreat of the northern limit of summer monsoon rains is relatively small, thereby limiting the expansion of deserts. The lowered greenhouse gas concentrations cause the near-equatorial zone to cool and reduce convection, causing drier climate with reduced forest cover. At most locations and times, the simulations agree with environmental observations. These changing regional patterns of climate/vegetation could have influenced the dispersal of early humans through expansions and contractions of well-watered corridors.

Популяционная структура гнездового ареала орла-могильника

For purposes of this article, the analysis of 1765 literature sources was made on the distribution of the Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca). The information on the localization of breeding territories of this species over the past 30 years was collected into one dataset. Based on the above data, cell mapping and GIS analysis of the distribution of real and potential breeding territories of the Eastern Imperial Eagle were made. On this basis, 21 populations of this species were identified (24, including extinct ones). The populations are divided into 42 breeding groups (51, including extinct ones). The Eastern Imperial Eagle world population is estimated by different methods in the range from 8.1 to 11.9 thousand breeding pairs. The abundance of the Eastern Imperial Eagle in the world is estimated an optimal at 8099–9981 breeding pairs, based, among other things, on expert data. The biggest number of the species is concentrated in the populations of West Kazakhstan (1116–1292 pairs), the Volga-Kama Region (908–962 pairs), and the Caucasus-Asia Minor Region (821–900 pairs). Together with the Altai (770–797 pairs), South Ural (700–725 pairs), and Desert (430–570 pairs) populations, this is more than half (58.34%) of the total world population of the species. A large Eurasian metapopulation occupying a vast territory from the Seversky Donets Basin in the west to the mountains of Central Asia (Tien Shan, Dzhungarsky Alatau, Tarbagatai), Altai and Kuznetsk Alatau in the east, and covering the forest-steppe, steppe, semi-desert zones, as well as the northern desert zone, form 14 modern populations with a total area of 2.6 million sq.km. The boundaries between them are rather arbitrary, especially under the current growth of several species.

Forecasting methods for the total evapotranspiration of fodder crops in arid conditions of Kalmykia

In 1995-2015, in the dry steppe and semi-desert zones of the Caspian lowland, a series of experimental studies were conducted on brown and light chestnut soils to establish the total evapotranspiration of annual fodder crops using irrigated arable land. Four different methods were studied; the water balance method was used as a control one. The temperature coefficients of the total water consumption, as well as the coefficients of an air humidity deficit combined with the scale of biological time of vegetation were determined. Specified coefficients of water consumption were determined; they were differentiated depending on different conditions of mineral nutrition and the planned yield. For production conditions, biological and mathematical models of dependence have been developed in order to determine an optimal water regime in the arid zone. Based on the obtained experimental data, the convergence of the calculated values obtained by the bioclimatic and water balance methods was achieved. The planned crop yield was produced.

Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Dynamics over Kazakhstan Derived from Satellite Data

The investigation of atmospheric conditions in the steppe, forest-steppe, and semi-desert zones of Kazakhstan is relevant, the observations of air pollution are carried out in all big settlements. Satellite data are most suitable for solving the problems of quantitative and qualitative assessment of propagation of atmospheric pollutants. The contamination of the atmosphere over large territories which depends on the natural and anthropogenic sources of emission of trace gases can be determined from space. The statistical analysis of ground-based data on the atmospheric concentration of carbon monoxide (CO) over the most polluted big industrial cities is performed. The CO content in the atmosphere over Kazakhstan is analyzed using MOPITT satellite IR radiometer data for the period of 2007–2017. The seasonal and long-term variability of the total CO is revealed. The CO maximum falls on March-April, the minimum is registered in July to October. The average CO content in the atmosphere over Kazakhstan has decreased by 4.7% in the recent decade.

Density of Larks (Alaudidae, Aves) of the Semi-desert of the Trans-Volga Region in Connection with the Landscape Wetting Dynamics

The dynamics of the density of nesting pairs of five lark species (Alaudidae) living on the territories of the Mezhuzenskii and Uzeno-Dyurinskii Plains, on the northwestern tip of the Caspian Lowland, and in the semi-desert of the Aleksandrovo-Gayskii district of Saratov oblast, and its relationship with Selyaninov’s hydrothermal coefficient (HTC) are considered. This research was carried out annually on 40 fixed routes of 1 km each in the breeding period of the annual lark cycle from 2011 to 2019. It was established that the abundance dynamics trends were negative in four lark species, namely, the Calandra Lark (Melanocorypha calandra), the White-winged Lark (M. leucoptera), the Black Lark (M. yeltoniensis), and the Lesser Short-toed Lark (Calandrella rufescens); and were positive in the Skylark (Alauda arvensis). The calculated trend of HTC indicators for these territories demonstrates a 5.4% annual increase in the moistening of the semi-desert zone of our survey area. To assess the relationship of the density of different lark species to the values of the HTC, we calculated the Spearman correlation coefficients. When analyzing the data obtained, it was found that a high positive correlation of density with the HTC was observed for the Skylark, Calandra Lark, and Black Lark; no such relationship was found in the White-winged Lark, and a high negative correlation of the density of nesting pairs with the HTC was found in the Lesser Short-toed Lark. Based on our research, it can be assumed that moistening of the semi-desert territory is one of the main factors determining the abundance dynamics of larks. The heat–moisture ratio determines the level of vegetation and, accordingly, the quality of habitats for these land-nesting birds.

Genetic analysis of mitochondrial ND5 gene of siberian ibex (Capra Sibirica, Pallas, 1776) population in Mongolia

The Siberian ibex (Capra sibirica) from Central Asia is believed to be the most ancient species of the genus Capra. In Mongolia, it is distributed in the areas of Mongolian Altai, Gobi-Altai, Dzungaria, Altai, Khan Khuhii, Khoridal Saridag and Ulaan Taiga as well as in the desert and semi-desert steppe zones of Dundgobi and Dornogobi aimags (provinces). In the current study, we investigated the mitochondrial ND5 gene fragments of the Siberian ibex population from different parts of Mongolia. Nine haplotypes, including 6 shared and 3 unique haplotypes were identified among these populations. Furthermore, Tajima’s statistics and Fu’s statistics did not reveal significant positive value across the population, indicating population decline and balancing selection.In the phylogenetic tree by 9 haplotypes, no separated clusters were generated. In addition, nucleotide diversity was 0.015, haplotype diversity was 0.86 and the average number of differences in nucleotides was 8.2 in the overall population. These results suggest that genetic diversity across all the populations was low, while haplotype diversity and the average number of differences in nucleotides were high.

Exterior Features and Productive Qualities of Young Beef Cattle of Various Genotypes

The article describes the issues of comparative assessment of economic and biological features and productive qualities of beef cattle bred in Western Kazakhstan. The authors present norms and rations for feeding young animals of different genotypes. The results of studying the exterior features, body weight and average daily gain of Kazakh Whiteheaded breed and foreign Hereford and Aberdeen Angus breeds are presented. The authors conduct a comparative analysis of body weight and average daily gain of young animals of different breeds grown in the semi-desert zone of Western Kazakhstan. It has been found that during the growing period from 8 to 15 months, the average daily gain of body weight of the Hereford breed was 658.1 g for bull calves and 587.1 g for heifers, of the Aberdeen Angus breed – 603.8 g and 500.9 g respectively and of the Kazakh Whiteheaded breed – 758.8 g and 561.1 g respectively.

Temporal and Spatial Dynamics Analysis of Grassland Ecosystem Pressure in Kazakhstan

Affected by climate change and policy factors, Kazakhstan is the country with the most severe ecological degradation and grassland conflicts in Central Asia. Therefore, studying the state of grassland carrying resources in Kazakhstan is particularly important for understanding the responses of grassland ecosystems to climate change and human activities. Based on Kazakhstan's remote sensing data and animal husbandry statistics, this study analyzes the patterns of changes in grassland ecosystems in Kazakhstan based on the supply and consumption of these ecosystems. The results show that: 1) From 2003 to 2017, the number of livestock raised in Kazakhstan showed a trend of sustained and steady growth. Due to freezing damage, the scale of livestock farming decreased in 2011, but a spatial difference in the livestock farming structure was not obvious. 2) The fluctuation of grassland supply in Kazakhstan has increased, while the consumption due to animal husbandry has also continued to increase, resulting in an increasing pressure on the grassland carrying capacity. 3) Between 2003 and 2017, the overall grassland carrying status of Kazakhstan have been abundant, but the grassland carrying pressure index has shown a steadily increasing trend, the grassland carrying pressure is growing, and it is mainly determined by grassland productivity. The greater pressure in lower Kyzylorda state, the southern Kazakhstan state of the cultivated land and the northern Kazakhstan state has gradually expanded to include the agro-pastoral zone and the semi-desert zone.

Long-Term Dynamics of the Community Structure of Larks (Alaudidae, Aves) in the Northwestern Caspian Lowland

Abstract—We studied the population structure and the number of larks in the steppe and semidesert zones of the Caspian Lowland (within the territories of the Alexandrov-Gai district of Saratov region, Russian Federation, and Dzhanybek and Bokey-Ordyn districts of the Western Kazakhstan region, Republic of Kazakhstan) in six key areas in 2011–2018. From the data obtained, dynamic series of the density dynamics were calculated for each lark species (Tgr, growth rate). The group statistical indicators were R, which is the fluctuation magnitude of the lark density, and u, the coefficient of variation, etc.; using Pearson’s χ2 statistics, the normal type of lark distribution was checked in their habitats. A correlation analysis between the density of larks and values of the vegetation index (NDVI) was performed. It has been established that four species of lark (calandra lark, white-winged, black and lesser short-toed larks) show a tendency toward a decrease in their density in the Alexandrov-Gai district. The maximum decrease in abundance was observed for the white-winged lark (Tgr = –28.4%, R2 = 0.785). In the Western Kazakhstan part of the habitat, the highest negative growth rate was recorded for the skylark (Tgr = –99.9%), while the maximum positive one was observed for the white-winged lark (Tgr = +25.2). It has been revealed that the lark density dynamics and the structure of their nesting population are influenced by the vegetation level in the previous year, as well as the vegetation structure associated with the soil and ground conditions of this mosaic landscape and the anthropogenic press, such as cattle pasture.

Current State of Pasture Vegetation of the Arid Zone (On the Example of Key Rural Municipalities of the Republic of Kalmykia)

The article presents the results of field observations over 2012–2018 carried out by the Department of Environmental Research of the Institute for Complex Studies of Arid Territories. The work includes materials on the climatic review and the original results of geobotanical investigation of 5 farms in rural municipalities of the Republic of Kalmykia (RK) over the period of the study. We used materials of a large geobotanical survey of YUZHNIIGIPROZEM Company (1991–1995) and materials of earth remote sensing (by Landsat satellite). According to the studies, the period from 2012 to 2018 demonstrates a general trend of climate warming throughout the territory of Kalmykia accompanied by a decrease in precipitation and an increase in extreme droughts in the summer. Geoecological monitoring of pastures at five key sites of the RK revealed that in the dry steppe zone (Manych municipality) and in the semi-desert zone (Khanatinsky municipality), deterioration of pastures is observed; in the desert zone (Adykovskoye municipality), significant degradation processes were identified associated with strong anthropogenic impact and fires, manifested in the loss of valuable food crops (wormwood) and increased influence of cereal crops. Floristic and phytocenotic analyzes revealed an increase in the number of plant species in the weed and ruderal groups.

Results of Our Long-Term Observations on Stationary Transects in the Volga-Akhtuba Floodplain

By the beginning of the 1970s, only two large regions with natural vegetation, namely the Volga–Akhtuba floodplain and the Volga delta, had remained in the Volga River valley. The largest part of the remaining valley had been converted into a cascade of reservoirs. The conservation of meadow, marsh, and forest plant communities in the lower reaches of the Volga River located in the semi-desert and desert zones is due to regular water releases of the Volgograd hydroelectric power station downstream. These artificial water discharges into the Lower Volga valley in the spring–summer period have taken the place of natural floods. However, in the conditions of regulated water flow, the rise in the water level decreased during floods and the duration of flooding of the floodplain ecotopes shortened. The river channel deepened along a 100-km river section in the near-dam part of the Volgograd hydroelectric power station in the northern part of the floodplain. These dams hinder water flow to the Akhtuba–Volga floodplain during spring and summer floods. They surround agricultural lands with artificial irrigation systems and settlements in the floodplain. The recreational use of the Lower Volga valley has increased in the past few decades. Before the construction of the largest Volga hydroelectric complexes (the Kama, Gorky, Kuibyshev, Volgograd, and Saratov ones) in 1954–1955, five geobotanical transects were laid out in the course of the Caspian expedition of Moscow State University. Subsequently, four of the transects were surveyed in 1982 and 2008 –2013. It was established that xerophytization and ruderalization of vegetation occurred on all transects. These phenomena were not similar in different sections of the floodplain. They were most pronounced near the Volgograd Hydroelectric Power Station and in the places of narrowing of the valley. The reduction in the height and duration of floods after the regulation of the water flow, high local grazing, and recreation pressure is the main reason for xerophytization and ruderalization of vegetation. Among the invasive species, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Conyza canadensis, Bidens frondosa, and Xanthium strumarium s.l. play the most important role in changes in the vegetative cover of the Volga–Akhtuba floodplain. Thus, not all phenomena related to the dynamics of the vegetation and flora in the Volga–Akhtuba floodplain were caused by restructuring of the Volga hydrological regime after regulation of its water flow. The invasion of alien plants, increased recreation load, and changes in the economic use of the vegetation cover in the territory have played a particular role in this process.

Progressive method of basic treatment of soil under barley in the conditions of the semi-desert zone of the Northern Pre-Caspian

The results of experimental studies on the use of the resource-saving organ of the soil cultivating aggregate ROPA as a type of main autumn tillage for sowing spring barley are presented. Deep loosening by 0.40–0.45 m improves the agrophysical properties of the soil, contributes to better assimilation of atmospheric precipitation in the autumn-winter period, thereby improving the moisture supply of the root layer by 25% and increasing the fertility of the arable horizon. Using the proposed cultivation allows obtaining up to 1.77-1.79 t/ha of spring barley grain in semi-desert conditions of the Northern Pre-Caspian on old arable lands.

Parameters of the Native Hydrocarbon Status of Soils in Different Bioclimatic Zones

To characterize the native component of the hydrocarbon status of soils in different bioclimatic zones, representative soils were studied in the East European Plain within the middle and southern taiga, forest-steppe, and semidesert zones. The samples were analyzed for the contents of hexane-soluble bitumens (bitumoids), normal and iso-alkanes (C14–C35), individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs, polyarenes), and soil hydrocarbon gases. It was found that the parameters of the native hydrocarbon status of soils are rather similar in different bioclimatic zones. For the background (uncontaminated) soils forming on interfluves, the following concentrations of native hydrocarbons were determined: up to 25 ppm (often, less than 5 ppm) of hexane bitumoid, no more than 60 ppb of the sum of 11 PAHs, and no more than 1 ppb of individual n-alkanes. Polyarenes were represented mainly by the lightest two- and three-ring compounds. The content of hydrocarbon gases retained by the soils varied widely. In 100% of cases, methane was the most common gas (from 1.8 to 3994 ppmv, 5.14 ppmv on average). Ethylene was less common (0.04–54.5 ppmv, 4.1 ppmv on average). Heavier alkane gases were less common and were present in amounts ranging from 0.02 to 4.09 ppmv (on average, 0.53 ppmv).

State of the small rivers of the Volga basin within the lower Volga

Nowadays the water management measures are ineffective. The field trips of 2017-2018 are carried out. The Lower Volga is drained by 37 watercourses, 34 of them belong to small rivers. The right bank tributaries of the Volga are short and flow in deep channels - 76% of all tributaries of its lower reaches. Left bank waterways are long, flowing in shallow channels - 24%. This is due to the location of the right bank of the Volga within the Volga Upland with a developed ravine-net system and a zone of dry steppes. The left bank of the lower reaches of the Volga River lies in the semi-desert zone, where the ravine-gully network is poorly developed. Factors affecting the state of these rivers: the flow of wastewater from industrial enterprises; pollution by fertilizers, pesticides; flow regulation; irrevocable withdrawal of river runoff for household, industrial, agricultural needs. Measures to address these problems: the transition to modern water-saving technologies; cleaning of domestic, agricultural and industrial waste; toughening control over compliance with the norms of discharge of pollutants into rivers; the establishment of water protection and sanitary zones for all reservoirs; clearing channels, coasts and floodplains from debris; tight control over livestock grazing in floodplains; planting forest belts along the river channels.

ПЛЕМЕННЫЕ И ПРОДУКТИВНЫЕ ПОКАЗАТЕЛИ МОЛОДНЯКА РАЗНЫХ ГЕНОТИПОВ

Western Kazakhstan is a traditional region for breeding cattle of meat breeds and occupies a leading place in this direction in the country. Currently breeding Hereford and Aberdeen Angus breed and scientific support of the selection process with the animals of this breed are engaged in a number of farms. Therefore, the study in the conditions of Western Kazakhstan breeding and productive qualities of young Hereford and Aberdeen-Angus breed in comparison with other genotypes of beef cattle, in particular with the domestic Kazakh white-headed breed is a situational task. Material and methods The article presents the results of studies of technologies of feeding and keeping animals, the study of live weight and average daily growth of domestic Kazakh white-headed breed and foreign Hereford and Aberdeen-Angus breeds. Results The results of comparative analysis of live weight and average daily growth of young animals of different breeds grown in the semi-desert zone of Western Kazakhstan are presented. It is established that the average daily gain in live weight for the period of cultivation from 8 to 15 months was at Hereford breed in bulls 658,1 g and heifers - 587,1 g at Aberdeen Angus, respectively, 603,8 and 500,9 g, at Kazakh white - 758,8 and 561,1 g.

Biogenic Accumulation of Chemical Elements by Plants of Genus Poaceae Barnhart and Genus Artemisia L. in the Dry Steppe and Semidesert Zones of the South of the Russian Plain

The steppe and semidesert landscapes of the Republic of Kalmykia and Rostov oblast (a total of 12) in various ecological and geochemical conditions (precipitation, temperature, soil salinization, position in meso and macro relief, etc.) have been studied. Samples of vegetation and soil have been taken at the selected sites, and the contents of P2O5, MgO, Al2O3, K2O, CaO, TiO2, MnO, Fe2O3, S, Sr, Ba, Zn, and Ni are measured by the X-ray fluorescent method. Organic carbon (Corg), calcium carbonate (CaCO3), pH, and granulometric composition are additionally determined in soil. To estimate the absorption and biogenic accumulation of chemical elements by vegetation, the coefficient of biological uptake (CBU) is calculated. To interpret and visualize the data, the nonmetric multidimensional scaling method is used. It is revealed that when environmental conditions vary the content of chemical elements in the studied plants decreases as following: Sa > Al > Fe > K > S > P > Mg > Ti > Mn > Sr > Ba > Zn > Ni. The highest contents of Al, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ti, Ba, Zn, and Sr are shown for plants of the genus Poaceae Barnhart, and the highest contents of Ca, K, P, and S are shown for plants of the genus Artemisia L. According to the cumulative characteristics, concentrations of the studied elements in vegetation are significantly different from each other in aboveground parts of cereals, aboveground and underground parts of wormwoods, and underground parts of cereals. For the studied plant species, the coefficient of biological uptake of chemical elements >1 was revealed for S(1.1–12.7), Zn(0.2–6.5), K(0.1–3.9), Ca(0.1–3.5), Sr(0.1–3.0), and P(0.2–1.3).

Инвазированность гельминтами крупного рогатого скота в зависимости от природно-климатических условий в Западно-Казахстанской области

The purpose of the research is to identify the law of cattle infection by main helminth species in West Kazakhstan region depending on environmental conditions. Materials and methods . Fullebourn’s method of flotation was used to study helminths infection of cattle. Calculation of the number of helminth eggs and larvae in 1 g of feces was conducted with the help of count chamber VIGIS. Strongylata identification up to generation was conducted according to P. F. Polyakov after larvae cultivation according to N. A. Akulin based on the morphological structure of infective strongylata larvae parasitizing in cattle. Thelazia was washed out from conjunctival eye sac by 3% boric acid solution. Parenchymal organs (hepar, lungs) were tested on detection of caseworm cysts. The researches were conducted once every three months to study helminths seasonal dynamics. Results and discussion . Maximum precipitation in steppe and semi-desert zones is observed in spring 24.2 and 18.7 mm and in autumn 33.0 and 28.0 mm, and minimum precipitation is observed in summer 9.2 and 8.5 mm respectively. Maximum precipitation in desert zone is suited on winter (14.4 mm) and at autumn (14.0 mm). Cattle prevalence by main helminths species in steppe, semi-desert and desert zones of West Kazakhstan region was the lowest in winter and the largest in autumn. In steppe zone the degree of infection by digestive tract strongylata was 27.6 and 44.3%, by moniezia 17.9 and 19.1%, by thelazia 3.2 and 86.9% respectively. In winter and in autumn in semi-desert zone the degree of cattle infection by digestive tract strongylata was 14.4 and 33.8%, by moniezia 15.7 and 18.2%, by thelazia 2.2 and 79.3 % respectively. In winter and in autumn in desert zone the degree of cattle infection by digestive tract strongylata was 11.4 and 27.2%, by moniezia 14.8 and 15.3%, by thelazia 2.4 and 78.2% respectively. Prevalence by caseworms did not change essentially during the year and was in steppe, semi-desert and desert zones average 40.3%, 35.6% and 31.6% respectively.

Semidesert is the Paradox of the Twentieth Century

The steppe zone occupies large area in the South of the European Russia. Part of the Caspian Lowland belongs to the desert zone. Some researchers distinguish the semidesert zone along with the steppe and desert zones. The paradox is that there is no semidesert type of vegetation, there are no typical elements for the semidesert, but the semidesert is considered as a separate zone.