Southern Exposition Research Articles

Climatic factors affecting Kamchatka glacier recession

AbstractThe reduction in the area and volume of glaciation in all mountain regions of the Earth has strongly accelerated for the last decades. In this work, we analysed the trends of the main climatic parameters which caused the glacier recession in the Kamchatka Peninsula. It was shown that the glaciers of the northern part of the Sredinny Range decreased by 125 km2 (35.6%) from 1950 to 2016–2017. The average rate of their reduction in the period from 2002 to 2016–2017 (1.45%/year) increased approximately 4.3 times compared to the period 1950–2002 (0.34%/year). The greatest reduction is observed in small glaciers with an area of less than 0.1 km2 and in glaciers with southeastern and southern expositions. On the Kronotsky Peninsula, the glacier area reduction for 1957–2019 was equal to 32.1 km2 (35.6%), and the rates were almost the same in the periods of 1957–2000 (0.61%/year) and 2000–2019 (0.67%/year). According to the data of weather stations and ERA5 reanalysis, it was shown that, in the ablation (summer) period the warming rate was minimal (0.3°C/10 years) and in the accumulation period a significant decrease in precipitation (5%–10%/10 years) was revealed in some areas. At the same time, a significant increase in the radiation balance was revealed in the warm season along with a tendency in downward shortwave radiation increase for the last two decades due to a decrease in cloud amount. These trends are in good agreement with the growth of the geopotential height over the North Pacific during the warm season in the 21st century, and with the growth of velocity divergence in the middle troposphere and the intensification of downward air movements. All this confirms an increase in anticyclone frequency in the warm season, which could be the cause of a radiation balance increase and, consequently, an increase in glacier ablation.

Soil Seed Banks and Their Relation to Soil Properties in Hilly Landscapes.

For the prevention of hilly soils from erosion, a smart selection of crop rotations is very important. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of different agrophytocenoses on seed numbers in the soil runoff sediments and soil seed banks' relations to soil properties in hilly landscapes. This study analyzes long-term monitoring data from three different agrophytocenoses (permanent grassland, cereal-grass crop rotation and crop rotation with a row crop) set up on slopes of 9-11° steepness with collectors for soil and water installed. The soil of the southern exposition slope was a slightly eroded Eutric Retisol. In the soil of permanent grassland, the number of seeds was 4036 seeds m-2, 6.0 and 3.2 times smaller compared to cereal-grass crop rotation and crop rotation with a row crop. The seeds found in the soil runoff sediments composed, on average, 0.9% of the soil seed bank, and the number of seeds depended on the number of days with heavy precipitation during the plant vegetation period, as well as on the plant communities grown in a particular rotation. Correlation analysis showed the seed numbers' dependence on the soil's chemical and physical properties. Hill slopes were not affected by water erosion, when agrophytocenoses were based on perennial grassland and also cereal-grass crop rotation, where reduced soil tillage was applied.

Seed Bank Community under Different-Intensity Agrophytocenoses on Hilly Terrain in Lithuania

On the summit of a hill with a lack of humidity, and in usually stronger eroded midslope parts, crops thin out. Changing ecological conditions change the soil seed bank as well. The aim of this study was to examine changes in the seed bank size and number of species and the influence of seed surface characteristics on their spread in different-intensity agrophytocenoses under hilly relief conditions. This study included different parts of the hill (summit, midslope and footslope) in Lithuania. The southern exposition slope's soil was slightly eroded Eutric Retisol (loamic). In spring and autumn, the seed bank was investigated at depths of 0-5 and 5-15 cm. Irrespective of the season, in the soil of permanent grassland, the seed number was 6.8 and 3.4 times smaller compared to those of cereal-grass crop rotation and crop rotation with black fallow. The highest number of seed species was determined in the footslope of the hill. Seeds with rough surfaces dominated on all parts of the hill, but the highest amount (on the average 69.6%) was determined on the summit of the hill. In autumn, a strong correlation was found between the total seed number and soil microbial carbon biomass (r = 0.841-0.922).

Soil Seed Bank in a Pre-Erosion Cereal-Grass Crop Rotation.

Soil erosion by water is a serious environmental problem. It is very important to form agrophytocenosis, which is productive on hilly terrain and could effectively protect the soil from erosion. The aim of the study was to examine the impact of a hilly relief on the changes of seeds in a soil of pre-erosion cereal-grass crop rotation. The study included different parts of the hill (summit, midslope, and footslope). The southern exposition slope’s soil was slightly eroded Eutric Retisol (loamic) (RT-eu.lo), and the steepness of the slope was 9–11°. The seed bank was investigated at the depths of 0–5 and 5–15 cm. The number of seeds in the soil seed bank during autumn was 20.4% higher than in the spring. The highest number of seeds in the autumn was determined on the summit (40.6 thousand seeds m–2). The highest count during the spring was determined on the midslope of the hill (36.4 thousand seeds m–2). In general, in the soil seed bank of the midslope of the hill, the number of seeds was by 7.8% and 42.4% higher compared to the summit and footslope parts. The highest seed reserve was found in the soil at a 0–5 cm depth (59.4% of the total seed number).

Influence of agroecological conditions on the productivity of zone landscapes of the Saratov region

The article reveals the features of the watershed and slope natural boundaries of the northern, typical and arid steppe. For the soils of test sites No. 5 (Saratov) and No. 9 (Krasny Kut), a higher content of mobile forms of phosphorus and potassium was revealed on the northern slopes, in contrast to the southern slopes. The soils of the northern slopes of test sites No. 1 (Arkadak) is less supplied with macronutrients than soils of southern expositions. Plakor soils on test sites No. 1, No. 5 are better than slope tracts provided with K2O, but worse than P2O5. Soil productivity of watershed types of tracts of test sites No. 1, No. 5 are above the slopes. Northern slopes of test sites No. 1 are less productive than the southern ones. On test sites No. 5, on the contrary, the northern slopes are more productive than the southern ones. On test sites No. 9 southern slopes are more productive than watersheds and northern slopes. The dependence of the SCC in the phase of tube-heading and the future harvest was revealed. An increase in the hydrothermal index from 0.3 to 0.45 in this phase of wheat development under conditions of the test sites No. 5 gave a 2-fold increase in yield. The quality of spring soft wheat grown on the slopes of the southern exposure is higher than on the watersheds and slopes of the northern exposure for all objects of study.

Study of power of humus profile of soil catens of central forest-steppe

The article presents the result of a field study to study the power of humus profiles of gray forest soils and black soils of landowned different terms of agricultural use of soil catens of broad-leaved forest (background) and meadow-steppe sections of the Belgorod region. The work was carried out in the spring-summer period 2018-2019. The object of the study was different-age arable areas with an age of agricultural development of 100 and 160 years, respectively. The surface slope in the sections did not exceed 5-60. It was established that the power of the humus profile under the influence of agricultural processing over a 60-year period decreased by 49 cm, moreover, on the slopes of the northern exposition, this indicator is more pronounced (33 cm) than on the slopes of the southern exposition (16 cm). It can be noted that with an increase in the age of agricultural use on the slopes of the northern and southern expositions, the largest thickness of the humus horizon is observed on abnormal soils (72 and 65 cm, respectively). Within the background catens, the soil cover is homogeneous; a second humus horizon was observed in each of the studied sections.

Study of thickness of humus profiles of gray forest and chernozem soils of different terms of agricultural use in landscape shrubs of the central forest-steppe

The article presents the results of a field study of the thickness of the humus profiles of gray forest soils and podzolized chernozems of dif-ferent terms of agricultural use of soil catens of broad-leaved-forest (background) and meadow-steppe areas of the Belgorod region. The work was carried out in the spring and summer period 2018-2019. The objects of the study were different-aged arable plots with the age of agricultural development of 100 and 160 years, respectively. The steepness of the surface on the plots did not exceed 5-60. It is established that the thickness of humus profile under the influence of agricultural cultivation during 60 years has decreased by 49 cm, at that on the slopes of northern exposition this index is more expressed (33 cm) than on the slopes of southern exposition (16 cm). It is possible, to note, that with increase of age of agricultural use on slopes of northern and southern expositions the greatest thickness of humus horizon is observed on anomalous soils (72 and 65 sm accordingly). Within the background catens the soil cover is homogeneous, the second humus horizon was observed in each of the studied transects.

Геоботаническая характеристика псаммофитных степей Пензенской области в бассейне реки Ардым

The research is devoted to the study of poorly preserved psammophytic variants of meadow steppes in the forest-steppe zone of the Middle Volga Region. It has allowed to define the main stages of re-establishment of vegetational cover and estimate the conservation prospects on the river Ardym in different ecological conditions (geomorphological and edaphyc). It has been established that the re-establishment of psammophytic steppes vegetation occurs in a similar way both on the slopes of the predominantly southern exposition and on watershed surfaces. However, in the absence of anthropogenic effects on watershed surfaces, there is a sylvatization of the vegetation cover resulting in displacement of psammophytic steppes. Only the constantly occurring weak natural erosion processes on the slopes of the predominantly southern exposition contribute to the preservation of these rare communities here. Under intense anthropogenic influence, as well as in the conditions of a significant erosion process, the psammophytic steppes fail to be preserved or replaced by steppe meadows.

ЗАПАСЫ И БАЛАНС АЗОТА В ФИТОЦЕНОЗАХ ВЫСОКОГОРНОЙ ПОДПРОВИНЦИИ ДАГЕСТАНА

The purpose of the work is to determine the content and reserves of nitrogen, its balance in the ecosystems of the northern and southern expositions of the Mayak Mountain in the Highlands of Dagestan. For the first time, calculations of nitrogen reserves and balance in phytocenoses were performed for the High-mountain subprovincion of Dagestan. Methods. The study was conducted in 2012-2019 on the territory of the Gunib base of the Mountain Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences. A protected regime was introduced at the experimental sites to exclude anthropogenic impact. The plots are located on the slopes of Mount Mayak: south (2100 m above sea level with a slope of 350), north (2070 m above sea level with a slope of 100). The nitrogen content in the phytomass was determined by wet salting. Nitrogen reserves and balance in phytocenoses were determined by the method of A. A. Titlyanova. Results. The productivity of phytomass on the slopes of Mount Mayak was at the northern and southern exposures: in the aboveground mass-69.62 and 66.50 c/ha * year; in the underground mass-2.07-2.10 times more. Most of the nitrogen reserves were on the slope of the northern exposure, which was probably due to the leaching of nitrogen from the soil, due to the great steepness of the southern slopes. The input part of the nitrogen balance in the phytocenoses of the Highlands of Dagestan during the decomposition of the underground mass was from 68.57 to 68.80%, depending on the slope exposure. During the decomposition of aboveground phytomass, 27.29-27.64% were received. Nitrogen fixation and intake with atmospheric precipitation amounted to a total of 3.69-4.32%. The main part of the expenditure item of the nitrogen balance accounts for the creation of net primary production of phytocenoses – 98.25-98.50%. Denitrification was 0.94-1.10%, leaching from the soil was 0.56-0.66%. In the studied protected areas, a positive nitrogen balance of + 8.47 and + 6.2 was found on the northern and southern slopes.

Distribution of lichen thalli Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf along Pinus sylvestris trunk in different types of pine forests with different relief positions

The research of the Pseudevernia furfuracea population was carried out in the Mari El Republic on the territory of the Mari Chodra National Park. The lichen-mossy and cowberry pine forests were studied with different relief positions: uplands and lowlands. The paper discusses the use of two indicators of population density: D₁ is a number of thalli on the tree; D₂ is a number of thalli in the substrate area. The distribution of thalli along the trunk of Pinus sylvestris depends on the characteristics of the stand, characteristics of the tree and the position of the trees in the relief. In a well-lightened lichen-mossy pine forest the distribution of the number of thallus is equal at different exposures, but it is different due to the heights of the trunk. The maximum number of thalli is typical for a height of 0,51 m. The most number of thallus grows at the southern and western expositions in less lightened cowberry pine forests. There is a shift in the height of the number of thallus to a height of 11,5 m. There is a dependence of the upper boundary of the thallus distribution along the trunk on the height of the lamellar bark. The highest upper limit of thallus growth (a height of 4,8 m) is typical for the lowering of the lichen-mossy pine forest, where the lamellar bark rises to a height of 7,2 m. The lower boundary of the thallus settlement depends on microclimatic factors. Among them the decisive factor is light. The smallest lower boundary of a thallus settlement (a height of 0,2 m) is typical for an elevation in a lichen-mossy pine forest. This habitat has the highest population density of P. furfuracea.

Microhabitat characteristics of brown bear den areas

The aim of this study was to determine the microhabitat, relief and forest structure characteristics of brown bear (Ursus arctos L.) cave dens and other types of dens in the North Dinarides (Velebit Nature Park) in Croatia. In total, 63 dens were identified, consisting of 89% cave dens and 11% other den types (nest dens 6%, stump dens 3%, trunk dens 2%). In the 20-meter radius around each den, the microhabitat, relief and structural characteristics were recorded, including altitude, slope, exposition, rockiness, forest developmental stage, canopy density, tree height, forest site index, tree basal area, and tree species composition. Based on altitude, the climatic category was determined according to the Köppen climate classification. Most cave dens (62%) were in the temperate climate, at altitudes between 900 and 1,100 m, with a southern exposition and slope class between 30 to 60%. The dens situate in partial canopy density of the third forest site index with tree heights between 16 and 20 m and without forest degradation. Slopes and tree heights were lower (p < 0.019) in cave den areas in comparison to other den types.
 Keywords: cave dens, microhabitat, forest structure, North Dinarides, Velebit Nature Park

Assessment of Evolutionary Trends in Mountain Grassland Soil Processes and Problems in Soil Protection and Their Rational Use

The objective of the survey was to assess evolutionary trends in the mountain-grassland soil processes and the environmental and anthropogenic impacts on soil degradation and land efficiency. Generalization of the previously studied materials in comparison with the data collected in route surveys carried out in the large river basins, including the Samur, Chirakhchai, Sulak, and other rivers, allowed for identifying the main factor affecting the evolutionary trends in the soil processes within the altitudinal zones in mountain regions in Dagestan. This is particularly the factor associated with both the climate and vegetation changes and the human economic activities. In addition, it has been proven that slope exposition and anthropogenic factors effect pedogenesis and soil degradation. Slopes of a southern exposition and the slopes of slightly different expositions from it are generally drier. Snow cover lasts for a long time, which is followed by rapid snowmelt. Therefore, the vegetation of such areas is poor, and, moreover, the occurred denudation processes are much stronger. According to the data collected on the basis of observations for the most recent 50 years, humus concentrations in the soils used in the economic circulation decreased by 0.5–1.2% and even by 1.5–2% in some of them. Annual soil washout comprises 12 million t on average. It involves approximately 50 thousand t of humus. Unregulated livestock grazing causes pothole formation, compaction by pathways, and sparse vegetation. Therefore, a 20–30% reduction in the projective vegetation land cover can induce a five- to sevenfold increase in the volume of eroded material in long-term erosion when compared to a 70–75% vegetation land cover. In addition, the current pedogenic processes are affected by global warming, differences in soil moisture and temperature regimes on slopes of different expositions in the altitudinal zonation system, and high erosion rates caused by natural and anthropogenic factors. Complex erosion-control measures, including amelioration by slitting once every 3–4 years, grazing regulation, and evenly distributed grazing with taking slope expositions into account, are required.

Герпетобионтные членистоногие в урбанистическом градиенте г. Иркутска

Four biotops with arboreal vegetation situated in the Irkutsk town territory were studied by pitfall traps method: artifitially forrestated park zone, coastal band of willow shrubs, Caragana arborescens shrubs on steep slope of southern exposition, group of bird-cherry trees. Biodiversity of high taxonomical groups, and the same on species level for carabid beetles, were estimated. Carabid’s communities were compared on dominant species, biodiversity and dynamic density of populations. Sörensen – Chekanovsky coefficient for comparison of different biotopes in number of species and specimens was used. In the willow shrubs minimal number of high groups of arthropods were collected, but maximal biodiversity and dynamic density of carabids populations was postulated. It depends first of all the high number of small species Trechus secalis. Biodiversity is increased in the row: park zone (14) – bird-cherry trees (21) – caragana shrubs (24 groups). Set of the high taxonomical groups in the different biotopes has a specific features. Such taxa like carabids, staphylinids, silphids, ants and spiders were recorded in all biotopes, but could differ each other in the set of species and dynamic density very sufficiently. Sörensen coefficient estimated for carabids communities demonstrates very low similarity between biotopes as in set of species, as in number of specimens. Caragana shrubs has a maximal level of isolation. The simplest structure of community with very low number of species in park zone was postulated. In this biotopes silphid beetles was dominated group due to maximal level of anthropogenic influence. Refugial zones, like Kaya river basin in the town landscape surroundings, could be preserved for recreation and biodiversity maintenance.

Satellite-Derived Spatiotemporal Variations of Forest Cover in Southern Forest–Steppe, Central Russian Upland

Forest cover dynamics derived from detailed archival and recent satellite images was studied in the southern forest–steppe within Belgorodskaya Oblast, Central Russian Upland. We analyzed data from 5 sites of the total area of 1722 km2, representative for diverse environment of the region. The forest cover increased by 31% during 1970–2014. Fragmentation of lands with forest cover was noted. Number of separate woodlands has increased by 87% and the mean size of woodland has decreased from 13.0 to 9.2 ha. Mean linear movement of the forest margin towards steppe tended to decrease from northwest to southeast. The largest advance of 34.3 m of the forest margin was found in the humid western part of the region, while it was as small as 15.0 m in dry southeast. Mean distance of forest advancement since 1970 was 24 m, as measured at 1285 study sites. The distances of forest expansion significantly differed between forest–steppe and steppe domains of Belgorodskaya Oblast. The expansion cannot be attributed to northern or southern exposition of the forested slopes of river valleys and ravines.

Electrophysical characteristics and dielectric constant of soils of northern natural forests of Ukrainian steppe zone

Currently in soil science the search for new methods and technologies for soil research is relevant, which in a short time allows to receive a large amount of information about its condition with the lowest financial cost. Methods for determining electrophysical parameters and dielectric constant of soils are conforming to these requirements. As a result of the investigations, it was found that the upper horizons of the soils of Glubokiy ravine, located in the Ukrainian steppe zone (Novomoskovsk district, Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine), differ to lower values of electrical resistance and dielectric constant compared to the lower horizons. The upper horizons are characterized by increased values of electrical conductivity, mineralization and salinity compared with the lower horizons. Sudden changes in the values of all investigated parameters at the boundary of the eluvial and illuvial horizons were found in Luvic phaeozem of northern exposition of ravine and in Luvic gleyic phaeozem of thalweg. In the Luvic phaeozem of the forest northern exposure of the ravine and in the Luvic gleyic phaeozem of the leveled area of the ravine, sharp changes were found in the values of all the investigated parameters at the boundary of the eluvial and illuvial horizons. In the eluvial horizons of Luvic phaeozem, which bordering on the illuvial horizons, a sharp increase in the dielectric constant is observed. The upper horizons of Calcic chernozem of the northern ravine exposition are characterized by increased values of electrical resistance, electrical conductivity and dielectric constant, as well as lower values of mineralization and salinity compared to the upper horizons of Calcic chernozem of the southern ravine exposition. The upper horizons of the Luvic phaeozem of the forest north exposition of the ravine are characterized by higher values of electrical resistance and dielectric constant compared to the upper horizons of the Luvic phaeozem of the forest south exposition of the ravine. In terms of electrical conductivity, mineralization and salinity, Luvic phaeozems practically don’t differ. The upper horizons of Luvic phaeozems are characterized by lower values of electrical resistance and dielectric constant, as well as higher values of electrical conductivity, mineralization and salinity compared to Calcic chernozems. The results obtained indicate that the highest content of organic matter and water-soluble compounds, as well as the best structurally-aggregate composition, and also the best structural-aggregate composition is characteristic of forest chernozem. This is due to the one that formed on the southern exposition of the ravine and which is characterized by the lowest values of dielectric constant and electrical resistance, as well as the highest values of electrical conductivity, mineralization and salinity.

A Dream of the Future: Race, Empire, and Modernity at the Atlanta and Nashville World's Fairs by Nathan Cardon

Reviewed by: A Dream of the Future: Race, Empire, and Modernity at the Atlanta and Nashville World's Fairs by Nathan Cardon Brian M. Ingrassia A Dream of the Future: Race, Empire, and Modernity at the Atlanta and Nashville World's Fairs. By Nathan Cardon. ( New York: Oxford University Press, 2018. Pp. xiv, 177. $74.00, ISBN 978-0-19-027472-6.) Atlanta's 1895 Cotton States and International Exposition and Nashville's 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition were, according to historian Nathan Cardon, "crucibles of modernity" (p. 3). The fairs, both inspired by Chicago's 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, "presented a future of a scientific and diversified economy centered on a racially divided society" and served as "advertisements for a unique southern modernity" (p. 2). A Dream of the Future: Race, Empire, and Modernity at the Atlanta and Nashville World's Fairs is a fine analysis of these two expositions within their New South context. Chapter 1 shows how the Atlanta and Nashville fairs exposed the "New South creed," offering "'object lessons'" to southerners who might "improve themselves, become modern, [and] leave behind the social customs and traditions that were so pilloried by the rest of the nation" (pp. 19, 37). Chapter 2 focuses on the fairs' so-called Negro Buildings, prominent structures located near lakes Clara Meer (Atlanta) and Watauga (Nashville), where African Americans exhibited their visions of progress. Chapter 3 examines the Woman's Buildings that demonstrated southern white women's shifting social roles. Chapter 4 illustrates how southern elites used the fairs and their depictions of southern race relations to position [End Page 715] themselves at the cutting edge of American empire. Both expositions, argues Cardon, presented a "Jim Crow modernity," "a modern world based on the segregation of race" (p. 39). Atlanta and Nashville looked backward to the antebellum era as well as forward to the New South that Henry W. Grady had envisioned in 1886. Cardon makes a compelling point that the 1890s formed a pivotal decade, when racial and gender boundaries were somewhat fluid and the South claimed a role in the United States' imperial ambitions. The conclusion shows how the 1907 Jamestown Exposition in Virginia stepped backward from 1890s modernity. The 1907 exposition was built in the mud, miles outside Norfolk. It had no Woman's Building, while its Negro Building was located in a marginal spot and exhibited growing tensions among black leaders. This fair "offered a much-tempered dream of the future" (p. 120). Cardon uses a broad range of primary sources, including archival collections from Atlanta, Nashville, Chapel Hill, and Washington, D.C.; newspapers, including African American periodicals; and an impressive list of exposition guides and other contemporaneous publications. With its thorough research, this book adds to a growing body of literature on southern expositions, including Robert W. Rydell's All the World's a Fair: Visions of Empire at American International Expositions, 1876–1916 (Chicago, 1984), Theda Perdue's Race and the Atlanta Cotton States Exposition of 1895 (Athens, Ga., 2010), Bruce G. Harvey's World's Fairs in a Southern Accent: Atlanta, Nashville, and Charleston, 1895–1902 (Knoxville, 2014), and Mabel O. Wilson's Negro Building: Black Americans in the World of Fairs and Museums (Berkeley, 2012). Cardon draws on these and other works to add new perspectives regarding the fairs' Janus-faced, New South duality, although he limits historiographical engagement to the endnotes. As good as this analysis is, at times it seems so focused on finding commonalities between Atlanta and Nashville that it nearly conflates them into one narrative. More sustained emphasis on both cities' respective histories and circumstances would be useful. A Dream of the Future successfully shows how the 1895 Atlanta and 1897 Nashville expositions represented an important moment in southern history. Cardon thus enhances an already rich portrait of southern fairs at the turn of the twentieth century. Brian M. Ingrassia West Texas A&M University Copyright © 2019 The Southern Historical Association

Анализ пространственно-временных изменений лесистости на юге лесостепи Среднерусской возвышенности по спутниковым данным

Анализ пространственно-временных изменений лесистости на юге лесостепи Среднерусской возвышенности по спутниковым данным

К экологии редких степных видов рода Iris на Южном Урале

The research presents the experience of assessing the diversity of communities and ecology of 3 rare steppe species of the genus Iris L. in the Southern Urals: I. pumila L., I. scariosa Willd. ex Link and I. humilis Georgi which are distributed in the steppe and forest-steppe zones of the region and listed in the Red Data Book of Bashkortostan Republic (Krasnaya kniga…, 2011) and the Russian Federation (Krasnaya kniga…, 2008). We analyzed the ecology of communities with participation of rare species using indirect ordination, which makes it possible to identify important ecological patterns of species distribution and to give an ecological interpretation of syntaxonomic units. Totally, we collected 28 geobotanical releves within the studied coenopopulations in the Southern Urals (mainly, in the Urals and Transurals of the Republic of Bashkortostan, as well as adjacent areas of Chelyabinsk and Orenburg regions) to characterize the phytocenotic localization and ecology of rare steppe species of the genus Iris. Localities of the studied species are presented on the map (See Fig. 1). The size of the releves was 64-100 m2. Releves descriptions and classification were performed using the Braun-Blanquet approach (Westhoff and van der Maarel, 1978; Braun-Blanquet, 1964). The names of vascular plants species are given according to Cherepanov (1995). The impact assessment of complex environmental factor gradients was performed using DCA-ordination in the CANOCO 4.5 program (Ter Braak and Smilauer, 2002). DN Tsyganov’s scale which was adjusted for the Southern Urals region (Shirokikh and Zverev, 2012) was applied to estimate the environmental factors of habitats. The weighted average of environmental factors was calculated in the IBIS software (Zverev, 2007). We revealed that the phytocenosis with participation of rare steppe irises in the Southern Urals belongs to the class Festuco-Brometea Br.-Bl. et Tuxen ex Soo 1947, which unites the steppe vegetation of Southern Ukraine and Russia and includes 5 associations and 2 communities. I. pumila grows mainly on the steppe slopes of various expositions as part of the steppes of association Astragalo austriacae-Stipetum pulcherrimae Martynenko et al. 2018, which is a zonal type of the Pre-Ural steppe of the Republic of Bashkortostan. I. pumila also grows in the communities of the association Scorzonerо austriacaе-Stipetum lessingianae Yamalov 2011 prov., which is steppes with dominating Stipa lessingiana of the southern regions of Bashkortostan and in the basal community Stipa capillata [Festuco-Brometea] combining low-degraded steppe pastures, which are distributed mainly in the upland and slope habitats of the southern expositions. Among the rarest communities with participation of I. рumila, there are phytocoenoses of shrub steppes of association Spiraeo hypericifoliaе-Amygdaletum nanae Solomeshch et al. 1994, which are distributed mainly across the eastern and southeastern slopes of the ranges on stony substrates. I. scariosa was found in the phytocoenosis of the association Silene altaici-Elytrigietum pruiniferae Yamalov 2018 prov., characteristic of outcrops of igneous rocks on thermophilic slopes. Occasionally, I. scariosa is observed in the communities of Festuca pseudovina [ Helictotricho- Stipetalia], distributed to the flattened mountain slopes. Communities with I. humilis occur in the Southern Urals quite rarely and belong, according to their floristic composition, to the association Diantho acicularis-Orostachetum spinosae Schubert et al. 1981. The floristic composition of all noted communities is characterized by a high role of petrophytic species (Artemisia marshalliana, Astragalus helmii, Centaurea turgaica, Ephedra distachya, Hedysarum argyrophyllum, Koeleria sclerophylla, Orostachys spinosa, Tanacetum kittaryanum Thymus guberlinensis etc.). DCA-ordination of communities with participation of steppe species of the genus Iris showed that they are well separated in the space of the first two axes (See Fig. 2). The main axis is interpreted as a complex gradient of moisture-salinity variability. The second axis can be interpreted as the aridity-humidity gradient. The studied species of the genus Iris are plants of open habitats (steppes, meadows, river banks), therefore the lighting conditions (Lc) are critical for them (See Fig. 3-5). The critically important environmental factors also include the variability of moisture (fH) and the severity of the winter period (Cr). The low ecological amplitude of I. pumila and I. scariosa for a number of climatogenic environmental factors, such as aridity-humidity (Om) and associated soil moisture (Hd), and the amount of incoming heat (Tm) causes their confinement mainly to the steppe zone of the region. At the same time, the values of the continentality of climate factors (Kn) are in wider boundaries, especially for I. scariosa. Ordination analysis showed that, according to a complex of environmental factors, each species of the genus Iris occupies its own ecological niche. Therefore, in nature, the studied species are extremely rare in the same habitats and communities. According to the given values of ecological factors of the environment (See Table), I. pumila, I. scariosa and I. humilis in the Southern Urals have a rather narrow ecological amplitude, i.e. they are stenotopes, which largely determines their natural rarity in the region of the Southern Urals.

A study on Moscow region sand pits’ plants properties for the restoration of sand pits vegetation

Processes of plant regeneration and restoration of destroyed ecosystems, naturally occurring, in such areas are very slow. Considering sand pits as a man-made form of relief necessitates a comprehensive study of the features of sand pits vegetation, which helps stop the movement of sandy slopes, stabilize sands, and land reclamation. We have studied the slopes of the northern and southern exposition in some sand quarries (Zvenigorodsky, Dzerzhinsky, Ramensky (GOK), Lytkarinsky, Lyzlovo). Geobotanical descriptions, performed according to a standard method on the experimental areas of 5×5 square meters, are the basis of our work. The article shows that all the 93 species which we have found in the surveyed area were species of vascular plants. In this case the number of species is not only determined by the smooth running development of the landscape (taking into account the fact that the interference was rude and had a man-made factors), but by other factors such as steep slopes, light, moisture, and richness of the soil. The projective cover of sand pits constitutes 20-30 % which, in general, is a typical characteristic of sandy terrain [3]. Plants overwhelming majority in the spectrum of life forms according to K. Raunkiaer, are Hemicryptophytes, which is typical for the phytocoenosis of the Central Russia. It can be noted that the Chamaephytes are absent in most quarries, except for Dzerzhinsky. According to the classification of life forms by I.G. Serebryakov, sand slopes are dominated by herbaceous perennial polycarpics, among which long and short rhizome plants and tap rooted plants are in majority. Meadow plants are dominant in ecological-coenotic group. This group consists of fully developed plants, only, under conditions of good lighting. The rate of adventive species is low.

Hydromass in Natural-Territorial Complexes in the Upper- and High-Mountain Landscapes of the Ialno Ridge

The study of hydromass in natural-territorial complexes in the upper-mountain and high-mountain landscapes of the Ialno Ridge is based on the analysis spatial-temporal concept of natural-territorial complexes (NTCs), which was developed by Prof. Nikoloz Beruchashvili. This question allows analyzing and evaluating the following issues: moisture circulation and soil hydromasses in different NTCs. The study is based on the long-term field work conducted by the staff of Martkopi physical-geographical station. On the basis of the research some peculiarities of the territorial distribution of soil hydromasses were revealed. The maximum amount of the soil hydromasses (1733 t/ha) is registerd in the facies of the northern exposition and moderately slanting slopes with beech forest and litterfall, whereas the mean value is 1421 t/ha. In the soils of the facies spread at the top of the Ialno Ridge the maximum hydromass amount is 1173 t/ha and the mean value is 887 t/ha. But in the soils of the slanting tops with southern exposition presented as mixed grass meadows the maximum hydromass amount is 676 t/ha and the mean value is 633 t/ha. The research shows that in the NTCs with of the high-mountain subalpine and upper-mountain forest landscapes the hydromass amounts depend on humidity and pedomass amount in separate geohorizons of the soils. Besides, hydromass amount in soil is influenced by the following factors: exposition and declination of the slope, the thickness of the soil profile, behaviour of moisturizing, projection vegetation cover and facies, nano-forms of the relief. High amount of hydromasses is characteristic of the gorges on the southern exposition slopes (more than 2000 t/ha). The hydromass amount is also high (1500-2000 t/ha) in the beech forests in the natural-territorial complexes of the northern and southern exposition slopes. The amount of hydromasses is low (500-1000 t/ha) at the top of the Ialno Ridge and the subalpine meadows in the natural-territorial complexes of the southern exposition slopes. The same hydromass amount is observed in the vegetation semi-associations in the natural-territorial complexes of the slopes of the White Cliff. The hydromass amount is the least (less than 500 t/ha) in rocky natural-territorial complexes.