Year: 2021
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: Shrubs are an important component of steppe vegetation. Vegetation groups dominated by or including typical steppe shrubs form so-called “shrub steppes”. The ecological-phytocenotic and floristic characteristics of the communities of shrub steppes of the Samara Volga Region are given. The analysis includes data from 41 geobotanical relevés made in 2013 – 2018. Typical communities for the region under study are formations Amygdalus nana, Caragana frutex, Cerasus fruticosa, Chamaecytisus ruthenicus, Spiraea crenata, S. hypericifolia and S. litwinowii. The highest species diversity of vascular plants was registered in phytocenoses dominated by Caragana frutex and Cerasus fruticosa, growing on fairly rich soils with medium-steppe moisture and weak influence of grazing. In these phytocenoses, on average, up to 20 species are recorded on the registration site. The results of DCA-ordination of steppe shrub communities of the Samara Volga Region are presented. It was revealed that communities with the participation of typical steppe shrubs Amygdalus nana, Spiraea crenata, Cerasus fruticosa develop more moistened ecotopes with rather rich soils compared to the other studied phytocenoses. In the studied phytocenoses, 35 rare species included in the Red Books of the Russian Federation and Samara Oblast were found. Their greatest number was recorded in phytocenoses dominated by Caragana frutex, Cerasus fruticosa and Amygdalus nana. Further study of shrub steppes in the region will reveal their syntaxonomic status and will form a comprehensive view of these communities for their effective conservation.
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W3208613017