Ecological Potential of Geosystems on the Boundary of Forest and Steppe (Lake Baikal Drainage Basin)

Abstract

This author’s formulation of the ecological potential of ecosystems is presented, and the approaches to its assessment are outlined. The main natural characteristics of the components of geosystems in two key areas of the central part of the Lake Baikal drainage basin are considered: the area of the Malyi Khamar-Daban Range and the territory of the Chikoi-Khilok interfluve. The main landscape-forming processes and the factors (and the indicators characterizing them) influencing the development of the biotic component of geosystems have been identified. On the basis of analyzing the natural ecological factors and the landscape-forming processes generating the ecological potential, an expert assessment is made, and the maps of the natural ecological potential of geosystems are compiled for the key study areas. Investigations showed that the territory of the central part of the Lake Baikal drainage basin on the boundary of forest and steppe landscapes are characterized by a considerable predominance of geosystems with low and moderate natural ecological potential, which is due to the severe natural-climatic conditions. For the mountain territory of the Malyi Khamar-Daban Range the relief-forming processes are the main landscape-forming processes (in addition to the climatic processes forming the regional geographical background) determining the ecological factors of development of the biota and the ecological potential as a whole: the slope, fluvial and cryogenic processes. In the areas of the Chikoi-Khilok interfluve, the central role is played by aeolian processes (deflation and accumulation) which are, to a significant extent, associated with human activity.