Arid Ecosystems最新文献

{"title":"Problems of Desertification and Dustiness of Atmospheric Air in Arid Cities of the Aral Sea Region","authors":"I. S. Shukurov,&nbsp;L. I. Shukurova,&nbsp;S. P. Marakulina","doi":"10.1134/S207909612470032X","DOIUrl":"10.1134/S207909612470032X","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Dust storms and dry haze are an unfavorable meteorological factor for the cities of the Aral Sea Region. The mean annual number of days with haze in Central Asian cities ranges from 10 to 20. Dust makes poorer the aspect of areas, but its impact on urban planning has been incompletely studied and the content of fine dust particles in the air of cities has not been monitored. The Afghan wind (<i>garmsil</i>: fiery, hot, dry wind with dust), which attracts particular attention, is a dust storm that suddenly starts in the deserts of Afghanistan and on the dried bottom of the Aral Sea (it is now called <i>Aralkum</i> (the Turkish <i>kum</i> signifies sand)). This is a real salt desert, containing pesticides and chemicals dangerous for human health. They penetrated rivers as fertilizers used by people and then flowed into the sea. They now cause significant damage to the cities and to the economy of Central Asian countries. Wind transport of dust from natural sources and, as a result, the dustiness of the urban environment are analyzed in this article. This problem is particularly urgent for most large cities in Central Asia, but has not been studied sufficiently. The dust factor is not sufficiently taken into account, when making urban planning decisions even in areas with intensive wind and dust activity, such as the Aral Sea Region, where it is related to natural and climatic conditions. More and more cool agricultural lands are now destroyed and used for building construction in many cities, which may exert a strong effect on the quality of life in the next few years. Not long ago, dustiness was considered only as a factor that creates uncomfortable conditions, but today, it is associated with morbidity and mortality of the population. A high dust content in the air harms landscaped areas, along highways and streets in particular. The protection of buildings from direct sunlight and dust consists in the use of sun protection devices, panels, and ventilated facades. One of the modern trends in architecture consists in the introduction of the technology of kinetic facades, which are formed of elements of different shapes and materials. When the proposed methods are implemented, there is a real opportunity to improve the quality of atmospheric air in cities located in complicated landscape conditions, which will directly affect the improvement of human health.</p>","PeriodicalId":44316,"journal":{"name":"Arid Ecosystems","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2024-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142175637","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of the Condition of Lakes in Southeastern Transbaikalia by the Chlorophyll a Content","authors":"G. Ts. Tsybekmitova,&nbsp;N. A. Tashlykova","doi":"10.1134/S2079096124700355","DOIUrl":"10.1134/S2079096124700355","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The state of the lakes of Southeastern Transbaikalia is assessed. The formation of the hydrochemical and hydrobiological regime of water bodies in the study area occurs under semi-arid climate conditions. The existing cyclical climate fluctuations with a periodicity of 27–35 years cause their sequential filling and drying out. These works were carried out during the transition period between low-water and high-water years. The abiotic environmental factors and chlorophyll <i>a</i> concentrations of various phytoplankton divisions, such as green algae, cryptophytes, diatoms and cyanobacteria, are considered. This work was carried out using a FluoroProbe submersible probe (bbe Moldaenke GmbH, Germany). It was established that the observed fluctuations in the level regime of lakes affect abiotic indicators, causing changes in the content of chlorophyll <i>a</i> of phytoplankton. The principal component analysis showed that the chlorophyll content of green algae depends on the content of potassium and sodium, bicarbonates, and chlorides. The chlorophyll content of cyanobacteria depends on the concentrations of calcium and magnesium. The chlorophyll content of cryptophyte algae depends on the depth of water bodies. Thus, changes in water levels in lakes affect the hydrochemical composition, which determines the structure of phytoplankton communities. Consequently, changes in the abiotic conditions, influencing the development of primary producers, are manifested in changes in the pigment composition of phytoplankton. Currently, most of the studied reservoirs are passing through the stage of mesotrophic level of their development.</p>","PeriodicalId":44316,"journal":{"name":"Arid Ecosystems","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2024-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142175648","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Status of Reintroduced Marmot Populations in Two Forest–Steppe Reserves of European Russia","authors":"I. V. Zhigarev,&nbsp;V. Yu. Rumyantsev","doi":"10.1134/S2079096124700288","DOIUrl":"10.1134/S2079096124700288","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The steppe marmot (baibak) is one of the typical rodents of the Eastern European forest–steppe and steppe. In the mid-twentieth century, European populations of the species were on the verge of extinction, but then, thanks to conservation measures and reintroductions, the population of boibak and range were largely restored. This work collects and presents data on two restored marmot colonies in the forest–steppe of European Russia. The research was carried out in the Central Black Earth Nature Reserve (Streletskaya steppe, two sections) and in the Volga Forest–Steppe Nature Reserve (Ostrovtsovskaya forest–steppe, three sections). The number and age composition of marmots are described. Maps of settlements with burrows and trails of marmots have been compiled; for each burrow the coordinates and type (temporary or permanent) are indicated. The population density and the number of burrows per marmot were calculated. In total, 12 marmots live in the Streletskaya steppe: ten on the “Pasture” site and two on the “Restored Steppe” site. In the first area, seven adult and three young marmots were noted, in the second, two adult marmots. Here, the reintroduction of the boibak was not entirely successful. From 2015 to 2023 the number of marmots decreased sharply, from 38 to 12 individuals, and the area of the inhabited territory fell from 10 to 3.7 hectares. In the Ostrovtsovskaya forest–steppe, 48 marmots (eight families) were recorded, of which 40 were in the first area (six families), two were in the second area (one family), and six were in the third area (one family). Of the 48 individuals, 29 (61%) are underyearlings. The reintroduction of the bobak into the Ostrovtsovskaya forest–steppe was relatively successful: the total number of animals is comparable to the number of marmots initially released (48 and 64).</p>","PeriodicalId":44316,"journal":{"name":"Arid Ecosystems","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2024-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142175632","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Place of Zoological Cadastral Reference Maps in the Biome Concept","authors":"L. G. Emelyanova,&nbsp;A. S. Oboturov","doi":"10.1134/S2079096124700276","DOIUrl":"10.1134/S2079096124700276","url":null,"abstract":"<p>A comprehensive study (vegetation and animal population) of biota and ecological differentiation of biotic cover with the widespread use of the cartographic approach is one of the central areas of modern biogeography. Its tasks include identifying ecological and geographical patterns of differentiation of biotic cover and identifying territorial units of different ranks for the purposes of inventory and conservation of biological diversity. One of the levels of regional research is relatively new and insufficiently covered in the domestic literature—the biome level. The biotic part of biomes consists of two components, the vegetation and the animal population, which is currently characterized by the population of birds and mammals as the most studied zoological taxa that have reached the stage of cartographic maturity. Issues such as the definition of a regional biome, the criteria for its identification, and the characteristics of its geozoological part are in the stage of study and development. The role and place of cadastral reference zoological maps in the biome concept as the basis for collecting, storing, and analyzing information about the spatiotemporal characteristics of communities is shown. Using the example of a model territory—the Ural biomes—experience-tested methods for presenting local theriological accounting data on a cadastral reference map and in the cadastre are proposed. The shortcomings in the presentation of field research results that complicate their interpretation are noted. The role of cadastral reference maps for planning zoological research, for compiling an objective description of the zoological component of regional biomes, and for justifying the boundaries between biomes is shown.</p>","PeriodicalId":44316,"journal":{"name":"Arid Ecosystems","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2024-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142175633","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development of Elements of the Technology for Growing Planting Material of Leafless Juzgun in Astrakhan Oblast","authors":"N. V. Tyutyuma,&nbsp;G. K. Bulakhtina,&nbsp;Yu. N. Podoprigorov","doi":"10.1134/S2079096124700318","DOIUrl":"10.1134/S2079096124700318","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The results of studies conducted in 2020–2023 in Astrakhan oblast on the basis of the Caspian Agrarian Federal Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, are presented. The purpose of these experiments is to develop the most environmentally friendly and resource-saving method of growing planting material of the leafless juzgun (<i>Calligonum aphyllum</i> (Pall.) Gürke) for use in phytomelioration of arid degraded pasture ecosystems and the creation of protective forest plantations in the arid zone of the Northern Caspian Sea. The objectives of this research were to study various methods of planting leafless juzgun (seedlings, cuttings, and seeds) and to identify a more effective one for light chestnut soils of Astrakhan oblast; to determine the optimal seeding rate and soil moisture (% of the lowest moisture capacity) for growing juzgun planting material; and to conduct an assessment of planting material during the growing season, including susceptibility to pests and diseases, crop condition (visual assessment), and biometric indicators according to experimental options. The studies carried out used the methodology of B.A. Dospehov (2011); Technical Specifications OST 56-98-93 (1994) were used to determine the compliance of planting material with the standard. Based on the results of our research, we found that the optimal way to plant leafless juzgun on the light chestnut soils of Astrakhan oblast is to plant seedlings. In addition, in these soil and climatic conditions, elements of the technology for growing leafless juzgun seedlings were developed, including the seeding rate of 250 kg/ha, soil moisture during the sowing–germination growing season at 60–70% of the lowest moisture capacity, and maintaining soil moisture during the growing season at 20–25% of the lowest moisture capacity.</p>","PeriodicalId":44316,"journal":{"name":"Arid Ecosystems","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2024-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142175636","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Changes in Moisture Supply in the Steppe Zone of the Southern Part of Western Siberia for the Period 1980–2050 According to Scenario Forecasts Based on Global CMIP6 Models","authors":"E. Yu. Mordvin,&nbsp;N. M. Pochemin,&nbsp;N. V. Volkov,&nbsp;A. A. Bondarovich,&nbsp;A. A. Lagutin","doi":"10.1134/S2079096124700203","DOIUrl":"10.1134/S2079096124700203","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Research was carried out on changes in the moisture supply of the territory in the dry steppe subzone of the southern part of Western Siberia (geographic coordinates 50.5°–54.5° N, 77.5°–83.0° E) for the period 1980–2050. The hydrothermal humidification coefficient of G.T. Selyaninov is used as the main indicator of the level of moisture supply in the region. The information basis for this study is the results of six climate models of the CMIP6 family, obtained for the modern period 1980–2015, as well as within the framework of scenarios SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 of the possible evolution of the global climate system for 2015–2050. The long-term dynamics, boundaries of variations, and trends of the hydrothermal coefficient for the southern part of Western Siberia have been established. An analysis of the influence of the total amount of precipitation and the surface air temperature on the nature and rate of change in the level of moisture supply in the region was carried out. The spatial distribution of moisture supply in the region and the rate of its change for the period under study have been established.</p>","PeriodicalId":44316,"journal":{"name":"Arid Ecosystems","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2024-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142175759","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Change of Soil Properties in Drainage and Rewetting Conditions in the Steppe Zone of the Southern Urals","authors":"I. M. Gabbasova,&nbsp;R. R. Suleymanov,&nbsp;T. T. Garipov,&nbsp;M. A. Komissarov,&nbsp;A. R. Suleymanov","doi":"10.1134/S2079096124700112","DOIUrl":"10.1134/S2079096124700112","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In the steppe zone of the Southern Ural region (Russia, Republic of Bashkortostan), an abrupt change in the hydrological regime due to drainage melioration triggered alteration of the set of soil properties, potentially leading to soil degradation. Drainage of the Berkazan-Kamysh nature area resulted in a development of a number of adverse effects, of which the major ones included mineralization of peat organic matter and soil salinization as strong as the formation of meadow solonchaks entirely devoid of vegetation. As illustrated by the example of the Serek-Kul’ nature area, rewetting after drainage has not triggered degradation of the soils and appears to be the most effective practice in restoration of bog ecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":44316,"journal":{"name":"Arid Ecosystems","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2024-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142175663","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hawthorn in the Arid Conditions of Dagestan","authors":"M. D. Zalibekov,&nbsp;A. R. Gabibova","doi":"10.1134/S2079096124700082","DOIUrl":"10.1134/S2079096124700082","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The common hawthorn (<i>Crataegus rhipidophylla</i> Gand.) is a typical representative of arid woodland species of Piedmont Dagestan. It grows in the lower, middle, and upper mountain zones. Identification of patterns of intraspecific and interpopulation diversity, including quantitative traits of annual shoots and their adaptive manifestations under conditions of introduction, makes it possible to determine the optimum of the species and the adaptive potential to specific arid growing conditions. The results of an ecological–geographical experiment on the altitudinal gradient of common hawthorn using the example of an annual shoot are presented. This study was carried out using a unique research assembly “System of experimental bases located along an altitude gradient (1100 and 1700 m above sea level).” Plants grown from seeds collected in different conditions of arid areas were studied. To study adaptive changes using the example of an annual shoot under introduction conditions, ten quantitative traits and one qualitative trait (hairs) of the shoot and leaf were studied. The research results were processed and evaluated using descriptive statistics, correlation, cluster, and two-factor analysis of variance. The degree and structure of variability in the quantitative traits of the annual shoot and leaf were revealed, and the presence of population–geographic differentiation was established based on the traits of “shoot length,” “number of leaves,” and “number of thorns” depending on the germination conditions of the samples. Differences between the samples in terms of the quantitative and qualitative characteristics were determined; with growing altitude above sea level, the increase in the “number of thorns” and hairs on the shoot and leaf can be considered as one of the adaptive mechanisms of vegetative organs to the abiotic factors of the arid climate in mountain conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":44316,"journal":{"name":"Arid Ecosystems","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2024-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142175655","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Using the Methodology of Land Degradation Neutrality to Assess the Territory of the Caspian Region","authors":"G. S. Kust,&nbsp;D. S. Shklyaeva,&nbsp;V. A. Lobkovskiy,&nbsp;O. V. Andreeva","doi":"10.1134/S2079096124700033","DOIUrl":"10.1134/S2079096124700033","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Research on the Caspian region has been conducted for over 20 years under the auspices of the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea (Tehran Convention). It aims to protect not only the water area of the Caspian Sea, but also areas of land located directly adjacent to it from negative impacts. For the first time, based on the concept of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN), this work presents the results of a comparative assessment of land conditions for the coastal areas of five states: the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, and Turkmenistan. The approach implemented made it possible to identify the main trends in land dynamics in the region under consideration, including for individual countries and regions for different periods of observation. The results are presented in cartographic form. It has been established that most regions of the Caspian region are characterized by a deterioration of the current situation associated with the intensification of degradation processes, and the main “hot spots” of desertification are described. At the same time, the dynamics of land degradation in the Caspian region are multidirectional in individual regions and observation periods. Selecting different comparison periods and baselines can help track changes in land conditions over time and identify peaks of improvement and deterioration.</p>","PeriodicalId":44316,"journal":{"name":"Arid Ecosystems","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2024-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142175710","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Variability of Grassland Forage Resources and Their Division by a Complex of Herbivorous Mammals in the Case of Joint Grazing","authors":"B. D. Abaturov","doi":"10.1134/S2079096124700094","DOIUrl":"10.1134/S2079096124700094","url":null,"abstract":"<p>A negative dependence of the digestibility of grassland vegetation on the amount of grasses in the feed consumed, which is in turn associated with an increased content of silicon compounds in grasses, is found. Using the example of four species of herbivores (Przewalski’s horse, American bison, Bactrian camel, and saiga), which differ in the specifics of digestion, the selectivity of their nutrition was studied in relation to two groups of plants differing in digestibility—grasses and forbs. Saigas, like other obviously highly selective consumers of easily digestible food, strictly select forbs with a low silicon content and high digestibility. With the dominance of low-digestible grasses on the grassland and their forced consumption, the saiga population is not viable. Horses and bison, like other representatives of equines and large ruminants, due to the characteristics of the digestive system, are able to assimilate low-digestible grass feeds successfully and are highly specialized in feeding on grasses. The exclusion of forbs from the diet of horses and bison is associated with the increased toxicity of this group of plants. Camels do not discriminate in the choice of grasses and forbs of different nutritional value and currently actively use fallow areas (on former arable land) dominated by weedy plants, which are avoided by other herbivores. Different specialization in the choice of forage plants when different species of animals graze together causes their division in the use of grassland feed resources, eliminates competition between them, and acts as a necessary factor in preserving the species diversity of grassland vegetation.</p>","PeriodicalId":44316,"journal":{"name":"Arid Ecosystems","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2024-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142175653","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}