The Ornithological Zoning of the Azov–Black Sea Dry Steppe Enclave of Europe

Abstract The scheme of ornithological zoning of the Azov–Black Sea dry steppe enclave of Europe has been presented in the article based on domination of individual ornithological complexes, depending on the landscape structure of the territory. This enclave is a unique region due to its utmost western location and moderate continental climate. Its typical natural features and factors of their formation have been determined. The anthropogenic transformations of region have been characterized, and peculiarities of landscape changes have been caused by them. It has been found that the agro-landscapes are dominated in the Azov–Black Sea dry steppe enclave by the area. The schemes of physical–geographical zoning have been determined, which are suitable for ornithological zoning of the region; the dependence of composition of ornithological fauna on predominant landscapes has been revealed. On this basis, the scheme of ornithological zoning of the mentioned region has been proposed. The flat interfluve-steppe, stony-steppe, sandy-steppe, floodplain-river, and liman-marine ornithological areas have been singled out and have been characterized. The main differences in the ornithological regions are correlations of predominant and codominant ornithological faunistic complexes, which depend on the area landscapes and natural and anthropogenic transformation of their components; they are relief, soil, water bodies, and vegetation.