bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Taxonomic diversity of partial flora found on chalk hills in North-Western Kazakhstan
Authors: Darbayeva T Ye , Alzhanova B S , Sarsenova A N , Bohorova S N 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
The chalk hills in North-Western Kazakhstan (NWK) are one of the unique in botanical and geographical terms objects located at the junction of Europe and Asia. Here, the calciphyte complex has been preserved, which is of scientific interest for the study of landscape and biological diversity, the main stages of the genesis of the flora of the region and as a refugium center for relict, endemic, red-book species.
The purpose of the work is to carry out an inventory and compare the features of the taxonomic, biomorphological, ecological-phytocenotic and geographical composition of the partial flora of the chalk hills in NWK. Field work was carried out by route method in combination with stationary key areas using generally accepted methods. The object of the study was the flora of the chalk hills of the Obshii Syrt (OS), Sub Ural plateau (SUP) and Emba plateau (EP). As a result of the conducted research, it was revealed that 938 species of vascular plants belonging to 389 genera and 84 families grow on the chalk landscapes of the NWK. On three chalk hills 11 partial floras have been identified. The most original of them are the partial flora of the SUP, here the dominant position belongs to families Asteraceae, Poaceae, Brassicaceae. The richest genera are Astragalus, Artemisia, Allium and etc. Here an endemic calciphytic complex stands out. Steppe species prevail in all partial flora. The research results were used in the program of environmental protection measures in the West Kazakhstan region.
Geo-ecological aspects of water level extremums’ formation in the Don river waterways
Authors: Dmitrieva VA , Buchik S V 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
The Don river basin has high population density, robust economy, but suffers from lack of water supply in low water level periods and seasons. This fact prompts researchers to study various aspects of the water resource dynamics. The analysis of the water flow volumes is demonstrating the decrease of the maximum spring flood water flows, the increase in the low level season water volumes, the leveling of the water flow volumes throughout the year and lower variance of the yearly water resource fluctuations. The duration of the spring floods and the summer-fall low water periods is increasing, but the flood maximums occur later (by 15-20 days), and the summer-fall low water periods start 15-25 days earlier compared to the previous century. The snow-related spring floods show anomalous patterns in terms of time of onset, duration, and height and shape of the flood wave. Autumn floods are episodic. The small rivers are showing signs of degradation, some of them are disappearing altogether. This is one of the reasons of the water resources depletion and the shift towards the earlier occurrence of the yearly low water level extremums. The low water flows and volumes of the current century pose risks for resource utilization.
Modern hydrological changes in the Don River basin, caused by economic activities in the watersheds and climatic factors, and their consequences
Authors: Dolgov S V , Koronkevich N I , Barabanova E A , Zaitseva I S 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
An assessment of the current hydrological changes in the Don River basin, the largest river in Russia located in the forest-steppe and steppe zones, is given on the basis of the geographic-hydrological method. Particular attention is paid to identifying the hydrological role of economic activity in catchments on the background of ongoing climatic changes. The contribution of flow from various lands to the spring surface slope runoff was determined. The anthropogenic and climatic changes of the surface slope runoff and infiltration into the soil on arable lands, as well as river runoff, its surface and underground components are calculated. It was found that due to the increase in air temperature, a significant reduction in the river runoff surface component and an increase in its underground component has become a characteristic feature of the river flow formation. It is shown that hydrological changes in the Don River basin have ambiguous after effects and along with negative there are also take place positive consequences. The identified hydrological changes are of a sustainable nature, and it is advisable to take them into account when predicting the state of water resources in the near future.
Assessment of comfort potential and prospects for environmental development of cities in steppe Russia using the index method
Authors: Dubrovskaya S A , Ryakhov R V 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
The paper describes the results of comfort potential assessment and prospects for development of urbanized geosystems in steppe Russia on the basis of constructed geoinformation index assessing potential for development of environmental comfort (CDPI). The index was calculated on various areas for technogenic geosystems, and the total area was represented by individual functional structures. The index was constructed as the ratio of existing and planned natural-anthropogenic components to the areas suitable for the expansion of green zones. For the first time, cartographic models were built, showing the spatial differentiation of urbanized geosystems. Index values, obtained for the studied objects (Simferopol and Rostov-on-Don), differ depending on planning structure development and topography of anthropogenic landscape. The index comfort indicators for the studied cities of Simferopol and Rostov-on-Don were characterized mainly by negative values. The highest index values were associated with urban areas in redevelopments of floodplain and terrace complexes, and also with small areas dispersed across local draw terraces.
Main regularities of changes in the river Ural run-off in relation to the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors (on the example of the upstream flow)
Authors: Gareev A , Baryshev V , Gainanshin M 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
The article provides research findings on the spatial-temporal variability of water resources in the river Ural basin within the boundaries of the Republic of Bashkortostan. The multiannual characteristics of changes in the river runoff are reflected with the identifying of low-flow and high-flow phases. It is established that the decreasing river runoff observed during the recent years is accounted for by the cyclical fluctuations in hydrometeorological conditions of the river basins coupled with the consequences of climate changes. The main trends in the changes of the annual, maximum and minimum runoff in relation to the impact of natural and anthropogenic factors are identified.
Spatial and temporal correlation between severe droughts and extreme low flow on rivers in the Russian Plain
Authors: Georgiadi A G , Borodin O O , Milyukova I P 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Extreme low flow on rivers (when water flow was less than or equal to the value of 75 and 90% exceedance probability), observed in years with severe meteorological and agricultural droughts in the Russian Plain (1972, 1975, 1981, 1995, 1998, 1999, and 2010) were studied. In 1972 and 1975, the exceptional low flow was recorded in the largest area, including the basins of the largest rivers (the Volga, Don, and Dnieper) and even the outlet, as well as in their tributaries. One of the heaviest droughts (2010) accompanied the abnormally low flow only in the Lower Volga and its tributaries in the eastern part of its basin. In other years with severe meteorological and agricultural droughts, their occurrence areas in the Russian Plain were much less. In 1975, extreme low flow was recorded in the rivers of the Volga, Don, and Dnieper basins in the main hydrological seasons (during summer – autumn low-water season and snow-melt flood), as well as all the year round, including their outlet (in their lower reaches in the general case and in the middle reaches in the case of the Dnieper). However, in these seasons in 1972, extreme low flow was recorded in rivers in the basins of the Don and Dnieper (while in the Volga, it took place only during summer – autumn low-water season), and in 2010, it formed only in the Volga basin. Abnormally low flow in years with severe droughts were recorded mostly in rivers of the forest – steppe and steppe zones, as well as the southern part of the forest zone.
Analysis of the reclamation measures efficiency within watershed and their impact on the water bodies
Authors: Glazunova I V , Karpenko N P 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
The results of the detailed analysis of reclamation measures to improve the quality of water and land resources in the territory of the Sheshma River basin in Tatarstan are given in the paper. The classification of factors affecting the pollution of diffusive runoff coming from agricultural land, as well as measures to reduce water pollution and classification of methods to prevent water pollution of runoff coming from the reclaimed land and rural areas are developed. All methods on water and land quality improvement in the catchment area of the river are divided into 5 groups according to main issues and localization. The efficiency of the above groups of reclamation measures are determined on the base of water management balances including maximum pollution coefficients estimation. The analysis was carried out and the factors influencing the efficiency of the recommended measures on water and land detoxification were recommended. The factors that have the greatest impact on the efficiency of the recommended measures are: the degree of erosion of land resources in the catchment area, reclamation modes, the availability of drainage, the quality of irrigation and drainage waters. Some recommended ranges the recommended measures application are given takin into account hydrogen indicator, texture on soil, drainage flow salinity, contamination of surface runoff from agricultural lands with heavy metals, pesticides, etc..
Resource characteristics of post-agrogenic chernozems in multiple-aged fallow lands of the Belgorod Region
Authors: Goleusov P , Malyshev A 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
As a result of anthropogenic degradation, chernozems often lose their ability to provide an economically acceptable crop and, therefore, are removed from use, passing into a state of fallow. In this state, a certain restoration of the resource characteristics of chernozems is possible, but this process should be investigated using an extensive empirical base. The purpose of this work was the accumulation and primary analysis of data on the natural reproduction of forest-steppe chernozems. The authors have studied the structure and properties of regenerative (post-agrogenic) soils of abandoned arable land in the Belgorod Region which were taken out of use due to severe erosion degradation. For comparison, we have examined the arable soils located in the same agricultural landscapes. Depending on the abandoning age, the soils are characterized by different degrees of recovery in terms of humus horizon’s morphological structure and agrochemical properties. The most obvious regenerative feature of bedding rocks is the thickness of a newly formed humus horizon. For 30 years of recovery, it is 12 – 14 cm and can reach 18 cm in the 80-year-old fallow soils. Post-agrogenic soils demonstrate an accumulation of carbon and nitrogen as well as restoration of soil absorbing complex. The soil organic matter in the recent fallow lands is characterized by a narrower C/N ratio as compared to the middle-aged fallow soils. As compared to arable soils, post-agrogenic soils have less acidic solutions reaction. An intensity degree of progressive changes in post-agrogenic soils tends to decrease with age, which is an indicator of a slowdown in their recovery.
Newly formed soils of the sugar industry treatment facilities and invasion of Acer Negundo (Chernozem zone of Russia)
Authors: Gracheva R G , Zamotaev I V , Belonovskaya E A , Konoplianikova Yu V , Dobryanskiy A S 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Sugar production generates a lot of wastewaters which are discharged into extensive treatment facilities. For the first time, soils and vegetation formed at the treatment facilities of the sugar industry in the Chernozem zone of Russia (Lgov sugar mill, Kursk region) were studied. Depending on the topography and activity/inactivity settling ponds Gleysols, Gleyic Cambisols, Eutric Cambisols and Technosols (Alkalic) were developed. Newly formed soils are alkaline, enriched with organic carbon and carbonates, and differ significantly from the background soils. In a wide variety of moisture conditions and soil properties, invasive Acer Negundo is widespread demonstrating a high degree of ecological plasticity. Newly formed landscapes, which are reservoirs of organic carbon and receive a huge microbial pool from wastewater, have become an integral part of the sugar industry environment.
Scientific bases of principles estimating a state of the vegetation cover in steppe agrocenoses using innovative methods of smart agriculture
Authors: Gulyanov Yu A 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe study’s main target is to actualize notions about spatial heterogeneity of steppe agrocenoses in conditions of the current climatic and anthropogenic changes, scientific grounds of instrumental methods estimating a state of the vegetation cover, and to identify optimal phytometric parameters of high productive agrocenoces of crops. Industrial winter wheat plantings and demonstrative seeds of spring wheat, sunflower, barley, maize, soya, winter rye, and winter wheat on the chernozem in Orenburgskaya oblast were objects of the study. High technological agrocenoses of spring wheat on chernozem in Samarskaya oblast and winter wheat on dark-chestnut soils in Saratovskaya and Volgogradskaya oblasts were used in the research. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) of crops was measured by a portable device-Green Seeker Handheld Crop Sensor, Model HCS – 100. The assimilating area of plants was estimated by the gravimetric method. Generally accepted practices of the statistical analysis were used in the processing of digital material. As a result of the study, spatial differences in the vegetation cover state of field agrocenoses were detailed by its instrumental examination. It was ascertained that the vegetation cover’s heterogeneity began to show at the start of vegetation and did not level itself. In the following stages, we could see that proved reasonability to examine plantings instrumentally starting from the early stages when the technical correction was possible. Detection of optimal phytometic parameters of agrocenoses of different types of crops in regions of the steppe zone in the European part of Russia by NDVI evaluation on stages of plant development in zonal climatic and soil conditions under high levels of agro technologies was offered to estimate a state of the current plantings and to make technological solutions correcting the course of vegetation.
Dynamics of the main climatic indicators in the Trans-Ural steppe
Authors: Kamalova R G , Suleimanov R R , Zaikin S V , Fatkhutdinova I Sh 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
The paper deals with the impact of climate change on the environment and natural processes in the Trans-Ural steppe zone within the Republic of Bashkortostan. Grade changes in climatic conditions were based on climatology in the traditional trend-analysis of fixed temperature and humidity parameters, application parameters hydrothermal: moisturizing factor GN Vysotsky-N.N. Ivanov, atmospheric moisture index (or dryness index) D.A. Pedia for the period from 1966 to 2015. Long-term observations of the network of meteorological stations were used as data for the analysis. Trends in the increase in air temperature with a slight decrease in the amount of atmospheric precipitation were found. A comprehensive analysis of indicators of heat supply and moisture supply indicates an increase in climate aridity, especially in summer; in winter, the severity of the climate decreases. The revealed tendencies of the main climatic indicators will influence the nature of natural processes in the steppe zone of the Bashkir Trans-Urals. In particular, examples of the influence of changes in climatic conditions on soil erosion processes are considered. It was found that climate changes and the existing system of farming in the steppe zone of the Trans-Urals lead to a decrease in soil resistance to air and water erosion.
Rare species of natural steppe flora – on prospects for their conservation in Samara region in situ and ex situ
Authors: Kavelenova L M , Kuzovenko O A , Ruzaeva I V , Rozno S A , Pomogaybin A V , Fedoseev V A , Yankov N V 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
The virgin steppes survived only in inappropriate for plowing places or in natural reserves are valuable natural heritage due to significant number of world’s flora protected species. This article is devoted to comparison of passive and active measures of biological diversity preservation for regional flora rarities. A spatial analysis in the Arc View GIS3.2 system was used for distribution study of protected areas and rare plant species according to the municipal districts of Samara region. The results of the Botanical Garden activities native flora preservation are given using data of its flora department and 2011-2020 delectuses. The number of higher plants species included in regional Red Data Book found in municipal districts varies from 23 to 115, whereas protected areas percentage there does not reach 5%, only in two slightly exceeds it. The natural monuments have low efficiency as natural reserves for highly fragmented steppe ecosystems. The passive measures for the biodiversity conservation need to be supplemented by active ones. Over 10 years, the Botanical Garden of Samara University provides ex situ conservation for 39 flowering plants species included in regional Red Book as permanent populations. The fund of ex situ plants is successfully used for reintroduction.
The historical and present-day forest amelioration in the Northern Pre-Caspian Region
Authors: Kulik K N , Kulik K D 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
The sandy lands of the Northern Caspian Sea region are a vulnerable natural landscape. Intensification of anthropogenic pressure leads to the soil cover degradation. The first mass plantations in the Caspian lowland began in the mid-19th century. However, due to the lack of knowledge about the reclamation conditions the results were unsatisfactory. Progress was made only at the end of the 19th century. In some parts of the sands (Tugai-Khuduk) individual trees have survived up to the present day. The work of forest-meliorators in the Soviet period fixed more than 200 thousand hectares of sands in the region, and also to create more than 50 thousand hectares of deflation-resistant shrub pastures. Forest is an azonal form of vegetation for this area. Based on the data obtained on water consumption by trees and shrubs, we gave an assessment of grazing protective forest strips, tree “umbrellas”, farm and reclamation forage plantations, conservation forest bioregions, boundary forest strips and sand-fortified plantations. They perform various functions. Unvegetated sands have the ability to store a freshwater lens that is no longer fed at the overgrown areas due to evaporation and transpiration costs. One hectare of open sands in the Caspian Sea can accumulate 1000-1500 m3 of water per year. The whole complex of forest-reclamation plantations on pastures in Astrakhan region occupies an area of 151 thousand hectares. Financially supported reforestation programs should be adopted at regional and possibly federal level, due to the importance of planting in many spheres of life in the area.
Rare cenoflora formation patterns in the Cis-Urals steppe communities
Authors: Lebedeva M V , Yamalov S M , Petrova M V 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
The Urals and its adjacent areas are an important botanical and geographical boundary in the distribution of the steppe vegetation of Eurasia. In the Southern Cis-Urals, the steppes belong to ecosystems of high degree of transformation as a result of plowing, pasture and recreational use. To assess the environmental significance and rational use of preserved areas, one of the important criteria is the growth of rare and protection-needed species, relics and endemics. The aim of the study is to identify the rare component of cenoflora in the Southern Cis-Urals steppe, the confluence of its species with the main types of steppe communities and characterize the patterns of their distribution based on quantitative indicators (activity index). The studied communities include 103 rare and species in need of protection, relicts and endemics that make up 15.4% of the all coenoflora. Among them 19 species included in the Red List of the Russian Federation and also 50 species included in the regional Red Lists. We found also 16 endemic species pertaining mainly to rocky and steppe endemics. Relic flora contains 39 species with predominance of Holocene relicts (25 species) and Pleystocene relicts (11 species). The analysis of cenoflora allowed to reveal features of distribution of rare species on the different rank syntaxa communities characterizing various types of habitats. The obtained data confirm the high nature protection importance for these communities and can form a basis for the complex strategy of protection and management of these communities.
Evolution of scientific views at factors of chernozem soil formation and development
Authors: Levykin S V , Grosheva O A , Kazachkov G V 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Based on the comparative-historical method, we considered scientific theories about factors of chernozem formation (soil-forming material, relief, climate, vegetation and animal life, time, human) in the paper, their interrelated impact on the formation and evolution of steppe soils reflected in works of F.I. Ruprecht, V.V. Dokuchaev, P.S. Kossovich, S.S. Nestruev, P.A. Kostychev, V.R. Williams, H. Jenny, S.A. Waksman, and other researchers. Taking into account ecosystem significance in the functioning of the steppe landscapes and the high degree of agricultural development of chernozem soils, intensification of degraded processes, a necessity of understanding of the real influence of natural and anthropogenic factors on chernozem evolution is urgent as it serves a basis for the design of ways of steppe soils restoration. Therefore, in the scientific community, an interest was arisen to solve Dokuchaev and Jenny’s equations identifying the functional relation between earth and soil formation factors. At the degree of accumulation of informational data on chernozem changeability in time and space, it has emerged conditions to develop approaches contradicting soil degradation processes.
The current natural-anthropogenic threats to the steppe landscape stability
Authors: Levykin S V , Chibilev A A , Gulyanov Yu A , Kazachkov G V , Yakovlev I G 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
The article is devoted to estimating the current ecological-geographical situation in Russia and North Eurasia’s steppe zone connected with global natural-anthropogenic changes. Results of several scientific branches, first of all, domestic steppe sciences, were generalized. Historical, agroecological, and climatic factors that could be identified as challenges to stable steppe nature management are considered. Interpretation of the new epoch in the steppe history called “agrocen” was paid considerable attention. Novel management scenarios for the society’s feedback on the challenge were offered.