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1

Effect of Soil Moisture on the Epigeic Arthropods Diversity in Steppe Landscape

100%

Kirichenko-Babko M. , Danko Y. , Franus M. , Stępniewski W.

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tom Vol. 21, nr 5

137--147

EN

The consequences of global climate change are a decrease in precipitation as well as an increase in the length of the period with high temperatures from spring to autumn. The climate change intensified the negative consequences of land reclamation and regulation of rivers by dams in Ukraine in the 20th century. The modern landscape of the Circum-Pontic and Circum-Azov regions in Ukraine has undergone desertification, and a multiple reduction in the freshwater runoff has manifested itself in a violation of the water balance of soils and their salinization. In addition to the climate change and anthropic landscape transformations, most upland areas in southern Ukraine have been converted into farmland, systematically fertilized and treated with pesticides and herbicides. Total plowing of the territory also led to soil erosion and degradation. The global climate change and the impact of human activity have affected the diversity of the steppe fauna as well. The questions of the influence of soil humidity on the diversity of epigeic arthropods were considered on the example of ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae). Soil moisture is one of the key factors that determines their diversity.

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Water- and N-induced changes in soil C:N:P stoichiometry and its implications for N limitation of a desert steppe species, Glycyrrhiza uralensis

72%

Huang J. , Yu H. , Zhang F. , Li M. , Lin H.

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nr 2

EN

Changes in precipitation patterns and the deposition of atmospheric nitrogen (N) increase the possibility of altering soil carbon (C):N:phosphorus (P) stoichiometry through their effects on soil C and nutrient dynamics, especially in water- and N-limited ecosystems. We conducted separate 2-year watering and N addition experiments, and examined soil C:N:P stoichiometry, relative growth rate, and leaf N resorption traits of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch in a desert steppe of northwestern China. Our objectives were to determine how soil C:N:P stoichiometry responded to climate change, and its indications for plant growth and N resorption. The results showed that additional water increased N loss and thus decreased N availability, resulting in high N resorption from senescing leaves of G. uralensis. N addition increased N availability, consequently reducing plant N dependence on leaf resorption. High relative growth rates occurred with intermediate N:P and C:N ratios, while high N resorption occurred with a low N:P ratio but a high C:N ratio. Our results indicate that soil C:N:P stoichiometry also could be a good indicator of N limitation for desert steppe species. Altered soil C:N:P stoichiometry affects the N strategy of plants, and will be expected to further influence the structure and function of the desert steppe community in the near future.

3

Impact of the invasive species Elaeagnus angustifolia L. on vegetation in Pontic desert steppe zone [Southern Ukraine]

72%

Sudnik-Wojcikowska B. , Moysiyenko I. , Slim P. A. , Moraczewski I. R.

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nr 2

269-281

EN

The Irano-Turanian species – Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia L.) – is one of most commonly planted tree in the shelterbelts in southern Ukraine. The consequences of introduction of the species from windbreaks, into areas of different land use in west and central Pontic desert steppe zone are evaluated. The above steppe is unique on a European scale and exists only in some parts of the Black and Azovian Sea coasts. In recent years, the socio-economical crisis in Ukraine (less intensively cultivation, as well as limited grazing) has been responsible for the intensification of the spread of alien tree species outside the windbreaks. Studies were conducted in Kherson Region, in the immediate vicinity of the Black Sea Biosphere Reserve, where the presence of aliens is undesirable. The analysis of phytosociological material (48 relevés with and without Russian olive) collected from areas of different land use type and limited human pressure (as abandoned field, former intensively grazed solonetz and extensively grazed desert steppe vegetation) show that E. angustifolia can impede the regeneration of the desert steppe. The species creates favourable conditions for the growth of geographically and ecologically alien nithrophilous weeds.

4

The Buryat-Mongols’ Way of Being and Their National Image of the World

72%

Boldonova I.

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nr 5

EN

The Buryat-Mongols’ Way of Being and Their National Image of the WorldThe article focuses on the comparison of two main concepts in the national image of the world of the Buryat-Mongols as it applies to their way of being: the Man of the Steppes and the Man of Water and the Woods. The research is based on the theory of the well-known Russian scholar Georgiĭ Gachev, who connects types of landscape and natural environment to national images of the world. Dwelling around Lake Baikal on the one hand, and at flat steppe territories on the other hand is reflected in two alternative ways of living, as well as images of world and forms of imagination. The author of the article analyzes the two variants of identity, which have always been under the influence of certain geographical and climate factors, economic activities, as well as cultural and historic traditions of various Buryat-Mongol ethnic subgroups. Buriacko-mongolska droga życia i narodowy obraz świataArtykuł jest poświęcony komparatystycznej analizie dwóch podstawowych konceptów (hipostaz) buriacko-mongolskiego narodowego obrazu świata: człowiekowi stepów i człowiekowi wody i lasu. Analiza opiera się na teorii znanego rosyjskiego badacza Gieorgija Gaczewa, który postuluje istnienie wzajemnego oddziaływania między obrazami natury i narodowym obrazem świata. Życie wokół jeziora Bajkał z jednej strony i praca w bezkresnym stepie z drugiej znajdują wyraz w tych dwóch podstawowych formach istnienia, światopoglądach i formach wyobraźni. Autorka artykułu analizuje te dwie odmiany tożsamości, które podlegają wpływowi ze strony określonych czynników geograficznych i klimatycznych, aktywności ekonomicznej oraz historyczno-kulturowej tradycji różnych buriacko-mongolskich podgrup etnicznych.

5

Diet selection of the southern vizcacha (Lagidium viscacia): a rock specialist in north western Patagonian steppe, Argentina

58%

Galende G. I. , Raffaele E.

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nr 4

EN

The southern vizcacha (Lagidium viscacia) is a rock specialist that inhabits small colonies in isolated rocky outcrops of northwestern Patagonia. This study analyzes its diet selection in relation to food availability, establishes the degree of dietary specialization, and discusses the potential competition with exotic herbivores. Diet composition and food availability were determined in summer and winter in eight rocky outcrops by microhistological analysis of fecal pellets, and food availability was estimated by the Braun Blanquet cover abundance scale. Vegetation cover differences were detected by using a random analysis of variance (ANOVA) factorial block design, and dietary preferences were determined by the confidence interval of Bonferroni. The southern vizcacha showed a specialized feeding behavior despite the consumption of a wide variety of items. Their diet was concentrated on a few types of food, mainly grasses, and the trophic niche was narrow and without seasonal variations. In winter, when food was scarce and of lower quality than summer, diet was dominated by Stipa speciosa, suggesting a selection according to the selective quality hypothesis. Our results (narrow trophic niche, restricted activity near rocky outcrops, and a diet with high proportions of low-quality grasses) showed that the vizcacha is an obligatory dietary specialist, and these characteristics made it highly vulnerable to changes in food availability. In this scenario, overgrazing caused by alien species with similar diets, as the European hare and livestock, could negatively affect their colonies.

6

Dynamics of sandy desertification and detection of sandy land-steppe boundary: vegetation and soil properties

58%

Xu D. , Xu X. , Xie Y. , Wang K.

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nr 2

EN

Desertification is one of the most serious environmental problems on a global scale. China suffers from desertification over large areas. Landscape boundaries profoundly influence the structure and function of landscapes, and influence ecological processes both locally and over large scales. Data on soil properties and vegetation collected on three 110 km parallel transects across sandy land-steppe transition zone in Yanchi county, Ningxia region, northwestern China, were used to analyze changes along the sandy land/steppe boundary by using the Moving Split Window (MSW), to determine desertification dynamics, and to explore changes of vegetation and soil properties among different desertification degree. Combining the dissimilarity profiles of soil particle size with importance value (IV) of vegetation, four boundaries were detected along transects. According to the four boundaries, we divided the whole sandy land/steppe ecotone area into five desertification categories: potential desertification (PD), light desertification (LD), medium desertification (MD), severe desertification (SD) and extreme desertification (ED). Sand fractions increased, while silt and clay fractions, soil organic C, total N and available N decreased and exhibited clear gradient changes from the potential desertification land to the extreme desertification land. All areas we studied have been desertificated at different degree based upon soil particle compositions at different depths. With the aggravation of sandy desertification, the steppe species dominating in the potential desertification land gradually gave place to arid and sand tolerant perennials and therophytes and eventually to psammophyte annuals and shrubs in the extreme desertification land.