The Vegetation and Dynamics of Agrosteppes in the European Part of Russia (Tula Region, Kulikovo Field)

Abstract

Restoration of disturbed ecosystems is an urgent scientific problem, the solution of which will allow preserving the biological diversity of Russian regions. During the restoration of steppe ecosystems on the territory of the Kulikovo field, various methods and approaches have been used over the past 20 years, which has made it possible to form agrosteppes of different ages. However, the diversity of their vegetation has not yet been assessed. The goal of this study was to identify the coenotic diversity of agrosteppes based on the ecological–phytocoenotic approach and to assess the directions of succession development of the selected associations. The authors carried out 96 geobotanical descriptions of the vegetation of agrosteppes, indicating the total projective cover for the grass layer and the projective cover (%) for each species. The ordination of descriptions was performed on the basis of a trendless DCA correspondence analysis using the PC-ORD program. To compare the identified associations, the indicator of species activity was determined. According to the results of the study, five associations of agrosteppe vegetation were identified. At the early stages of development of agrosteppes, communities of the Matricaria inodora + Artemisia absinthium association are formed, which are characterized by the dominance of taproot species. Densely tufted grasses grow in the communities of the Stipa spp. + Festuca valesiaca association. However, the low competitiveness of densely tufted grasses in the climate conditions of the northern forest–steppe contributes to the loss of fescue and its replacement by narrow-leaved bluegrass, which leads to the formation of the Stipa spp. + Poa angustifolia association. Wood reed is actively introduced into the communities of agrosteppes and increases its activity, which leads to the emergence of the Calamagrostis epigejos association. As agrosteppe communities develop, the activity of anthropogenic and some sown steppe species decreases, but an increase in the activity of meadow grasses in the selected associations is noted. This analysis indicates a low degree of preservation of “feather grass” associations and the formation of communities of steppe meadows.