Vol 7, No 4 (2017)

Based on a global spatial mathematical model of the global carbon cycle in the biosphere, the change in environmental parameters caused by carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion, deforestation, and erosion in African countries are calculated. The impact of deforestation and soil erosion due to inappropriate land use on climate change for African countries is calculated up to 2060.

We continued our complex ecological studies in the Lower Volga region started in 2014–2015 (Kuz’mina et al., 2015a) in order to investigate the current state of floodplain terrestrial ecosystems in changing climate conditions (Kouzmina and Treshkin, 2014a) and during regulation of the river flow. We studied typical ecosystem changes in two of four geological and geomorphological regions: western substeppe ilmens and the central part of the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain, which had not been investigated earlier (Kuz’mina et al., 2015a). We estimated changes in ecosystems and the tendencies of landscape dynamics in current conditions.

Saline soils are widespread in the southern and central parts of Kazakhstan. In these arid areas, the annual precipitation is 100–150 mm, while the evaporation exceeds the precipitation. The soils in these areas are medium and highly saline. In the framework of this study, numerous cartographic materials pertaining to the saline soils of Kazakhstan and Central Asia have been reviewed and researched. Four soil–halo–geochemical salt accumulation provinces have been identified in Kazakhstan on the basis of generalization and analysis of the available materials. The provinces differ from each other by their genesis, composition, and salt transportation patterns. ArcMap software was used as the main tool for the analysis of the soil–halo–geochemical provinces and the production of a salt accumulation map of Kazakhstan. The research of the salt accumulation geochemistry in the soils, mineral rocks, and groundwaters, salt accumulation types, and patterns of soil migration in the biosphere are the basis for the assessment of regions with irrigation activities. Therefore, the research of the saline soils and salt accumulation processes is of high practical importance.

This article discusses the reclamation dynamics of vegetation cover and soils after the radical phytomelioration of Artemisia terrae-albae pastures communities on brown desert solonetzic soils of the northern part of Aral Sea region. The experiment was laid in the late 1970s. Agropyron desertorum was used to create the sowing pasture. Plowing led to the destruction of natural plant communities and soils. The low germination of Agropyron seeds promoted the spread of weedy annuals, which slow the demutation of natural vegetation for 10 years. At present, the development of the vegetation cover of the laylands has reached the late-succession stage, for which the spatial and synusial structure of zonal plant communities is typical. The soils are at the stage of reclamation of morphogenetic features and properties according to the type of desert soil formation.

Arid and semiarid regions are characterized by a unique floristic composition and structural diversity of their plant communities. The goal of the present study is to investigate the effect of physical and chemical properties of soil on these characteristics of the arid region of Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. With β diversity, the variability of a plant species composition has been studied at four sites (Alwaz, Alqan, Sharma, and Zetah) of the region. Two taxonomic diversity indices, average taxonomic distinctness (Δ+) and variation in taxonomic distinctness (Λ+), have been calculated, and the effect of the environmental situation and limitations of environmental conditions on these indices have been determined. The study represents the first stage of a study intended to evaluate the taxonomic diversity of plant communities of the arid region of the Arabian Peninsula and its connection with soil properties. According to the results, anthropogenic factors (woodcutting, pasture, and urbanization) significantly influence the floristic diversity. It is proposed that urgent strategies of nature conservation be developed to protect plant habitats and prevent their destructive changes.