The Desert Steppes of Eastern Europe: Common Regularities and Specific Features

Desert steppes are formed within the southern subzone of the steppe zone. Some researchers categorize this subzone not as a part of the steppe zone, but as a separate semi-desert zone. The aim of our research is to identify features of the structure of desert steppes and to understand the zonal status of the territory occupied by them. In Eastern Europe, desert steppes are common in the Ergeni Hills and the Caspian Lowland. Research was carried out by the route method. We made about 600 relevés 10 x 10 m2 in size. Plant communities of desert steppes consist of both firm-bunch grasses and dwarf semishrubs. Stipeta sareptanae is a zonal type with light chestnut soils. Communities of dwarf semishrubs (halophytic variations of steppes) grow onsaline soils and occupy quite large areas. A substantial part of the southern subzone of the steppe zone in Eastern Europe is used as pasture and hayfield: this is why modern desert steppes have been considerably modified, and dynamically unstable communities are often dominant. Keywords: desert steppes, zonal type, ecological variants, peculiarities, Ergeni Hills, Caspian Lowlan