Home – Home – Jornals – Contemporary Problems of Ecology 2021 number 3

Vegetation survey of the three model sites was conducted on lime-stone plateau Emdy in Mangyshlak middle desert subzone on eastern shore of Kaspian sea (Western Kazakhstan). The main aim was to find indicator species in vegetation composition which reflect ancient anthropogenic influence about 1500 years ago. Model sites are situated in comparable ecological conditions and differ only by the type and time of the anthropogenic influence. One situated in area of the ancient settlement III-V centuries; second one was in the area of probable former agriculture and third one used as a control nearly without any anthropogenic influence. It was found that in plant community structure four main synusia could be determined. The most diverse synusia of the desert ephemeras contains 61 % of the plant species pool and may be considered as an indicator of former anthropogenic activity. There were no any specific plants connected with former agriculture on the second site. Considering this fact together with general ecological conditions of the site it was concluded that there were no any former agriculture on this site. It was shown that different ephemeral species react on such microhabitat characteristics as humidity, insolation, salinization and soil bioturbations. All ephemeral species could be divided on true and induced ephemera. Last group consists of widespread ruderal annual mesophytes ( Buglossoides arvensis и Descurainia sophia ). These species appeared in places of long and intense anthropogenic pressure and are able to persist in plant communities at least up to 1500 years after the end of the anthropogenic pressure.