Eurasian Steppes. Ecological Problems and Livelihoods in a Changing World

ISBN-13: 9789400738850 / Angielski / Twarda / 2012 / 568 str.

Marinus J. a. Werger; Marja A. Van Staalduinen

Opis

Steppes form one of the largest biomes. Drastic changes in steppe ecology, land use and livelihoods came with the emergence, and again with the collapse, of communist states. Excessive ploughing and vast influx of people into the steppe zone led to a strong decline in nomadic pastoralism in the Soviet Union and China and in severely degraded steppe ecosystems. In Mongolia nomadic pastoralism persisted, but steppes degraded because of strongly increased livestock loads. After the Soviet collapse steppes regenerated on huge tracts of fallow land. Presently, new, restorative steppe land management schemes are applied. On top of all these changes come strong effects of climate change in the northern part of the steppe zone. This book gives an up-to-date overview of changes in ecology, climate and use of the entire Eurasian steppe area and their effects on livelihoods of steppe people. It integrates knowledge that so far was available only in a spectrum of locally used languages.

Recenzje

"This is a well compiled, readable book with a wealth of information. ... Having brought all these researchers from the numerous countries together in one volume, this can certainly be a major step towards a more consistent and integrated approach in the future. The presentation is very pleasant, with many coloured photos and maps, well-structured tables and diagrams." (Jürgen Dengler, Bulletin of the European Dry Grassland Group, Issue 21, December, 2013)

"Part of the Springer Plant and Vegetation series, this volume covers one of the largest biomes in the world. ... the book is part of a series on vegetation, and certainly the field botanist or environmental scientist concerned with these steppe eco-systems or interested in their conservation will find a wealth of rich material. ... The bibliography thus represents an important and useful resource for regional studies on this biome." (Sarah Robinson, Pastoralism, Vol. 3, 2013)

Spis treści

Preface

 

Authors and Affiliations

 

Part 1:  Steppe Regions

 

1. Abiotic and biotic determinants of Steppe Productivity and Performance – a view from Central Asia

K Wesche, J Treiber

 

2. The Steppe Biome in Russia: Ecosystem Services, Conservation Status, and Actual Challenges

IE Smelansky, AA Tishkov

 

3. Steppes of Kazakhstan: Diversity and present State
EI Rachkovskaya, TM Braginа 

 

4. The Central Anatolian Steppe

H Kürschner, G Parolly

 

5. Ukrainian Steppes in the past, at present and in the future

I Korotchenko, M Peregrym

 

6. Cessation of Traditional Management reduces the Diversity of Steppe-like Grasslands in Romania through litter accumulation

E Ruprecht

 

7. Past trends, present state and future prospects of Hungarian Forest-Steppes

Zs Molnár, M Biró, S Bartha, G Fekete

 

8. The dry Grasslands in Slovakia: history, classification and management
D Dúbravková, M Hajnalová

 

9. Iberian steppes

H Sainz Ollero, MA van Staalduinen

 

 

Part 2: Degradation

 

10. Pastoral Degradation of Steppe ecosystems in Central Mongolia

SN Bazha, PD Gunin, EV Danzhalova, YuI Drobyshev, AV Prishcepa

 

11. Plant Functional Types across Dune Fixation Stages in the Chinese Steppe zone and their applicability for Restoration of the Desertified Land

M Dong, J Qiao, X Ye, G Liu, Y Chu

 

12. Population Dynamics of a Key Steppe Species in a Changing World:  the critically endangered Saiga Antelope

VM Neronov, AA Lushchekina, TYu Karimova, NYu Arylova

 

13. The Przewalski’s horse and its reintroduction in the steppe of Hustai National Park, Mongolia

P Wit, N Bandi, I Bouman, MA van Staalduinen

 

 

Part 3: Climate Change

 

14. Transformation of Steppe communities of Yakutia due to Climatic Change and Anthropogenic Impact

EI Troeva, MM Cherosov

 

15. Influence of Climate Change on Vegetation and Wildlife in the Daurian eco-region 

VE Kirilyuk, VA Obyazov, TE Tkachuk, OK Kirilyuk

 

16. Changes in the southern Siberian Forest-Steppes

IB Vorobyeva

 

17. Effects of Climate Warming and Vegetation cover on Permafrost of Mongolia

N Sharkhuu, A Sharkhuu

 

 

Part 4: Livelihoods

18. Degradation and Management of Steppes in China

X Cui, K Guo, Y Hao, Z Chen

 

19. Land Use Modernization and Agrarian and Conservation prospects in the Russian Steppe

SV Levykin, AA Chibilyov, GV Kazachkov

20. Rethinking Pastoral Risk Management in Mongolia

S Baas, S Tessitore, T Jelley

 

21. Mongolian Nomads and Climate Change  – a herder’s view

Ts Sanjmyatav.

Blurb

Steppes form one of the largest biomes on earth. Ecological changes came slowly, and nomadic pastoralism long predominated in the steppes. As from the mid-18^th century the rate of change increased, and drastic changes in steppe ecology, land use and livelihoods in the steppe came with the emergence, and again with the collapse, of communist states. Excessive ploughing and vast influx of people led to a strong decline in nomadic pastoralism in the Soviet Union and China and resulted in severely degraded steppe ecosystems. After the collapse of the Soviet Union huge tracts of ploughed land became fallow and steppe ecosystems regenerated. In Mongolia nomadic pastoralism persisted, but steppes degraded because of strong increases in livestock loads. Presently, new, restorative land management schemes are developed and applied. On top of all these changes in steppe land use come the effects of climate change, which are strong in the northern zone of the steppe region.

This book reviews the ecology of steppe ecosystems in the entire Eurasian area, discusses the effects of climatic changes and land use policies that are playing important roles in these steppes, and shows how the livelihoods of people in the steppe zone are affected. It provides, in English, an extensive and up-to-date overview of steppe status and steppe problems in all of Eurasia, based on the experience of many specialists, and it integrates extensive data sources that so far were only available in a spectrum of locally used languages.