Vegetation Dynamics of Mongolia

ISBN-13: 9789048151745 / Angielski / Miękka / 2011 / 240 str.

P. D. Gunin; Elizabeth A. Vostokova; Nadezhda I. Dorofeyuk

Opis

Mongolia is an expansive land-locked country, tilted by tectonic forces to the North, that experiences extremes of continental climate. Moisture-carrying wind currents are scarce so that the land has extended highs and lows in its environment. Culturally the people are mostly nomadic, having been sustained for centuries by an economy based on domestic livestock grazing. There is a saying that, As the noses go, so goes Mongolia', referring to the domesticated grazing noses of sheep, goats, camels, yaks or horses, and wild ungulates such as gazelles. The vast fenceless steppes of Mongolia furnish the vegetation for grazing. With such extremes in climate it is clear that the vegetation must be resilient and dynamic to cope with the dictates of its extremely harsh environments.
Pollen profiles from lakes, plant macrofossils and other data over the last 15,000 years show the dynamic nature of Mongolian vegetation. Currently Mongolian society is experiencing much human-driven economic development which increases pressure on its vegetation. The Great Khural Laws of 1995 forcefully addressed such environmental concerns with the expanded establishment of National Reserves and Parks. But continued effort and vigilance must be expended to insure that Mongolian society will continue to be sustained by its vegetation. This book highlights work such as conserving and restoring plant diversity in various ecosystems and makes recommendations for sustaining the vegetation basis of the nomadic Mongolian society.

Recenzje

`...clearly an important and significant work... should provide a stimulus for further work on Mongolian vegetation across all timescales. It is required reading for anyone contemplating work in the region.'
The Holocene, 10 (2000)

Spis treści

Introduction to Studies on the Vegetation of Mongolia. Natural and Anthropogenic Factors and the Dynamics of Vegetation Distribution in Mongolia. 1.1. Introduction. 1.2. Natural Features of Mongolia. 1.3. Landscape-Ecological Regions. 1.4. Landscape and Ecological Factors of Vegetation Dynamics. 1.5. Conclusion. Late Quaternary Vegetation History of Mongolia. 2.1. Introduction. 2.2. An Overview of Previous Studies. 2.3. Data Used in this Study. 2.4. Regional Pollen Records from Individual Sites. 2.5. Holocene Changes in the Distribution of Tree and Shrub Taxa in Mongolia. 2.6. Spatial Reconstruction and Mapping of Mongolian Vegetation during the Last 15,000 Years. 2.7. General Discussion and Conclusions. Assessing Present-Day Plant Cover Dynamics. 3.1. Introduction. Modern Methods for Studying and Monitoring Plant Cover. 3.2. Mountain Plant Community Dynamics. 3.3. Plant Community Dynamics in Plains and Rocky Areas. 3.4. Dynamics of Water-Associated Vegetation. 3.5. Conclusions. Analysis of Present-Day Vegetation Dynamics. 4.1. Basic Changes in Vegetation. 4.2. Regressive Plant Community Successions. 4.3. Progressive Plant Community Regeneration. 4.4. Mapping Vegetation Dynamics. 4.5. Conclusions. Strategies for Nature Management and Vegetation Conservation. 5.1. Introduction. Methods for Vegetation Conservation. 5.2. Restoration and Conservation of Botanical Successions. 5.3. Systems for the Conservation of Botanical Diversity. 5.4. Conclusions. Summary Conclusions and Recommendations. References. Appendix 1. Appendix 2. Index.