Floristic composition of sand massifs in the western part of the Sub Ural plateau

Abstract

Currently, on the territory of Kazakhstan, one of the topical issues is the study of the current state of ecosystems. The aim of the study is a biomorphological, geographical and ecological analysis of the sand massifs flora in the western part of the Sub Ural plateau. 137 species of vascular plants belonging to 99 genera and 35 families were registered in the Karagash and Akkum sand massifs. Most of the flora (70; 50.4%) is occupied by species belonging to the Asteraceae, Poaceae, Fabaceae and Chenopodiaceae families. The predominant in the flora are rhizomatous species: Calamagrostis epigeios, Carex colchica, Helichrysum arenarium, Leymus racemosus, Scirpoides holoschoenus, etc. The presence of adventitious species in the flora indicates high anthropogenic pressure, unfavorable growing conditions and habitat disturbance. The predominance of xerophytes is associated with the adaptation of psammophytes and steppe species to growing in arid climates. The chorological analysis showed the predominance of the wide-ranging Eurasian and Ancient Mediterranean species. There is a need to protect meadow and psammophytic mixed-grass-stipa grass and juniper communities. They belong to plant species distribution area of which is currently being intensively reduced, so it is necessary to organize comprehensive measures to protect their growing environment. Information about the species composition of plants, their biological and ecological features, which in the future will become the basis for the organization of monitoring work, are of great practical importance.