Natural landscape. Forest-steppes and steppes

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:46

The forest-steppes and steppes of Eurasia are very diverse both in the composition of plantations and in the animal world. Further in the article we will analyze the main features of these territories.

Flora

What is the difference between forest-steppe and steppe? First of all, you should pay attention to the vegetation. Thus, forest-steppes are characterized by territories dominated by oak forests, "diluted" with ash and maple trees. To the west, hornbeam and beech are common. The West Siberian forest-steppes, which have a continental climate, are rich in birch groves with larches and pines. Trees like spruce do not grow there. In the forest zones, "gray" soils are predominantly distributed, and in the forb steppes, mainly chernozem. Usually drought-resistant grasses grow in the steppe. In order to protect the stem and leaves from dryness, some plants have a wax coating or they are covered with soft fluff. Others have narrow leaves that curl up during drought. Still others store moisture in fleshy stems and leaves. Many plants have very deep root systems. In spring, active flowering begins, and some species even bear fruit. The steppe is covered with a bright carpet of various perennials. Forall summer the vegetation is replaced as it blooms. From north to south, forbs are replaced by grass or fescue-feather grass culture, in the southernmost places - sagebrush.

Fauna

How do forest-steppes and steppes differ in the composition of the animal world? Each area is inhabited by certain species. So, in the forest-steppe, the peculiarity of the animal world is that the species inhabiting it are adapted to different localities. Squirrel, pine marten and dormouse are found in places with rich vegetation (trees, for example). A little less often you can see roe deer and elk there. Of the steppe animals, the most common are jerboas, ground squirrels, polecats, marmots, less commonly bustards and little bustards. River beaver and desman are inhabitants of water bodies. The fauna of the steppe area has been formed over a long time mainly from herbivores. A variety of rodents, birds that feed on insects and grains, as well as birds of prey and animals are common.

Influence of territory on animal habits

The behavior of steppe animals was significantly affected by life in open spaces with dry weather conditions and sudden temperature changes, seasonal lack of food and drying up of watering places. Animals have long adapted to such harsh conditions. For example, saiga antelopes have a well-developed fast run. Thanks to him, they are saved from the attacks of predatory animals. In addition, running helps them go long distances in search of water and food. Various rodents, of which there are a huge number in the steppes, are adapted to life in holes,used for reproduction and as a shelter from heat and cold. In addition, such dwellings are a good shelter for rodents from predators. Since there are almost no trees in the steppe, the birds build their nests right on the ground. Many animals hibernate when winter comes, this allows them to survive the cold and hunger. They do the same in severe drought. Basically, many birds fly to warmer climes for the winter. There are animals that are active in all seasons. They have to look for food both in winter and in summer. Such animals mainly include mice, foxes, hares, gray partridges, voles and wolves.

Steppes and forest-steppes of Russia

These territories are distributed in the central part of the country. Basically, in our time, the zone of forest-steppes and steppes has been mastered, and gardens and vegetable gardens are located on it. Various grain crops, corn, potatoes, hemp, sunflower are grown here. To the south of the forest-steppe zone there are areas not saturated with forests. Due to the fact that trees do not have enough food to grow, grasses and shrubs mainly grow in the steppes. Small groves can only be found near rivers or ravines saturated with groundwater. From the very lower reaches of the Danube, steppes begin and extend to the Southern Urals. If you look in the meridional direction, then the border separating the forest-steppes and steppes is practically invisible. In other words, the second continues the first. The steppes originate from the southern border of the forest-steppes and end in the foothills of the Greater Caucasus and the Crimean mountains.

Weatherconditions

The steppe area is characterized by a continental climate. The summer here is quite warm. The climate is one of the main differences between forest-steppe and steppe. In the warm season, the average temperature is +22 °C. On especially hot days it can be up to +40 ° С. Humidity is usually not more than 50%. The weather in the steppes is dry and sunny. If it rains, then most often it is a downpour, after which the water quickly evaporates. A lot of dust and drying up of the rivers entail winds in the steppes, which are quite frequent there. Although the winter is short, it cannot be called warm. In the cold season, the average temperature reaches -30 ° C on the thermometer. In the Black Sea region, snow lies no longer than two months, and in the Volga region for about five. The coldest and most severe winter is usually in the east of the country. Sometimes rivers even freeze. A frequent guest in those parts is a thaw, which inevitably entails ice. In spring, the rivers overflow widely, there is a flood. In the summer and autumn periods, floods often become the consequences of rains. Since the snow melts very quickly in the spring, this contributes to the erosion of the soil, due to which ravines form. During the year in the western part there is a high amount of precipitation, but not more than 500 mm. Closer to the southeast there is a decrease - up to 300 mm.

Conclusion

Considering the modern forest-steppe and steppe of Eurasia, the animals that inhabit them, one should not forget that these areas have long been cultivated, that is, plowed up. All impacts on the soil and harvesting have significantly affected the flora and faunaterritories.