Assessment of anthropogenic impact on the vegetation cover of the mountainous region of the Southern Urals (within Kazakhstan)
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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32523/2616-6771-2025-152-3-175-190Keywords:
technogenic impact, vegetation cover, Donskoy Mining and Processing Plant, ecological state, Southern UralsAbstract
In this study, the vegetation cover of the Southern Ural mountain region (within the territory of Kazakhstan) is described, and the main plant communities of the area are considered. Special attention is given to endemic, relict, and medicinal species, as well as to species listed in the Red Book. A vegetation map of the territory was compiled. In addition, the article examines the impact of the activities of the Don Mining and Processing Plant, located within the study area, on the ecological state of adjacent vegetation cover. Field research was carried out in the areas of the “Mirny” quarry and the dumps of the “Poiskovy” and “Yuzhny” quarries. Sample plots were established in order to analyze the composition of the flora, and the dominant plant species characterizing current biodiversity were identified. A comparative analysis of vegetation structure was conducted at distances of 500, 3000, and 5000 m from pollution sources. The analysis of results showed that technogenic impact affects not so much the species composition of the vegetation cover, but mainly its overall ecological and physiological state. The main indicators of degradation, reflecting the weakening of phytocenoses and stressful growth conditions, include changes in natural leaf coloration, drying of individual plant parts, reduction in total biomass, as well as the disruption of community structure. These degradation features were observed starting from 500 m from pollution sources, while the initial signs of renaturalization were recorded at distances of 1000–1200 m, the regrowth of disturbed areas was evident at 2000 m, and the increase in projective cover was noted from 2500 m. The results of the study were digitized and entered into a geodatabase, and a vegetation disturbance map was created for the study area, based on three gradations of disturbance levels. The compiled map of vegetation disturbance levels makes it possible to determine the degree of anthropogenic transformation of phytocenoses in the investigated territory.
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Copyright (c) 2025 A. Beketova, Ye. Mendybaev, G. Gataulina (Author)
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