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Ukrainian Steppes in the Past, at Present and in the Future

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Eurasian Steppes. Ecological Problems and Livelihoods in a Changing World

Part of the book series: Plant and Vegetation ((PAVE,volume 6))

Abstract

Steppe is a zonal vegetation type in Ukraine and is most likely of Holocene origin. We briefly review the main steppe communities of the Forest-Steppe and Steppe zones, in terms of their floristic composition and diversity, and their habitats.

Until the seventeenth century Ukrainian steppes were little inhabited and in a near natural state. Then new settlers immigrated and locally founded agrarian settlements which slowly increased in number and area. Grand-scale destruction of steppe ecosystems occurred in the Soviet era and about all plain steppes were tilled, even in a number of reserves. After the collapse of the Soviet Union agriculture in the steppe zone fell in decay and large areas became fallows on which steppe vegetation regenerated. Under full protection litter, organic matter and soil moisture increase in the steppe communities and species diversity declines. Grazing or mowing can prevent this, but may also cause other problems, just as too frequent fires. Fires and flower picking greatly reduce the populations of showy bulb plants.

Conservation had an early start in Ukraine but strongly decreased in the mid-twentieth century. Presently, Ukraine works on an ecological network of steppe reserves, but the program meets with several difficulties, for practical and policy reasons.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. M.G. Kholodny Institute of Botany, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine

    Iryna Korotchenko & Mykyta Peregrym

  2. O.V. Fomin Botanical Garden, National Taras Schevchenko University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine

    Mykyta Peregrym

Authors
  1. Iryna Korotchenko
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  2. Mykyta Peregrym
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Correspondence to Mykyta Peregrym .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Ecology & Biodiversity, Utrecht University, Padualaan, De Uithof 8, Utrecht, 3584 CH, Netherlands

    Marinus J.A. Werger

  2. , Ecology & Biodiversity, Utrecht University, Padualaan, De Uithof 8, Utrecht, 3584 CH, Netherlands

    Marja A. van Staalduinen

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Korotchenko, I., Peregrym, M. (2012). Ukrainian Steppes in the Past, at Present and in the Future. In: Werger, M., van Staalduinen, M. (eds) Eurasian Steppes. Ecological Problems and Livelihoods in a Changing World. Plant and Vegetation, vol 6. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-3886-7_5

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