A brief analysis of the flora of floodless forests of the middle flow of the Ural river within the West-Kazakhstan region

Abstract

Floodplain forests occupy an insignificant area, only 0.4% of the entire territory of our region and
play a soil- and water-protective role not only for our country, but also for the adjacent territory. These
forests are also an ecological barrier for reducing desertification processes. Therefore, constant monitoring of the vegetation cover of the Ural River basin is an important process. Since the floodplain of
the Ural River is a shelter for rare, endangered and endemic plants, the study of the laws governing
the formation of vegetation, the identification of its anthropogenic transformation, the development of
measures for rational use, the identification of rare and endangered species of plants and communities is
really relevant at the moment. This article gives a brief analysis of the Ural River middle reaches floodplain forests flora within one of the West Kazakhstan region`s district Akzhayik. The aim of the work
was to study forest floodplain communities` flora of the Ural River of the study area, its analysis, as well
as the identification of plant groups of economic importance. The material was the results of research
conducted in the period from 1994 to 2018. The object of the study was the Ural River middle reaches
floodplain forests flora in the zone of desert steppes. The study was conducted in 12 semi-stationary
sections on the right and left banks of the Ural River middle reaches in the territory of Akzhayik – one of
the West Kazakhstan region.
As a result of field studies in this region, 256 species of vascular plants belonging to 53 families and
150 genera were identified. The analysis showed the presence of 20 life forms and the predominance of
rod-root herbaceous polycarpics of long-rhizome polycarpics, as well as biennials among grassy monocarpics. The presence of a large number of monocarpics, both annual and biennial, indicates an increase
in anthropogenic impact on the study area.
In the flora, 8 ecological-phytocenotic groups were also noted. Meadow species are predominant
among 256 species – 105; 41%. Due to the groundwater level decrease and dry climate, mesophilic species in the amount of 31 were not found in 2009, 2011, 2016. The rich floristic composition of the studied floodplain forests made it possible to distinguish 11 economically valuable groups. The first place is
occupied by fodder plants – 66 species. In percentage terms, fodder plants account for 25.7%, medicinal
16.7%, melliferous 16%, technical 11.6%, poisonous 7%, dyeing and tannin 6%, essential oil 5%.
Thus, the studied unique landscape of the Caspian lowland needs constant monitoring in order
to preserve floodplain ecosystems, including measures for their restoration, artificial afforestation and
rational use.
Key words: flora, floodplain forests, ecosystem.