The grassland is naturally replaced by woodland and forest under more humid
conditions and at higher elevations. In the transition zone a forest-steppe with a
structure similar to an African or Cuban savanna occurs. In dryer regions to the
South the steppe merges into semi-desert scrub. Steppe and forest-steppe together
occupy c. 45% of Kazakhstan (Rachkovskaya and Bragina 2012).
Precipitation rates range from 200 to 400 mm per year in average, with a little bit
higher monthly rainfall during summer. However, there is no real dry period over
the year.
Mean temperatures in January range from À10 to À20
C, the summer is warm or
hot with average temperatures between 20 and 25
C in July. Record low in Astana/
Nur-Sultan was À52
C, highest temperature was 42
C (DWD 2002). The temperatures can also fluctuate a lot between day and night. From time to time very high
wind speed can be measured.
Black and chestnut soils are dominated by different Stipa spp. and other grasses
preferably in the northern territories of Kazakhstan. Saline soils with high rates of
evapotranspiration and many halophytes (div. Chenopodiaceae) are widespread in
the depressions. Aeolian sand and loess cover most of the lowlands, paleozoic and
mesozoic rocks, screes and stony ground are the dominating substrates of the
mountain ranges.
7.2.1 Species and Habitat Type Diversity
The flora of Kazakhstan contains c. 6000 vascular plant species, the steppe flora
c. 2000 species (Abdulina 1999; Rachkovskaya and Bragina 2012).
Habitat types and species compositions differ in relation to climatic conditions
(e.g. precipitation rate), vertical zonation/altitude/slope, substrate/soil, impact of
humans (e.g. mowing), and wild and/or domestic grazing animals.
In the Kazakh steppe different habitat types such as forest steppe (light, humid),
meadow steppe (non-forested patches in the forest steppe zone), real steppe, semidesert steppe (dry) in the lowland or in the mountains, on aeolian sand or loess, stony
or rocky ground, and on saline soils can be distinguished (Rachkovskaya and
Bragina 2012). In N Kazakhstan the precipitation rate is normally higher and the
temperatures are lower than in the south, i.e., that also the time with a snow cover is
longer in the north than in the south. However, because of the higher humidity the
productivity in the north is higher than in southern regions of the country.
7.2.2 Anthropogenic Influences in the Past and Present
Alpine zones of the Tien Shan, Altai Mountains, and lowland steppe were traditionally used as pasture for domestic herbivors by nomadic people. Migrations span up
to 700 km in the semi-desert and steppe.
Because of the short vegetation period, cold and the high snow cover in the
northern parts and high mountain zones wild ungulates, livestock, nomadic people,
344
C. Hobohm et al.
conditions and at higher elevations. In the transition zone a forest-steppe with a
structure similar to an African or Cuban savanna occurs. In dryer regions to the
South the steppe merges into semi-desert scrub. Steppe and forest-steppe together
occupy c. 45% of Kazakhstan (Rachkovskaya and Bragina 2012).
Precipitation rates range from 200 to 400 mm per year in average, with a little bit
higher monthly rainfall during summer. However, there is no real dry period over
the year.
Mean temperatures in January range from À10 to À20
C, the summer is warm or
hot with average temperatures between 20 and 25
C in July. Record low in Astana/
Nur-Sultan was À52
C, highest temperature was 42
C (DWD 2002). The temperatures can also fluctuate a lot between day and night. From time to time very high
wind speed can be measured.
Black and chestnut soils are dominated by different Stipa spp. and other grasses
preferably in the northern territories of Kazakhstan. Saline soils with high rates of
evapotranspiration and many halophytes (div. Chenopodiaceae) are widespread in
the depressions. Aeolian sand and loess cover most of the lowlands, paleozoic and
mesozoic rocks, screes and stony ground are the dominating substrates of the
mountain ranges.
7.2.1 Species and Habitat Type Diversity
The flora of Kazakhstan contains c. 6000 vascular plant species, the steppe flora
c. 2000 species (Abdulina 1999; Rachkovskaya and Bragina 2012).
Habitat types and species compositions differ in relation to climatic conditions
(e.g. precipitation rate), vertical zonation/altitude/slope, substrate/soil, impact of
humans (e.g. mowing), and wild and/or domestic grazing animals.
In the Kazakh steppe different habitat types such as forest steppe (light, humid),
meadow steppe (non-forested patches in the forest steppe zone), real steppe, semidesert steppe (dry) in the lowland or in the mountains, on aeolian sand or loess, stony
or rocky ground, and on saline soils can be distinguished (Rachkovskaya and
Bragina 2012). In N Kazakhstan the precipitation rate is normally higher and the
temperatures are lower than in the south, i.e., that also the time with a snow cover is
longer in the north than in the south. However, because of the higher humidity the
productivity in the north is higher than in southern regions of the country.
7.2.2 Anthropogenic Influences in the Past and Present
Alpine zones of the Tien Shan, Altai Mountains, and lowland steppe were traditionally used as pasture for domestic herbivors by nomadic people. Migrations span up
to 700 km in the semi-desert and steppe.
Because of the short vegetation period, cold and the high snow cover in the
northern parts and high mountain zones wild ungulates, livestock, nomadic people,
344
C. Hobohm et al.