The value and need for protection of kurgan flora in the anthropogenic landscape of steppe zone in Ukraine

Sudnik‐Wójcikowska, Barbara; Moysiyenko, Ivan; Zachwatowicz, Maria; Jabłońska, Ewa

doi:10.1080/11263504.2011.601335

Cited by 44 publications

(72 citation statements)

References 6 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…A total number of 69 sozophytes (protected species and those listed in Red Data Books) were recorded on the mounds (23,24,26,37). These results confirm the floristic value of the kurgans (see also: 2, 3, 13, 15).…”

Section: Anthropogenic Elements Of the Agricultural Landscape Of Ukrasupporting

confidence: 74%

Anthropogenic elements of the Ukrainian landscape and the problem of local steppe restoration

Sudnik‐Wójcikowska¹,

Moysiyenko²

2011

Annales UMCS, Biologia

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

SUMMARyVast agricultural fields as well as kurgans and protective forest belts are characteristic, anthropogenic components of the Ukrainian landscape. The paper discusses the role that kurgans and windbreaks could play in the local restoration process of the steppe in areas excluded from agricultural use (abandoned fields, orchards and pastures). Three examples are presented schematically. The investigated areas are located in three different climate-vegetation zones: desert steppe zone, west Pontic grass steppe zone and Pontic herb(-rich) grass steppe zone. Special attention is paid to how the local restoration process of the steppe proceeds. In addition, the effectiveness of the process and the role of alien tree species are assessed.The present study also attempts to identify future research directions which will be useful in a wide range of applications. On a European scale, the steppe vegetation has been destroyed to a greater degree (80-90%) than any other type of zonal vegetation. Therefore, the analysis and determination of regularities in the local restoration process of the steppe are of particular importance.K e y w o r d s : kurgans, windbreaks, recovery on abandoned fields, local steppe restoration S ł o w a k l u c z o w e: kurhany, pasy przeciwwietrzne, zarastanie porzuconych pól, lokalna restytucja stepów STRESzCzENIE Oprócz ogromnych pól, kurhany i pasy przeciwwietrzne są bardzo charakterystycznym, ale całkowicie antropogenicznym elementem ukraińskiego krajobrazu. W pracy omówiono rolę, jaką 86 kurhany i pasy przeciwwietrzne mogłyby odgrywać w procesie powrotu muraw stepowych na tereny wyłączone z użytkowania rolniczego (porzucone pola, sady i pastwiska). Schematycznie przedstawiono trzy przykłady -omawiane obiekty są zlokalizowane w trzech różnych strefach klimatyczno-roślinnych: w strefie stepu piołunowego, stepu właściwego w wariancie ubogim gatunkowo i stepu właściwego w wariancie bogatym gatunkowo. zwrócono uwagę na etapy procesu restytucji stepów i na rolę, jaką w ich przebiegu mogą odgrywać gatunki obcego pochodzenia.W sytuacji, gdy stepy należą do formacji europejskich przekształconych na największą skalę (80-90%) -analiza i poszukiwanie prawidłowości w procesie restytucji stepu mają szczególne znaczenie. Opracowanie ma także nieco szerszy aspekt. jest próbą wskazania dalszych, kierunków badań o znaczeniu aplikacyjnym.

show abstract

Section: Anthropogenic Elements Of the Agricultural Landscape Of Ukrasupporting

confidence: 74%

Anthropogenic elements of the Ukrainian landscape and the problem of local steppe restoration

Sudnik‐Wójcikowska¹,

Moysiyenko²

2011

Annales UMCS, Biologia

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Many burial mounds Micrographs of typical constituents of Ecse-halom materials in thin sections. 1a-1b (sample KF-5): ferrous concretions in the sections; 2 (sample KF-6): void; 3a-3e (sample KF-7): calcareous concretions and skeletal particles of various size and appearance (in 3a-3b with calcified root cells from the buried horizon); 4a-4g (sample KF-8): skeletal particles of various size and form in the thin sections (excretions, parts of the soil; root remains, these particles of the soil are more stable; snail shells, these are organic or inorganic materials; charred wood remains, which are bigger and more stable than the aggregates) maintain ancient loess-vegetation on their surfaces, as found in a large survey of Ukrainian mounds (Sudnik-Wójcikowska et al 2011), but others (e.g. the Lyukas-halom kurgan; Pető et al 2010) do not.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Report of the complex geoarcheological survey at the Ecse-halom kurgan in Hortobágy, Hungary

Bede¹,

Salisbury²,

Csathó³

et al. 2015

Central European Geology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Ecse-halom is a burial mound (kurgan) in the Hortobágy region of Hungary. Built in the Late Copper Age/Early Bronze Age by nomadic people from the east, it now stands on the border between two modern settlements. A road of medieval origin runs along this border and cuts deeply into the body of the mound. The southern half of the mound was plowed and used as a rice field, and later a military observation tower was built on top of it. Despite this disturbance, the surface of the mound is in decent condition and provides a home for regionally significant, species-rich loess steppe vegetation. The mound comprises two construction layers as indicated by magnetic susceptibility and thin-section micro-morphological analysis. Examination of organic compounds and carbonate content at various levels showed different values, which suggest a variety of natural and anthropogenic stratigraphic layers. Mid-sized siltstone fraction is dominant in the section. The layers originate from the immediate vicinity of the mound, but have different characteristics than present-day soils. These mounds contain a valuable record of cultural and environmental conditions occurring at the time of their construction, and also serve as a refuge for ancient loess vegetation; therefore their conservation is highly recommended.

show abstract

“…Their particular shape and steep slopes have often prevented ploughing; thus, grassland vegetation has been able to survive on burial mounds , Dembicz et al 2016. This is especially true for loess grasslands which are often restricted to burial mounds and road verges in many regions (Sudnik-Wójcikowska et al 2011. Given the importance of burial mounds in landscape protection and biodiversity conservation, they can serve as representative spots for the demonstration of the results of conservation projects.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ancient burial mounds called 'kurgans' can serve as ideal objects for such projects. Kurgans are earthen burial mounds built by nomadic tribes from the Late Copper Age to the medieval period (Sudnik-Wójcikowska et al 2011, Bede et al 2015. They are iconic landscape elements of the Eurasian steppes and have a considerable role in the life of local people as historical and sacred places , Sudnik-Wójcikowska et al 2011.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cultural heritage and biodiversity conservation – plant introduction and practical restoration on ancient burial mounds

Valkó¹,

Tóth²,

Kelemen³

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Linking the conservation of cultural heritage and natural values provides a unique opportunity for preserving traditional landscapes and receives an increased awareness from stakeholders and society. Ancient burial mounds are proper objects of such projects as they are iconic landscape elements of the Eurasian steppes and often act as refugia for grassland specialist species. The aim of this project was to reintroduce grassland plant species to burial mounds for representing them as cultural monuments with the associated biodiversity for the public. The effectiveness of seed sowing, transplanting greenhouse-grown plants and individuals from threatened populations on burial mounds in Hortobágy National Park, Hungary was tested. The following questions were answered: (1) which method is the most effective for species introduction? (2) which species can establish most successfully? (3) how does management affect the species establishment rates? It was found advisable to use a combination of seed sowing and transplanting greenhouse-grown plants. Sowing was found as a cost-effective method for introducing large-seeded species, whilst introduction of greenhouse-grown transplants warranted higher establishment rates for a larger set of species. Transplanting adult individuals was more reliable regardless of management regimes, however this method is labour-intensive and expensive. Intensive management, like mowing with heavy machinery and intensive grazing, should be avoided in the first few years after introduction. The authors CONSERVATION IN PRACTICE Launched to accelerate biodiversity conservation A peer-reviewed open-access journalOrsolya Valkó et al. / Nature Conservation 24: 65-80 (2018) 66 highlighted the fact that introducing characteristic grassland species on cultural monuments offers a great opportunity to link issues of landscape and biodiversity conservation. This project demonstrated that, by the revitalisation of cultural monuments, cultural ecosystem services can also be restored.

show abstract

The value and need for protection of kurgan flora in the anthropogenic landscape of steppe zone in Ukraine

Cited by 44 publications

References 6 publications

Anthropogenic elements of the Ukrainian landscape and the problem of local steppe restoration

Anthropogenic elements of the Ukrainian landscape and the problem of local steppe restoration

Report of the complex geoarcheological survey at the Ecse-halom kurgan in Hortobágy, Hungary

Cultural heritage and biodiversity conservation – plant introduction and practical restoration on ancient burial mounds

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About