The catena aspect of the landscape diversity of the «Dnipro-Orilsky» natural reserve

Abstract

In the present investigation catena approaches to assess the landscape diversity of the “Dnipro-Orilsky” natural reserve was developed. Catena which lies in the reserve embraces flood and arena biogeocoenoses. The research was performed during the 2014– 2018. The two profiles were made at the “Dnipro-Orilsky” natural reserve within which main geomorphological landscape elements are presented. There are 29 sampling polygons within these p rofiles. The soil profile description, vegetation investigation, soil and soil animals quantitative assessment was carried out in each of them. In this publication we presented the results of sampling polygons 1–4, 25 and 26. The profile 1 best reflects the traditional view of catena: it goes from the highest places of the sand terrace (arena) to the lowest place (floodplain). But relief diversity is increased by the availability of small river Protich. It floodplain provides an alternative transit and accumulation gradient. It should be noted that the main part of the main slope profile does not fully meet the transit regime, as compiled by sandy soils, which are char- acterized by high filtration capacity. Therefore, the slope profile position is largely corresponded to eluvial regimes. The accumulative part of the profile which corresponds to the floodplain of Dnipro river is significantly influenced by impact of the flood factor than the accumulative part of the profile which corresponds to the floodplain of Protich river. The soils within floodplain of Protich river have more quantity of clay. Clay soils are characterized by capillary properties, as soil salinization is common in the floodplain of Protich river. Alternative profile 2 includes Orlov valley. This element of the landscape is accumulative, but not affected by flood factor. In the biogeocenotic context catena sampling points were considered as being composed of pedocatena, phytocatena and zoocatena. The biogeocenotic approach is the chain that connects the landscape structure, the diversity of soil cover, and diversities of the plant and animal communities. The functional, spatial and temporal properties of ecosystems in landscape context can be expressed by catena. The biogeocoenosis concept is a basis for integration of the pedocatena, phytocatena and zoocatena. Catena approach is the framework for a monitoring system landscape diversity both at the level of individual component biogeocoenosis (edaphotop, phytocenosis, and zoocenosis) and biogeocoenosis level in terms of its horizontal and vertical structure and at the landscape level as a whole intercon- nected system. The traditional idea of catena as a set of eluvial, transit and accumulative positions in a complex and diverse landscape is not able to cover the most important environmental gradients modes. The complexity of the landscape is due to relief diversity and the effects of anthropogenic transformation biogeocenotic cover. Catena therefore can be seen as a multilevel hierarchical system of the biogeocenotic polygons needed to consider the diversity of physiographic conditions and anthropogenic gradients.