Reasons for the stability of the steppe ecosystems of the Republic Tyva (Russia)

Center for Biosphere Research of the Republic of Tuva, Kyzyl, 667003, Russia

^* Corresponding author: sambuu@mail.ru

Abstract

The steppe region of Central Asia, to which the steppes of Tuva belong, has supported human culture for thousands of years and during this period has been subjected to serious climatic and social changes. In the past, this area was sparsely populated and the low productivity of the herbage fully provided livestock products to the local population leading a nomadic lifestyle. Folk customs strictly regulated the nature of grazing – its timing, cycles and duration. Having played an exceptionally important role in the history of mankind, the steppe was the first of all other landscapes to be on the verge of completely losing its original appearance and natural potential due to the replacement of grass ecosystems with agricultural landscapes during the Soviet period. Both in the past and at the present time, land use in the Republic of Tyva is due to the peculiarity of natural and climatic conditions and the development of pasture cattle breeding. Animal husbandry is still the main traditional branch of the economy. This article analyzes the reasons for the stability of steppe ecosystems, which are due to a number of reasons, the main of which are: changes in species composition, the presence of various survival strategies of organisms, high productivity of dominant plant species, as well as the spatial and temporal mosaic of available nutrients in the soil.