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Steppes form one of the largest biomes on earth. Ecological changes came slowly, and nomadic pastoralism long predominated in the steppes. As from the mid-18th century the rate of change increased, and drastic changes in steppe ecology, land use and livelihoods in the steppe came with the emergence, and again with the collapse, of communist states. Excessive ploughing and vast influx of people led to a strong decline in nomadic pastoralism in the Soviet Union and China and resulted in severely degraded steppe ecosystems. After the collapse of the Soviet Union huge tracts of ploughed land became fallow and steppe ecosystems regenerated. In Mongolia nomadic pastoralism persisted, but steppes degraded because of strong increases in livestock loads. Presently, new, restorative land management schemes are developed and applied. On top of all these changes in steppe land use come the effects of climate change, which are strong in the northern zone of the steppe region.
Eurasian Steppes: Ecological Problems and Livelihoods in a Changing World reviews the ecology of steppe ecosystems in the entire Eurasian area, discusses the effects of climatic changes and land use policies that are playing important roles in these steppes, and shows how the livelihoods of people in the steppe zone are affected. It provides, in English, an extensive and up-to-date overview of steppe status and steppe problems in all of Eurasia, based on the experience of many specialists, and it integrates extensive data sources that so far were only available in a spectrum of locally used languages.
Preface
Authors and Affiliations
Part 1: Steppe Regions
1. Abiotic and biotic determinants of Steppe Productivity and Performance - a view from Central Asia K Wesche, J Treiber
2. The Steppe Biome in Russia: Ecosystem Services, Conservation Status, and Actual Challenges IE Smelansky, AA Tishkov
3. Steppes of Kazakhstan: Diversity and present State EI Rachkovskaya, TM Bragin
4. The Central Anatolian Steppe H Kurschner, G Parolly
5. Ukrainian Steppes in the past, at present and in the future I Korotchenko, M Peregrym
6. Cessation of Traditional Management reduces the Diversity of Steppe-like Grasslands in Romania through litter accumulation E Ruprecht
7. Past trends, present state and future prospects of Hungarian Forest-Steppes Zs Molnar, M Biro, S Bartha, G Fekete
8. The dry Grasslands in Slovakia: history, classification and management D Dubravkova, M Hajnalova
9. Iberian steppes H Sainz Ollero, MA van Staalduinen
Part 2: Degradation
10. Pastoral Degradation of Steppe ecosystems in Central Mongolia SN Bazha, PD Gunin, EV Danzhalova, YuI Drobyshev, AV Prishcepa
11. Plant Functional Types across Dune Fixation Stages in the Chinese Steppe zone and their applicability for Restoration of the Desertified Land M Dong, J Qiao, X Ye, G Liu, Y Chu
12. Population Dynamics of a Key Steppe Species in a Changing World: the critically endangered Saiga Antelope VM Neronov, AA Lushchekina, TYu Karimova, NYu Arylova
13. The Przewalski's horse and its reintroduction in the steppe of Hustai National Park, Mongolia P Wit, N Bandi, I Bouman, MA van Staalduinen
Part 3: Climate Change
14. Transformation of Steppe communities of Yakutia due to Climatic Change and Anthropogenic Impact EI Troeva, MM Cherosov
15. Influence of Climate Change on Vegetation and Wildlife in the Daurian eco-region VE Kirilyuk, VA Obyazov, TE Tkachuk, OK Kirilyuk
16. Changes in the southern Siberian Forest-Steppes IB Vorobyeva
17. Effects of Climate Warming and Vegetation cover on Permafrost of Mongolia N Sharkhuu, A Sharkhuu
Part 4: Livelihoods
18. Degradation and Management of Steppes in China X Cui, K Guo, Y Hao, Z Chen
19. Land Use Modernization and Agrarian and Conservation prospects in the Russian Steppe SV Levykin, AA Chibilyov, GV Kazachkov
20. Rethinking Pastoral Risk Management in Mongolia S Baas, S Tessitore, T Jelley
21. Mongolian Nomads and Climate Change - a herder's view Ts Sanjmyatav
