Steppe component of the Late Pleistocene ecosystems of Yakutia
https://doi.org/10.31242/2618-9712-2020-25-2-8
Abstract
The article discusses the origin of relict steppe sites found in some regions of Yakutia, mainly in the central and northeastern parts, as well as their distribution in the Late Pleistocene as a resource niche for a mammoth megafaunistic complex. It was shown that the true steppes existed on the territory of Yakutia in the Pliocene and Early Pleistocene. Xerophytic plant communities of the Middle Pleistocene genetic related to mountain-steppe associations. In the Late Pleistocene, cryoxerophytic phytocenoses did not have trans-Bering links, but were more widespread than at present.
The wide distribution of cryoxerophytic barren communities in the Late Pleistocene was due to extreme cryoaridity of the climate and low rainfall, especially in winter, which led to soil surface cooling. Despite the extremely low productivity, cryoxerophytic wastelands gave an ecological niche to a rather large ungulate saiga, which for a long time served as an argument in paleobotanical reconstructions for the distribution of steppes in Late Pleistocene.
In the Late Pleistocene, modern relict steppe plots occupied a subordinate position in the vegetation cover of Yakutia, which is still observed today.
Keywords
Yakutia,
Beringia,
Late Pleistocene,
Late Pleistocene ecosystems,
Transberingian connections,
relict steppe areas,
interglacial period,
cryochron,
saiga,
xerophytes
Supporting agencies: This work was supported by the RFBR grant 18-45-140007 p_a.
About the Authors
A. V. Protopopov
Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
PROTOPOPOV Albert Vasilevich, doctor of biological sciences, head of department
33 Lenin ave., Yakutsk, 677007
V. V. Protopopova
Institute for Biological Problems of Cryolithozone, SB RAS
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
PROTOPOPOVA Viktoria Valerevna, engineerresearcher
41 Lenin ave., Yakutsk, 677980
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Review
For citations:
Protopopov A.V., Protopopova V.V. Steppe component of the Late Pleistocene ecosystems of Yakutia. Arctic and Subarctic Natural Resources. 2020;25(2):98-107. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.31242/2618-9712-2020-25-2-8
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