KHOMUTOVSKI STEPPE NATURE RESERVE
General Description of the Reserve
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ADMINISTRATION & STAFFING
The Khomutovski Steppe, as a constituent of the Ukrainian Steppe Nature Reserve, is administered by its directorate, which is itself answerable to the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Scientific research in the reserve is conducted under supervision of the scientific council of the M.G. Kholodny Institute of Botany (National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine), while the reserve's nature conservation work is controlled by the Ministry of Natural Resources of Ukraine. Day-to-day administration of the reserve is overseen by its director, a specialist in botany, forestry and soil sciences. One member of staff is a zoologist. Visiting scientists from universities and institutes of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine may, by invitation, participate in scientific programs undertaken by the reserve.
ANIMALS
The formerly extensive steppe region of Ukraine is now almost entirely ploughed, and only remnants of steppe are left on slopes of gullies, gorges and river valleys, on outcrops of bedrock, for example limestone or chalk, and within the protected areas of the steppe reserves. These remnants are the last refuge for steppe ecosystems and their very distinct fauna. Tarpans and auroch have disappeared completely, while steppe eagles, bustards and little bustards are now very rare and mostly seen only on passage. The great variety of vegetation and habitat types, however, and the rugged relief of the land have ensured that the Khomutovski Steppe remains rather rich in animal life. 10 fish species are found here on the reserve, and there are records of 3 species of amphibians, 7 species of reptiles, 188 bird species, and 23 mammal species. Among these, 9 are listed in the European Red List (Canis lupus, Spalax microphthalmus, Vormela peregusna, Crex crex, Hirudo medicinalis, Bradyporus multituberculatus, Saga pedo, Parnassius mnemosyne and Zerynthia lyxena), and almost 40 are in the Red Data Book of Ukraine (1994).
The most frequently encountered vertebrates on the reserve include the common mole-rat, the red fox, brown hare, common hedgehog, and various of murine rodents and shrews (eg the pygmy shrew), the musk-rat, vipers and grass snakes. Among birds common species are the starling, swallow, house sparrow, magpie, nightingale, steppe lark, the corn bunting, red-backed shrike, cuckoo, coot, and goldfinch. The list of spiders, insects and other arthropods is yet very incomplete, but even so already runs to 956 species.
AREA AND RELIEF
The reserve occupies an area of 1,030.4 ha, covering a gently undulating plateau which gradually declines westwards in the direction of the river Hruz'kyi Yelanchyk (also transliterated as "Gruzkiy Yelanchyk") and ends as a steep slope of low height. The reserve itself is traversed in a latitudinal direction by a series of gullies: Obolons'ka Balka, Klymushans'ka Balka, Serednya Balka (not indicated on the map, but a tributary of the Klymushans'ka Balka), Brandtivs'ka Balka and the Krasny (or Krasnyi) Yar. Steep slopes of the gullies and slopes along the riverside reveal outcrops of Sarmatian limestone. Four localities in the reserve may be distinguished, according to geomorphologic features (Pashchenko, 1979).
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The flat erosional structural (bed-accumulative) watershed undulating loess plain on a Neogene limestone basis with herb-fescue-feather grass steppe and rhizome grass meadow-steppe vegetation on typical chernozem with average humus content. It occupies vast watershed areas between absolute heights 50-80 m. The thickness of the layer of loess loam here varies between 10-30 m. This kind of locality is the most common in the reserve. In its turn it includes such areas as: a) the flat gently undulating surfaces of the loess plain of the watershed; b) gently sloping deluvial sides of the loess plain; c) gently inclining and steeper (up to 5°) deluvial slopes of gullies and depressions; d) hollows with sides sloping up to 3°; e) thalwegs with slopes inclined up to 2° where deluvial processes are of low intensity; f) gullies with slopes steeping 5-7° and up to 10 m long; g) gullies with temporary streams and with steep slopes (15-20°).
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Slopes of the erosional denudational stoney gullies and valleys with outcrops of Neogene limestone with growth of shrubs and petrophytous grass vegetation upon carbonate and remnant carbonate typical chernozems of low capacity. The upper parts of the slopes are not steep and consist of loess-like material. They are covered by turf, but are scarred by erosion. In the middle part they become more steep and in slopes may be even droop. They consist of Neogene limestone covered by a limestone-sand-clay layer. Lower parts of the slopes are tail areas of deluvial-proluvial accumulation and piling up of rock due to crumbling. This kind of locality includes such tracts of slopes: a) endings up of gullies and ravines with steep slopes and outcrops of limestone, with growth of steppe shrubs, plant communities of wheatgrass upon the eluvium of bedrock; b) steep slopes of river valleys with outcrops of bedrock and petrophytous plant communities, growth of Caragana, Prunus and Ulmus upon eluvium of bedrock and poorly developed strongly eroded soils.
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A flat locality comprising the base and accumulative terrace above the floodplain occupies a small part of the reserve, primarily on the left side of the river valleys.
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A flat locality of steppified floodplains. This stretches along the river and embraces two kinds of tracts: steppified rhizome grass meadows of the high floodplain and reed and sedge growth of the marshes in the lower floodplain.
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BUILDINGS & EQUIPMENT
There are no modern buildings on the reserve: most are rather old. There is one incompletely equipped scientific laboratory, a weather station with outdated equipment, a small library, a hostel to provide simple accommodation for up to 5 visitors (normally scientists resident during the field research season). The reserve has a small Nature Museum for the visiting public. In 2001 the displays were out-of-date and in need of renovation [this has now been done]. There is electricity in the buildings and the reserve is connected by 'phone, but has no fax or e-mail. There is no piped water supply or sewage system: water of good quality is taken from 2 wells at the reserve headquarters. The reserve has one tractor and one car. A bridge across the river connects the reserve with the national road network.
CLIMATE
The reserve is located in a dry, fairly warm zone. According to data collected between 1971-1990 by the local weather station, the average annual temperature here fluctuates between 7.3 and 11°C. The coldest months are January and February (averages -4.4 and -3.4°C, respectively). The absolute minimum ambient temperature recorded was -39.2°C, and the maximum 39.2°C. Average annual precipitation fluctuates between 284.4 and 681.7 mm. Most falls in summer; least in February and March. The longest season is summer (more than 4 months), winter is almost a month shorter, and spring and autumn last both 2 months. Winter may last between 61 and 147 days (on average 105 days, from 26 November to 12 March). There is usually not much snow in winter, but it is windy, and frosts are mild. Winds come primarily from the east and northeast. Summer usually lasts an average of 134 days (generally up to the 26 September). Heavy showers occur at that time. Autumn lasts 31-83 days, the average day for its start is 27 September. The second half of autumn is wetter than the first.
ECOSYSTEMS
The vegetation of the reserve has been studied by many geobotanists. Its most complete description and dynamic features are presented (together with an extensive bibliography) in the monograph "The Ukrainian Nature Steppe Reserve" (Tkachenko et al., 1998).
The reserve is the sole significant large remnant of herb-fescue-feather grass steppe which today is under protection in the area near the Azov Sea. According to geobotanical zoning (Anon, 1977a), the reserve is located in the Pershotravnevo-Telmanivskiy geobotanical district of the Maruipolski geobotanical region of herb-fescue-feather grass steppe and vegetation of granite escarpments, which are a part of the belt of herb-fescue-feather grass steppe of the nearby Black Sea (Pontic) steppe province. Before becoming a protected area "Khomutovski Steppe" was used by the Don Cossacks for grazing young horses, and grazing pressure at that time was about 200-500 horses on around 2 thousand dessiatinas of land (Genov et al., 1976). After the revolution of 1917, part of the area was ploughed, the rest (1,112 dessiatinas) was used for hay-making and pasture, where too much live-stock was grazed (above 1,000 heads of cattle and 800 sheep). This had a negative impact on vegetation. The first studies here revealed the considerable degradation of the vegetation (Kleopov, 1927). Most of the impacted area was trampled and covered by an abundance of species inedible to livestock. The northern portion of steppe, apparently once ploughed, was overgrown by wheat-grass (Elytrigia repens (L.) Nevski). Only in the central and eastern parts that were used for hay-making the dominant species in the vegetation was Lessing's feather-grass (Stipa lessingiana Trin. & Rupr.).
After declaring "Khomutovski Steppe" a reserve (on 24 August 1926), 546 ha of its area became a "strictly protected plot", and the rest (668 ha) was used for grazing livestock and hay-making. The vegetation of the "strictly protected plot" quickly started restoring itself, whereas the pastures and areas for hay-making retained certain features of degradation. In subsequent years there were attempts by local farmers and authorities to abolish the reserve or convert it into an appendage of the surrounding collective farms. All this caused great damage to the reserve: 186 ha of its eastern portion was ploughed, much vegetation was trampled down (evidenced by a survey in 1938), the "strictly protected plot" was reduced to about 100 ha. Even more damage to the reserve was inflicted during the second world war (1941-1944) and in post-war years. Although in 1947 the "Khomutovski Steppe" was declared a reserve at republic level, 1,225 cows, 600 sheep, and 130 horses were grazed here, the area was covered by a network of actively used dirt roads, many trees were demolished etc. (Genov et al., 1976). A genuine régime of protection was introduced only in 1952 after the handing over of the reserve to the Academy of Sciences. After that livestock grazing was forbidden, hay-making areas were reduced to an annual 160-210 ha (out of this number 80 ha comprised mowed areas of border lines and belts to prevent the spread of fires). The hay-making plots were arranged in a way to ensure mowing of a given plot only once in 6-7 years. 90 ha of steppe was designated as "strictly protected" and all economic activity was forbidden there.
Today the "Khomutovski Steppe" reserve maintains a mixed character of vegetation. Flat watersheds and gently inclining slopes, given the presence of a complete soil profile, accommodate plant communities dominated by rhizome grasses (Poa angustifolia L., species of the genus Elytrigia Desv., etc.). Thinning out of the humus layer leads to the spreading of bunch grasses. Rhizome grasses and meso-xerophytous herbs attain greater development in bottoms of gullies and depressions in the watershed area. Limestone outcrops on slopes house fairly stable communities composed by an array of xerophytic dwarf-shrubs (Thymus spp.). Wedged between this community and the upper steppe community of the watershed is a belt of bushy steppe vegetation formed primarily by Caragana frutex (L.) K. Koch. The valley of the river Gruzkiy Yelanchyk features meadow vegetation, which gradually converts into a continuous belt of littoral vegetation comprising primarily reed growth (Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud.). Arboreal and bush-wood vegetation is confined to gullies and the river valley, though isolated clumps of bushy vegetation are frequently met in the open flat steppe. This is the general pattern of vegetation distribution. The remaining part of this section deals with the main formations met in the reserve, starting with the zonal herb-fescue-feather grass formations dominated by feather grass and fescue species, so typical for the region. The distribution of plant communities has been compiled by P.O. Syrotenko, a post-graduate student of the M.G. Kholodny Institute of Botany (National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine).
Steppe plain vegetation
Steppe plain vegetation is the most widespread in the reserve and is composed primarily by the following formations: Stipeta lessingianae, Stipeta capillatae, Stipeta pulcherrimae, Festuceta valesiacae, Bromopsideta ripariae, Bromopsideta inermis, Agropyreta pectinati, Poeta angustifolia, Elytrigieta trichophorae, and Elytrigieta repentis. The plateau plain and adjacent slopes, depressions in the "absolute non-intervention" zone, and areas that are mowed from time to time all have an environment which favours development of plant communities dominated by Inula germanica L., Vicia tenuifolia Roth., Talictrum minus L., Cirsium arvense (L.), Galatella rossica Novopokr., Vinca herbacea Waldst. & Kit., Paeonia tenuifolia L., Glycyrrhiza glabra L., and Astragalus cicer L. In 1989 one third of the "absolute non-intervention" zone was occupied by these communities (Tkachenko et al., 1998). Key species of these communities, such as feather grasses and Paeonia tenuifolia, are rare and listed in the Ukrainian Red Data Book (1996).
Bushy steppe
Bushy steppe is featured by the presence of sporadically distributed clumps of steppe bushes consisting of Caragana and Spiraea species (Lavrenko, 1956). In the reserve these occupy fairly large plots located on the slopes of the native bank of the river Gruzkiy Yelanchyk, gullies and even in certain places of the plateau. In 1970 they occupied an area totaling 55 ha (3.5% of the reserve) (Tkachenko et al., 1998). They are represented by herb-grass-bushy plant communities, where the conspicuous species are Caragana frutex and C. scythica (Kom.) Pojark., Amygdalus nana L., Calophaca wolgarica (L. f.) DC. and Genista scythica Pacz. Most widely spread community is that of Caragana frutex (Caraganeta fruticis). This community occupies 47 ha and seems to be expanding and pressing on grass communities under current conditions. The formation Amygdaleta nanae occurs in the reserve's "absolute non-intervention" zone. Bushy steppe vegetation characterized by the presence of Amygdalus nana is considered to be rare and declining (Shelyag-Sosonko, 1987). One of the rarest communities in the steppe zone of Ukraine is the Caraganeta scythicae formation. Its key species, Caragana scythica, is a rare endemic of the southern Black Sea environs, and is listed in the Ukrainian Red Data Book (1996). In the Khomutovski Steppe Nature Reserve this community occupies small plots covered by cobble on the slopes of the Gruzkiy Yelanchyk river valley and some gullies. Another rare and declining plant community is the Calophaceta wolgaricae, the key species of which is also in the Red Data Book of Ukraine (1996). The Khomutovski Steppe Nature Reserve includes the best preserved examples of these marginal communities which are at the extreme western edge of their range. Another specific and rare assemblage is the Genisteta scythicae community. In the steppe zone of Ukraine that community is preserved only in this reserve. where it is found in small plots on convex limestone slopes near the reserve headquarters.
Petrophytous-steppe plant communities
Specific petrophytous-steppe plant communities, where calciphilous species dominate, have established themselves in the reserve on poorly developed and eroded stony soils overlaying Sarmatian limestone bedrock, on outcrops of this limestone alongside the river Gruzkiy Yelanchyk, and in some places on gully slopes. These communities, which occur together with zonal type communities, are dominated by petrophilous grasses and obligately petrophytous dwarf shrubs (such as Thymus dimorphus Klokov & Des.-Schost., Teucrium polium L., Linum czernajevii Klokov, Astragalus ucrainicus M. Pop. & Klokov, Jurinea brachycephala Klokov, etc.). These plant communities are very rich in species of interest to science and nature conservation since many are endemic, relict, rare and/ or declining (for instance Cleistogenes bulgarica (Bornm.) Keng, Otites maeoticus Klokov, Rosa chomutoviensis, R. pygmaea M. Bieb. etc.). They occupy about 40 ha in the reserve. The most widely represented communities are Thymeta dimorphii and Jurineeta brachycephalae.
Arboreal-shrub vegetation
Only a small part of the reserve's current vegetation consists of trees and shrubs. The total area occupied by Prunus stepposa Kotov, Rhamnus cathartica L., Ulmus carpinifolia Rupr. ex G. Suckow and U. suberosa Moench is about 8 ha. Almost 6 ha is occupied exclusively by Caragana frutex, C. scythica, Amygdalus nana etc. Willow stands are represented by small fragments in the valley of the Gruzkiy Yelanchyk river in the Saliceta alba community and by growth of Salix pentandra L.
Meadow & littoral vegetation
These vegetation types are confined in the reserve to the valley of the Gruzkiy Yelanchyk. The largest portions of the river floodplain are occupied by meadow plant communities consisting of Festuceta pratensis, Elytrigeta repentis and Calamagrostideta epigeioris. Their total area is rather small. The bottom of gullies are characterized by well-established grass plant communities of the meadow formation Bromopsideta inermis. Alongside the river Gruzkiy Yelanchyk there is a narrow belt of Carex growth. The river bed is to a great extent occupied by the Phragmiteta australis community.
FUNGI
The reserve has records of 46 lichen-forming species and 283 non-lichen-forming species, of which 213 are microfungi and the rest macrofungi. This is very far from a complete list: at least 2400 fungal species belonging to a wide range of higher taxa are estimated to occur on the reserve.
GEOLOGY
The area in which the Khomutovski Steppe Nature Reserve lies is associated with the Ukrainian shield Azov Sea region block of crystalline rocks, which is at this point is not deeply set. Within the reserve the structure of the lower layer of rock consists of crystalline rocks of the Proterozoic (amphibol-biotite granites and magmatites). Above that is sedimentary rock of the Cretaceous, Palaeogene, Neogene and Anthropogene systems. The weathering crust of crystalline rock is 50-150 m thick, and is located about 200 m below the valley of the Gruzkiy Yelanchyk river, and between 300 and 325 m below the surface in the eastern part of the reserve. Later Mesosoic layers are represented by sediments of the Upper Cretaceous and by marl, sand and sandstone together composing a single layer 180 m thick. Above this are Palaeogene layers represented by deposits of sandstone and green-gray sand of average grain size consisting of quartz and glauconite covered by clay from a sea that was here in the Palaeocene, Eocene and Oligocene. The Neogene system is represented by dark gray (or even black) clay with minor layers of sand, and further up by layers organogenic fragmented gray, light gray, bolite, confluent limestone about 50 m thick. Anthropogene deposits are of aeolian, aeolian-deluvial, deluvial, eluvial and aluvial-deluvial origin, and are associated with the previous age complexes. Together they comprise a layer 7.5-40 m thick.
HISTORY & DEVELOPMENT
Before the revolution of 1917, the land which now forms the Khomutovski Steppe Nature Reserve belonged to the Don Cossack community and was used for pasture and hay-making. The area first gained protection status as a reserve on 24 August 1926 by order of the praesidium of the Mariupol local executive committee. In 1938 the reserve was raised to provincial level status by a resolution of the praesidium of the Donetsk provincial executive committee, and at the same time the reserve added to the list of natural and historical monuments. Between 1941 and 1947, however, war and post-war events resulted in serious damage to the reserve. Many willow trees and bushes were felled and the steppe vegetation was wrecked by intensive grazing of cattle. In 1944 a resolution of the Donetsk Peoples' Council confirmed the status of the Khomutovski Steppe Nature Reserve within its previous boundaries. In 1947 the reserve gained a republic-level status and was placed in the control first of the Central Board for Nature Reserves housed by the Council of Ministers of Ukraine, and later, in 1951, of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. A resolution made by the Praesidium of the Academy of Sciences (protocol number 49 dated 30 November 1951) passed control of the reserve to the Institute of Botany. In 1961 the Khomutovski Steppe Nature Reserve, together with the "Kamyani Mohyly", "Striltsivski Steppe" and "Mykhailivska Tsilyna" nature reserves, was incorporated in a single Ukrainian State Steppe Reserve under the control of the Institute of Botany. On 16 June 1992, this reserve was renamed the Ukrainian Steppe Nature Reserve (through a resolution adopted by the Ukrainian Parliament on the endorsement of the Law of Ukraine "On the Protected Areas in Ukraine", number 2457-XII).
Intensive research has been carried out of various components of the reserve's nature. The results of this research has been published in a series of monographs (Gorokhov, 1951; Bilyk, 1973; Osychniuk, 1974; Bystritskaya & Osychniuk, 1975; Anon., 1975-1978; Anon., 1977; Anon., 1979; Vetrova, 1980; Wasser, Soldatova, 1977; Wasser, 1980; Heluta et al., 1987; Heluta, 1989; Anon., 1994; Anon., 1996). Each of these contain further extensive lists of publications concerning the reserve. The newest and most comprehensive information on the reserve, however, can be found in the monograph "The Ukrainian Nature Steppe Reserve" (Tkachenko et al., 1998). Much of the reserve's management plan is based on information from this monograph.
HYDROLOGY
The reserve is located in a zone of insufficient water resources (Anon., 1978). Aquifers here are confined to structures of the Anthropogene, Neogene, Palaeogene, Cretaceous and Precambrian systems.
The aquifer confined to deposits of the Upper Anthropogene is developed in the valley of the Gruzkiy Yelanchyk river. Most of the water is in the loam. This layer is about 2-10 m thick and lays 0.5-4.0 m deep. In terms of chemistry this water is of the chloride-sulphate calcium-sodium type. Mineralisation is 2.3 g/l. In the eastern part of the reserve the aquifer of the Lower and Upper Anthropogene deposits is represented by pale-yellow and brown-yellow loam. The layer here is 30 m thick and lays 1.3-11.4 m below the surface. Water feeding it comes from precipitation and from irrigation. Mineralisation is 3.1-6.0 g/l and the water is primarily of calcium-magnesium-sodium-sulfate type. The aquifer of the Neogene deposits is spread all over the reserve and is generally confined to limestone. It is about 10 m thick and water is met at a depth of 1.5-50 m. It is fed primarily from upper layers. The water here is of the chloride-sulphate calcium-sodium type and mineralisation reaches 1.6-4.8 g/l. This aquifer is used for the reserve's water supply. The aquifer of the Upper Eocene-Upper Cretaceous deposits is common for the entire reserve. Its thickness is 60-200 m and it is fed from external subterranean sources. The chemical type of the water is hyrocarbonate-sulphate sodium type. Mineralisation here reaches 0.7-0.9 g/l. This water is used for meeting local needs. The aquifer of the Proterozoic system has not been studied in the reserve.
MAPS
Because the reserve was established many years ago, and has been the subject of a variety of studies, several relevant maps may be found in the literature. The main ones are listed below:
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Vegetation map of "Khomutovski Steppe", a unit of the Ukrainian State Steppe Reserve of the Academy of Sciences. 1970. G.I. Bilyk, V.V. Osychniuk, V.S. Tkachenko. Scale 1: 5000. Field survey and colour model by V.S. Tkachenko. A black-and-white generalized version of this map has been published several times (Bilyk et al., 1975 [inset]; Anon., 1975-1978 [supplementary sheet, 1976]; Tkachenko et al., 1998 [insets]).
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Vegetation map of the strictly (absolutely) protected plot and adjacent areas in the "Khomutovski Steppe". 1969. G.I. Bilyk, V.S. Tkachenko. Scale 1: 2500. Field survey and colour model by V.S. Tkachenko. A black-and-white generalized version of this map has been published twice (Bilyk & Tkachenko, 1971; Anon., 1973).
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Vegetation map of the strictly (absolutely) protected plot in the "Khomutovski Steppe" reserve. 1983. V.S. Tkachenko. Scale 1: 2500. Field survey and colour model by V.S. Tkachenko. A black-and-white generalized version of this map has been published in several places (Tkachenko & Genov, 1988; Tkachenko et al., 1998).
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Vegetation map of the strictly (absolutely) protected plot in the "Khomutovski Steppe" reserve. 1989. V.S. Tkachenko. Scale 1: 2500. Field survey and colour model by V.S. Tkachenko. There has been no publication of a generalized version.
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Vegetation map of the strictly (absolutely) protected plot in the "Khomutovski Steppe" reserve. 1996. V.S. Tkachenko. Scale 1: 2500. Field survey and colour model by V.S. Tkachenko. A generalized version has been published in several places (Tkachenko & Genov, 1999; Tkachenko, 2000).
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Soil map of the "Khomutovski Steppe" unit. A.P. Genov, no scale, black-and-white version, field survey and performance by A.P. Genov. Published in the book "The Ukrainian Nature Steppe Reserve" (Tkachenko et al., 1998).
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A schematic survey map of the "Khomutovski Steppe" unit depicting changes made between 1926 and 1991 to the borders of the strictly protected plot. Compiled from archive data by A.P. Genov, scale linear, approximately 1: 34500, black-and-white drawing by V.S. Tkachenko. Published in the same book (Tkachenko et al., 1998).
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Vegetation map of the "Khomutovski Steppe" reserve. Compiled by P.O. Syrotenko on the basis of a field survey carried out between 1998-2000. Published in the Ukrainian version of this plan (Heluta et al., 2002).
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OWNERSHIP & NATURE CONSERVATION STATUS
The Khomutovski Steppe Nature Reserve is the central unit of the Ukrainian Steppe Nature reserve, which is state-owned and under the jurisdiction of the Praesidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The reserve has been assigned the highest possible status in Ukraine for a protected area (Andrienko et al., 2001).
PLANTS
The reserve's plants are quite well studied, research having begun at the start of the twentieth century. Recent publications (Tkachenko et al., 1998) report 604 species of vascular plants (belonging to 295 genera and 75 families) from the reserve. The families most rich in species are Asteraceae (14.7%), Poaceae (10.6%), Rosaceae (7.3%), Brassicaceae (6.6%), Lamiaceae (6.6%), Caryophyllaceae (5.6%), Fabaceae (5.5%), Scrophulariaceae (4.0%), Apiaceae (3.3%), and Ranunculaceae (3.1%). The reserve shelters 29 endemic species. These comprise endemic found along the coastal area of the Black and Azov seas (10 species), species confined to the eastern portion of this area (10 species), species encountered only between the Azov Sea and the River Don (4 species), and species known only in the area near the Azov Sea northern coast (5 species). For many of them (Rosa adentodonta Dubovik, R. chomutoviensis Chrshan. & Laseb., R. chrshanovskii Dubovik, R. tesquicola Dubovik, Veronica barrelieri Schott, V. maeotica Klokov, V. sclerophylla Dubovik, Stipa adoxa Klokov & Ossycznjuk) the "Khomutovski Steppe" reserve is the locus classicus.
Records exist of 59 moss species, predominantly Pottiaceae. Algae have not been adequately studies: only 66 species are known from the reserve, most belong to the Euglenoidea. Other taxa have hardly been studied.
SOILS
The reserve is characterized primarily by typical chernozems on low humus content loess. These are encountered within the undulating loess plain, its slopes, gullies and depressions. In certain places, primarily on slopes, carbonate versions of this soil have developed. The bottoms of gullies and other depressions are characterized by meadow-chernozem soils.
The eroded stony slopes of valleys and gullies have limestone outcrops and thus rather different soils. These are typical chernozems on rubbly deluvium of Sarmatian limestone (carbonate and remnant carbonate with low humus content soils) or meadow-chernozem carbonate with low humus content soils. They occupy a narrow strip in the western part of the reserve which embraces the Gruzkiy Yelanchyk river valley. The steppified floodplain is covered by meadow chernozem with low content of humus and meadow-marsh carbonate soils with a content of humus. These are developed under reed growth and occupy a narrow strip (5-15 m) following the river.