Patterns of Sandy Steppe Vegetation in the Valleys of Samara and Ural Rivers and Their Tributaries in Orenburg Oblast

Abstract

Patterns in the organization of psammophyte vegetation of sandy steppes have been studied in Orenburg oblast. Using cluster analysis with different similarity indices, 122 relevés have been analyzed. The best cluster differentiation is achieved by the use of a Sokal/Sneath coefficient. Five types of plant communities have been distinguished and characterized. The role of anthropogenic transformation and geographical differences in a differentiation of psammophytic vegetation has been evaluated via canonical correspondence analysis.