The effects of anthropogenic impact on plant and soil cover in Mongolia.
Under the prevailing variable natural conditions nomadic pastoralism was the most suitable form of land use in Mongolia and the neighboring countries in the past. Furthermore, small areas were used for agriculture in some regions. Therefore, anthropogenic influence was present throughout history. In the forest steppe zone this led to the disappearance of forest sites which then gave way to meadow steppe. The severe impact on the natural pastures by continuous increase of livestock herding and other human activities was perceptible during the socialist period. But since the 1990s, after the transition to market economy, this impact has increased greatly and a great number of degradation features and irreversible damages in the plant and soil cover can be observed now. Especially in the vicinity of the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar, along the north-south road corridor from Russia to the Chinese border, but also in some western regions of the country herders concentrate their livestock in search for better marketing opportunities. Especially there, the vegetation in vast areas is overgrazed by biting and trampling to such an extent that its regeneration is endangered. Degraded and devastated pasture types with a decrease of valuable forage plants and a high increase of ruderal elements can be found in these grasslands. Characteristic sequences of pasture degradation are presented here. The degradation effects steppes and desert steppes as well as reed, mire, and meadow vegetation in the river valleys and lowlands. In the desert regions saxaul vegetation is especially threatened. In some cases after degradation of the plant cover these degradation processes effect soil cover, too. Impacts on soil cover caused by ploughing of virgin land, by ploughing of long term used arable land, and by irrigation are the main reasons for soil degradation. Also recreational activities in the vicinity of settlement centers and traffic along the tracks lead to detrimental vegetation and soil cover changes. Unsystematic forest clearing goes on at a high level and often results in irreversible soil degradation.
Kommentierte bersicht ber die Pflanzengesellschaften und ihre hheren Syntaxa in der Mongolei
Die Arbeit fasst die bisherigen Kenntnisse uber die Vegetation der Mongolei kritisch zusammen und bringt sie in ein pflanzensoziologisches System, das die Vegetationseinheiten von den Klassen bis zu den Assoziationen und Gesellschaften umfasst und auch, wenn es erforderlich erscheint, Subassoziationen und andere Untereinheiten von Assoziationen und Gesellschaften erwahnt. 
 
 
 
Erganzungen und Untergliederungen sind in allen syntaxonomischen Ebenen weiter zu erwarten. Ein Grundgerust mit nicht zu enger Assoziationsfassung wird vorgelegt. 
 
 
 
Annoted outline of the plant communities and their higher syntaxa in Mongolia 
 
 
 
The paper summarizes the hitherto existing knowledge about the vegetation of Mongolia and inserts the associations and plant communities into a plant-sociological system with alliances, orders and classes. If necessary also subassociations and other subunits are mentioned. Surely future will bring completions in all levels and subdivisions of associations, especially in the complexes of rock and scree vegetation, in alpine and swamp and bog vegetation, in sedge marshes and pine forests. In the paper a basis is given with a not to narrow conception of association.
Die Bärentrauben-Lärchenwälder im Charchiraa-Gebirge (Mongolei)
Im Herbst 1995 wurden Untersuchungen zu Vegetation und Bodenverhaltnissen sowie zu Physiognomie, Altersstruktur und Dynamik in Larchenwaldern des Charchiraa-Gebirges im Nordwesten der Mongolei durchgefuhrt. Dabei konnte eine Pflanzengesellschaft ausgegliedert werden, die nach der dominanten Pflanzenart „Barentrauben-Larchenwald” genannt wird. Sie wird als Subassoziation des Betulo rotundifoliae-Laricetum HILBIG (1987) 1990 aufgefast. Bei den Boden handelt es sich um Paratschernoseme mit humosem, zum Teil auch anmoorigem Oberboden und meist machtiger organischer Auflage. Die Boden sind basenhaltig, wobei der pH-Wert mit steigender Tiefe zunimmt. Charakteristisch fur die nur selten und kleinflachig vorkommenden Standorte ist ihre Lage in Hangbereichen mit nur geringer Hangneigung sowie standige Wasserversorgung durch allmahlich oberflachlich auftauenden Permafrostboden im Sommer mit Staunasse und einhergehender Bildung von kleinen Moorbereichen. Diagnostisch wichtige Arten sind Arctous alpina, Equisetum scirpoides, Carex microglochin, Trollius asiaticus, Claytonia ioanneana und das Moos Aulacomnium palustre. Die Walder bestehen vorwiegend aus Baumen der Altersklassen 180-300 Jahre. Jungwuchs im Alter von 10–20 Jahren ist gering und physiognomisch nicht auffallig. Der Gesamtcharakter der Bestande ist daher weitstandig und offen. 
 
 
 
In the autumn of 1995, studies were made in vegetation and soil conditions as well as in physiognomy, age structure and dynamics in the larch forests of the Charchiraa Mountains in the northwest of Mongolia. By that, a plant community could be distinguished which is named „Arctous alpina-larch forest”. It is interpreted as a subassoziation of the Betulo rotundifoliae-Laricetum HILBIG (1987) 1990. Diagnostically important species are Arctous alpina, Equisetum scirpoides, Carex microglochin, Trollius asiaticus, Claytonia ioanneana and the moss Aulacomnium palustre. The soils are parachernosems with humous, partly peaty top soil, mostly big organic layer and development of waterlogged conditions. They contain lime with an increasing pH-value in growing depth. The forests consist predominantly of trees of the age groups 180 to 300 years. Young trees in the age class of 10 to 20 years are rare and physiognomically not noticeable. The forests therefore can be denoted as being spaced and open.