Effects of River Flow Regulation and Climate Fluctuations on Dynamic Changes in the Terrestrial Ecosystems of the Lower Volga Delta and Floodplain

摘要

Comprehensive ecological studies performed in the lower reaches of Volga during the low-flow period of 2014 revealed the unsatisfactory ecological condition of the floodplain, river meadows, and flood-plain and delta forests in the Lower Volga area. Climate change in the region and regional hydrotechnical impact on the floodplain and delta of the Volga River were identified as the main causes of the deterioration of floodplain and delta ecosystems. Considerable dynamic changes caused by human activity and climate change occurred in the terrestrial ecosystems of the floodplain and delta. The regulation conditions downstream of the lgograd reservoir should be changed in order to prevent complete destruction of floodplain and delta terrestrial ecosystems under the current conditions of climate instability.