Annals of Ecology and Environmental Science Volume 2, Issue 1, 2018, PP 16-22 Formation Patterns of Acridid Communities in Urban Landscapes of Turkmenistan E.O. Kokanova National Institute of Deserts, Flora and Fauna of the State Committee on Environment Protection and Land Resources of Turkmenistan, Turkmenistan *Corresponding Author: E.O. Kokanova, National Institute of Deserts, Flora and Fauna of the State Committee on Environment Protection and Land Resources of Turkmenistan. ABSTRACT Acridid communities of urbanized landscapes in Turkmenistan are described for the first time. General peculiarities of formation of acridid communities in urban landscapes are studying for the desert zone. The structure of the communities is determined by soil conditions, types of plant cover and the level of anthropogenic impact on the different urban biotopes. Acridid communities of different urban biotopes are distinguished one from the other by taxonomic and ecological diversity. Many acridid species are associated with tugai (riparian woodlands) and Kopetdag foothills and plain. Special conditions of urban landscapes are promoting the penetration of some acridids, usually described as desert species. Keywords: acridid communities, urban landscape, desert zone, abundance, tugai, life form, positive phototaxis; INTRODUCTION landscape have been expansion greatly during last year’s and they are varied by using targets. The study of change on ecological and taxonomic Starting from 1997 we have been carried out structures of insect communities in anthropogenic extensive field work for studying of acridid landscapes is one of the most actual problem all communities4 in the range of Ashgabat - the over the world (Sergeev, 1984, 1987; Sobolev, largest city of Turkmenistan. The city is situated Sergeev, 1985; Klausnitser, 1990; Selikhovkin, on the northern foothill plain of Central Kopet 1994; Yaroshenko, 1994). According to the Dagh Mountains. Northern borderlands of international classification the geological Ashgabat adjoin with Garagum desert. The annual ecosystems relative to the level of human precipitation is 250-300 mm a year. Arid activity and disturbing are divided on natural, conditions of the region are required intensive modified, cultivated, built and degraded ones territory gardening of urban areas. So, around (Caring for the Earth, 1991). M.G. Sergeev and in the Ashgabat and other cities of (1997) suggested separating all anthropogenic Turkmenistan have been created conditions for landscapes on the following types: primitive expansion the area under grow of recreational anthropogenic, forest exploitation, pyrogenous, forests, ornamental forest plantings and grass agricultural, grazing and recreation ones. The plots provided with drip and spray irrigation. author marked out the urban landscapes among The city are provided with modern system for the anthropogenic landscapes, as far as illumination. As the result, human activity in urbanized geological systems typically combine arid zone changes local natural landscapes in a components of local origin and various alien way being more attractive for certain species of species of plants and animals. In particular, urban acridids. area includes grasslands, city plantings, technogeneous sections, buildings and ornamental BACKGROUND OR RELATED WORK forest plantings. At the same time microclimatic The orthopteran insects on anthropogenic conditions of urbanized landscapes significantly landscapes, particularly, on agricultural fields of distinguished from natural ones. Central Asia and Kazakhstan have been described Urban landscape is one of the most widely by many scientists. For example, investigations distributed anthropogenic landscapes in the world. were provided in Tajikistan (Mishenko, 1949), In Turkmenistan the areas of this type of Turkmenistan (Tokgayev, 1965, 1973; Gullyev, Annals of Ecology and Environmental Science V2 ● I1 ● 2018 16 Formation Patterns of Acridid Communities in Urban Landscapes of Turkmenistan 1965), Uzbekistan (Medetov, 2012), Kazakhstan abundance estimation insects were caught with a and Kyrgyzstan (Sobolev, Sergeev, 1985; standard net over a period of one hour (Gause, Kopaneva, Nasyrova, 1986). Referred above 1930). Densities of acridids were estimated in articles contains the data about orthopteran small plots over an area of 1 m2. The structure insects both on fruit trees and cotton, wheat and of acridid communities was analyzed taking into alfalfa fields. Some information on the papers is account their species composition, the spectrum regards to ecological aspects of orthopteran of life forms, the seasonal aspects, abundance, insects, like distribution patterns, abundance, distribution patterns on biotopes and dominant injurious ness and population dynamics. At the species (Pravdin, 1978). This paper mainly same time we have no any information on include the results of the investigations were acridid communities in urban landscapes of conducted in different biotopes of Ashgabat, desert zone. In South Turkmenistan was carried such as grass plots, ornamental forest plantation, out investigations for studying the gnawing roadside vegetation, buildings and the most (Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera) insects illuminated at night sites of the city. and their parasites (Hymenoptera, Diptera) in ornamental plantings and protective forest belts EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS (Kokanova, 1995; Kokanova, Tokgaev, The Tree locust Anacridium aegyptium of African Myartseva, 2000). Human activities such as origin in urban landscapes of Turkmenistan is expansion of urban and recreational forest wintered in buildings, window spaces of the planting areas, improvement of the lighting buildings, etc. (See table 1). Early in the spring system in the cities, usage of drip irrigation this species is generally found in areas of grass system in forest plantings, that have took place plots, scattered bushs and trees, between the during last years in Turkmenistan have been sticks and leaves. The most common trees and changing microclimatic conditions of local bushes in such biotops being various species of natural landscapes. Thereby, ecological mulberry (Morus sp.), poplar (Populus sp.), conditions of urban landscapes being more acacia (Acacia sp.), willow (Salix babylonica), attractive for certain species of acridids that use roses (Rosa sp.), oleander (Nerium oleander), changed landscapes successfully. This situation etc. Egyptian Tree locust feed mainly on lets us to decide the goal of our researches. ornamental trees such Morus sp., Pistacia vera, Acacia sp. and bushes of Rose sp. Presentation of the Main Contribution of the The meadow-like biotopes or grass plots are Paper / Scope of Research provided with spray irrigation system. Acridids are important taxonomic group of Therefore, the vegetable cover are mowed down insects in natural and disturbed ecosystems in and refreshed in regular way. Grass plots on Turkmenistan These insects are abundant in urban landscapes consists of perennial herbs as anthropogenic landscapes of desert zone. Cyperus rotundus, Cynodon dactylon, Medicago General peculiarities of formation of original sativa, Lotus sergievskiae, Convolvulus acridid communities in urban landscapes of arvensis, Taraxacum officinale, annual plants as Turkmenistan are studied for the first time. Erigeron canadensis, Lactuca serriola, Crepis Species diversity and ecological structure of rhoeadifolia, Malva neglecta, Milium vernale acridid communities on different types of urban and scattered bushs and trees. Near 80% of biotopes are vary on depend of adjoining natural vegetable cover here on the plots are weeds. landscapes, vegetation cover and the level and Mesophytic conditions of this biotop are attractive type of human activities. Irrigation of for 5 species of acridids, such as Duroniella ornamental forest plantings in urban landscapes gracilis, Aiolopus thalassinus, A. simulatrix have resulted the extending the distribution simulatrix, Chorthippus macrocerus assimilis areas of mesophile species acridids, associated and Anacridium aegyptium (see table 1). with riparian woodlands. While, first 4 species among them are Proposed Methodology and Discussion predominate on the grass plots, their population density are 0,5-1,0 ind./m2, abundance - 80-95 The samples of acridids have been collected ind./h. The ecological structure of the acridid from 1997 to 2017 in urban landscapes of community was characterized by 3 types of life Turkmenistan. The investigations were performed forms, such as thamnobiont, facultative and by standard methods (Bey-Bienko, 1932; grass or true hortobionts. Kozhanchikov, 1961; Sergeev, 1986). Acridid The acridid community of the ornamental forest communities were investigated quantitatively plantings in urban landscapes was characterized and qualitatively in different urban biotopes. For 17 Annals of Ecology and Environmental Science V2 ● I1 ● 2018 Formation Patterns of Acridid Communities in Urban Landscapes of Turkmenistan by high species diversity and ecological introduced pine (Pinus eldarica), eastern biota composition (see table 1). This biotope in urban (Biota orientalis), palms (Palma sp.), acacia landscapes of desert zone are provided with drip (Acacia sp.). The 2-nd layer of the forest irrigation systems. The vegetable cover of the plantings was formed by bushes of roses (Rosa biotop are comprised by plants of different sp.), tamarisks (Tamarix sp.), black saxauls ecobiotic morphs. So, the 1-st layer of the (Haloxylon aphyllum), seepweeds