Landscape structure of the Gaginsky Municipal District (Nizhny Novgorod Region, Russia)

¹ Kozma Minin Nizhny Novgorod State Pedagogical University (Minin University), 1, Ul'yanova, Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod Region, 603950, Russia
² Nizhny Novgorod State Engineering and Economic University, 22a, Oktyabrskaya St., Knyaginino, Nizhny Novgorod Region, 606340, Russia

^* Corresponding author: astashinfizgeo@yandex.ru

Abstract

The paper presents a scheme of landscape differentiation of Gaginskij municipal district of Nizhny Novgorod region (Russia) at the level of landscape types. The researched territory is located in a forest-steppe zone, has fertile soils and, therefore, is actively involved in agricultural production. The territory is characterized by a high degree of ploughing and low degree of forest cover, which, however, are strongly dependent on the landscape structure, which determines both the nature of land use and the degree of transformation of natural and territorial complexes. In the course of the research a comparative assessment of the selected landscapes was carried out according to the main indicators, characterizing their disturbance (plowing) and preservation (degree of afforestation). During the research the position of 10 points of growth of 6 plant species, listed in the Red Data Book of the Nizhny Novgorod region was established, the habitats of which also have a pronounced landscape determinism – all of them tend to tracts, the conditions of which are close to the steppe. The work is based on the analysis of scientific literature, thematic maps, Earth remote sensing data, and our own field and desk research, conducted in 2024. Geoinformation processing of materials was performed using the QGIS geoinformation system. During the research 8 landscapes were identified.