Page 156 - Russian History Viewed through Distorted Mirrors, Vol. 1

Nicolai Levashov. Russian History Viewed through Distorted Mirrors. Vol. 1

species. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, in the Equatorial Zone vegetable
biomass grows the whole year round without any interruptions. Secondly, the Equato-
rial, as well as the Subequatorial, Tropical and Subtropical Zones are “occupied” by
angiosperm plants which have a biological coefficient equal 10%.

Second, unlike the above-mentioned climatic zones, in the Temperate Zone the
active growth of biomass takes place only during several months of the year because
of the cold winter with temperatures below 0º C, and the further north, the lower the
winter temperature. As a result, the gymnosperm plants with a biological coefficient
equal 7% prevail in northern areas of the Temperate Zone. In its southern areas the
winter is not so severe, the spring and autumn is softer too, which allows the angio-
sperm plants to develop these spaces. However, there are certain differences which
prevent them from obtaining the dominant position they have in the Equatorial Zone.

The first and main difference is a cold winter with the temperature below zero.
Second, the angiosperm plants are able to grow their biomass only for several
months. Third, plenty of water and a lot of sun and heat are necessary during a great-
er part of the year for their fruits to ripen, which is impossible in the conditions of the
Temperate Zone.

It is true that there is enough water in those areas of the Temperate Zone which
have an excess of liquid, but the very cold winter and pretty cold spring and autumn
create impossible conditions for many species of the gymnosperm plants to grow. But
some of them along with the angiosperm plants have successfully developed these
lands, however the latter prevailed. Both types create mixed forests and forest-
steppes. In the southern areas of the Temperate Zone the winter is softer, as are the
spring and autumn, but the shortage of water prevents most species of gymnosperms
and angiosperms from developing intensively. These areas — the steppes — are the
kingdom of herbage. In areas of the Temperate Zone with a continental or humid con-
tinental climate, winters are very severe and only angiosperm plants are able to de-
velop these areas, if there is sufficient water. Steppes and semi-deserts extend where-
in there is insufficient moisture. Water is the basis of life everywhere and always.

Thus, in the Temperate Zone vegetable life does not play that repressive-
dominant position toward the animal forms of life as it does in the Equatorial one. In
temperate conditions vegetable and animal forms of life exist in a state of symbiosis.
This has allowed many species of animals, both herbivorous and carnivorous, to mas-
ter niches which do not exist in the equatorial jungles, where there are no large her-
bivorous animals like aurochs (now extinct, ox-like, mammals), elk and red deer.
These Artiodactyls would not be able to make their way through the endless wall of
plants. Moreover, despite the plenitude of vegetable life, they would simply die of
hunger, being unable to reach the leaves and young shoots of trees in the equatorial
forest. And those that they could reach either would poison them or would not be
enough for the subsistence of these species.

In addition to the great number of poisonous bushes and other plants, they would
confront a number of poisonous animals: insects, amphibians and reptiles. In the
equatorial jungles animal life developed mainly in the trees, not on the ground. While

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