Altai montane forest and forest steppe

Ecoregion: Altai montane forest and forest steppe
Altai montane forest and forest steppe
Forest and forest-steppe in Katun Nature Reserve, Altai mountane forest and forest steppe ecoregion
Ecoregion territory (in purple)
Ecoregion territory (in purple)
Ecology
Realm Palearctic
Biome Temperate coniferous forests
Geography
Area 35,199,998 km2 (13,590,795 sq mi)
Countries Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China
Coordinates 48°15′N 90°15′E / 48.25°N 90.25°E / 48.25; 90.25Coordinates: 48°15′N 90°15′E / 48.25°N 90.25°E / 48.25; 90.25

The Altai montane forest and forest steppe ecoregion (WWF ID:PA0502) covers patches of the subalpine forest belt on the Altai Mountains, crossing the border region where Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China meet. The region has high biodiversity, as it is located in transition zones between different ecoregions, altitudes, and climate zones. It is in the Palearctic ecozone, with a Cold semi-arid climate climate. It covers 35,199,998 km2 (13,590,795 sq mi).[1][2]

Location and description

The ecoregion stretches 1,500 km, from the Belukh Range of the Altai mountains on the Russia-Kazakhstan border in the northwest, to the Gobi-Altai in Mongolia to the southeast.[3] The ecoregion slices through the Altai at the sub-alpine elevations, leaving out the alpine peaks above, and the lakes and valleys below. To the south of the Altai are the cold, arid regions of central Asia, and to the north are the forests and wetlands of Siberia.

Climate

Because of its altitude distance from the ocean, the ecoregion has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification Bsk). This indicates a local climate characterized by cool summers, and cold, dry winters. These climate regions tend to be found at higher elevations in the middle of continents, with wide differences between day and night temperatures.[4]

Climate at 48.25 N, 90.25 E
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
0.1
 
 
−6
−31
 
 
0.1
 
 
−2
−29
 
 
0.4
 
 
12
−14
 
 
0.7
 
 
35
10
 
 
1.1
 
 
49
24
 
 
1.4
 
 
59
32
 
 
2
 
 
62
36
 
 
1.4
 
 
60
33
 
 
0.7
 
 
50
24
 
 
0.4
 
 
35
10
 
 
0.4
 
 
15
−9
 
 
0.4
 
 
0
−24
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: GlobalSpecies.org[5]

Flora

Bands of conifer forests tend to be found on the cooler, wetter northern slopes of the mountains, with desert-steppe vegetation more predominant on the southern slopes.[3] The forests in the southeast of the region include larch and larch-cedar stands. Mid-elevation grasses are dominated by tundra fescue (Festuca lenensis) and prairie junegrass (Koeleria macrantha). Desert-steppe vegetation in the south often features European feather grass (Stipa pennata), wild onion (Allium polyrhizum), Anabasis breviloa, and fringed sagebrush (Artemisia frigida). This is only a representative list, however, as the biodiversity in the area is very high. The World Wildlife Federation notes that the endemism of the area (12%) is higher than that of the Pyrenees or Alps.

Fauna

As a meeting zone of forest species from the north, and southern species from the south, the Altai mid-elevations exhibits high numbers of species. The most numerous of the southern small mammals are the Gray marmot (Marmota baibacina), the Tarbagan marmot (M. sibirica), and Lagomorpha (rabbits, hares, and pikas).[3] The area is home to several globally threatened species, such as the Snow leopard (Uncia uncia).

Protections

The federally protected areas in the region are:

  • Katun Nature Reserve ("Katunsky"). An IUCN class Ia "strict ecological reserve" (a Zapovednik) located in the northwest section of the Altai montane forest and forest steppe ecoregion, north of the Russia-Kazakhstan border. This nature reserve is in the highlands of the central Altai mountains; the Katun River flowing down its slopes form the headwaters of the Ob River. (Area: 150,079 km2).

See also

References

  1. "Altai montane forest and forest steppe". Ecoregions of the World. GlobalSpecies.org. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  2. "Plants of China". Cambridge University Press. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 "Altai Mountain Forest steppe". World Wildlife Federation. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  4. "Koppen Climate Classification". Hans Chen, Pennsylvania State University. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  5. "Climate, 48.25/90.25". GlobalSpecies.org. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
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