Altai-Sayan Montane Forests - A Global Ecoregion
120 out of 2500 vascular plant species strictly endemic
Snapshot: Ecoregion 79
Size:
862,000 sq. km (333,000 sq. miles)
Habitat type:
Temperate Coniferous Forests
Central Asia: China, Kazakstan, Mongolia, Russia
Conservation Status:
Vulnerable
Quiz Time!
Why do Altai mountain sheep avoid cliffs?
Answer:
One reason that Altai mountain sheep avoid cliffs is that although they're sure-footed on difficult terrain, they aren't very good jumpers!
About the Area
This Global ecoregion is made up of these terrestrial ecoregions: Sayan Alpine meadows and tundra; Great Lakes Basin desert steppe; Altai montane forest and forest steppe; Sayan montane conifer forests; Sayan Intermontane steppe; Altai alpine meadow and tundra.
The Altai-Sayan ecoregion is a mosaic of coniferous forests, intermontane steppe, and alpine meadows. This, in combination with the climatic diversity (areas east of the mountains receive ample rainfall; those to the west, in the "rain shadow" of the mountains, are semidesert), makes the mountain complex exceptionally rich in plant varieties and endemism (120 out of 2500 vascular plant species are strictly endemic).Local Species
The region's Mammal species include the Altai argali (Ovis ammon ammon), Snow leopard (Panthera unci), Siberian ibex (Capra sibirica), Altai pikas (Ochotona spp), Wolf (Canus lupis), Brown bear (Ursus arctos), and the Lynx (Felix lynx).
The Altai snowcock (Tetraogallus altaicus) can be found below 3,000 meters. Rare plants include Isoetes lacustris, Brunnera sibirica, Erythronium sibiricum, and the two rare species of monkshood (Aconitum spp).
Threats
Forest clearance, plant over collection and hunting occur along the banks of larger rivers and in heavily populated areas such as the Kusnetsk Basin, Salair, Alatau Kuznetsk and southwestern Altai.
Extensive wildfires have been known to engulf huge amounts of forest while mining is a threat in some locations. In addition, alpine and sub alpine areas suffer from overgrazing and associated erosion.
Resources
• NationalGeographic.com
