Russian Far East Rivers & Wetlands - A Global Ecoregion
Of the mollusks, approximately a dozen species may face extinction
Snapshot: Ecoregion 181
Size:
2,500,000 sq. km (1,000,000 sq. miles)
Habitat type:
Small Rivers
Geographic Location:
Eastern coast of north Asia: China, Mongolia, and Russia
Conservation Status:
Relatively Stable/Intact
Quiz Time!
What is the normal course of the Amur River?
Answer:
This mighty river flows for nearly 1,900 miles (3,000 km) from the mountains, down through forests before pouring into the Tartar Strait. Two of its largest tributaries are the Ussuri and Sungari Rivers, which flow north through China and Mongolia.
About the Area
This is one of the richest freshwater ecoregions in Eurasia, particularly for fish species and ancient river systems.
Headwater streams, floodplain lakes, deltas, and highland lakes are among the diversity of habitats represented here. This freshwater area supports a high fish diversity and globally outstanding populations of salmon and sturgeon.Local Species
The Amur River supports more fish species than any other Russian river with over 120 species. Mollusks and crustaceans are especially diverse, comprising a special Far East complex.
In addition, the ecoregion contains some of Asia's most extensive temperate reedbeds and wet meadows. These wetlands support a rich bird fauna, including endangered cranes, along with some endemic and rare plant species.
Sturgeons and migratory salmon include Amur (Acipenser schrenckii), Sakhalin (A. mikadoi) and Kaluga (Huso dauricus) sturgeon, and Chum (Oncorhynchus keta) and Pink (O. gorbuscha) salmon. The threatened Red-crowned (Grus japonensis) and White-naped (G. vipio) cranes are protected in wetland reserves adjacent to the Amur River.
Other inhabitants include soft-skinned Far Eastern turtle (Amyda sinensis), Ussuri soft-shelled turtle (Trionyx sinensis), Amur pike (Esox reichertii), Amur whitefish (Coregonus ussuriensis), the mussel - Middendorffinaia ussuriensis, and Long-tailed clawed salamander (Onychodactylus fischeri).
Threats
Fishing pressure in parts of this ecoregion is intense, including poaching of salmon on breeding grounds for roe, and drift netting for salmon in international waters. In addition to damaging activities such as mining and logging, oil and gas drilling threaten fish habitat through dumping of drilling mud and the potential of oil spills.
Resources
• NationalGeographic.com
