Ural Mountains Taiga - A Global Ecoregion
Some the most intact conifer forests in western Eurasia
Snapshot: Ecoregion 83
Size:
174,000 sq. km (67,000 sq. miles)
Habitat type:
Boreal Forests/Taiga
Eurasia: entirely within Russia, these mountains are often used as the dividing line between Europe and Asia
Conservation Status:
Vulnerable
Quiz Time!
Is the Ural Owl aggressive in behaviour?
Answer:
The Ural Owl is a quiet bird, but it has been known to attack intruders that approach its nest. And while its name implies that owls are found here, they are not endemic, but found at high altitudes in Europe and Asia.
Answer:
The Ural Owl is a quiet bird, but it has been known to attack intruders that approach its nest. And while its name implies that owls are found here, they are not endemic, but found at high altitudes in Europe and Asia.
About the Area
The Ural Mountains extend through western Asia, running in a north-south direction from the Arctic Ocean almost to the Aral Sea.
Low temperatures, poor soils, and periods of low precipitation combine to favor coniferous trees. This ecoregion supports a unique mixture of European and Asian species.Local Species
Dominant tree species include the Siberian spruce (Picea obovata), Siberian larch (L. russica), Larix sukaczewii, and Siberian fir (Abies sibirica).
There are many examples of Siberian species such as Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) and Sable (Martes zibellina), as well as European species such as the Hare (Lepus Europaeus), Polecat (Mustela putorius), and Mink (Mustela lutreola). Most birds are not specific to the Urals, but may be found in the European or Siberian taigas.
These include the Eurasian dipper (Cinclus cinclus), Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), Eurasian dotterel (Charadrius morinellus), Northern black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix), and the Ural owl (Strix uralensis).
Threats
Centuries of resource exploitation, logging, mining, processing of metals and chemicals, and heavy industry have caused extensive habitat loss and degradation in some locations.
Resources
• NationalGeographic.com
