Bering tundra

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Bering Tundra
Korjaksky nature reserve.jpg
Koryak Nature Reserve
Ecoregion PA1102.png
Ecoregion territory (in purple)
Ecology
Realm Palearctic
Biome Tundra
Geography
Area474,200 km2 (183,100 sq mi)
Country Russia
Coordinates 63°45′N168°45′E / 63.75°N 168.75°E / 63.75; 168.75

The Bering tundra ecoregion (WWF ID: PA1102) is an ecoregion that covers a portion of northeastern Russia, between the Kolyma Mountains on the west, and the Bering Sea coast to the east. The area is an important stopping place for migratory birds. It has an area of 474,227 square kilometres (183,100 sq mi). [1] [2]

Contents

Location and description

The ecoregion stretches approximately 1,000 km on alignment from southwest-to-northeast, between the Kolyma Mountains on the west, the Bering Sea coast to the east, and Kamchatka peninsula to the south.

Climate

The climate of Koryak is subarctic (Köppen climate classification (Dfc) ). This climate is characterised by long cold winters (at least one month averaging below 0 °C (32 °F)), and short, cool summers (one to three months greater than 10 °C (50 °F), but no month averaging above 22 °C (72 °F)). [3] Mean precipitation is about 358 mm/year. The mean temperature at the center of the ecoregion is −24.1 °C (−11.4 °F) in January, and 12.2 °C (54.0 °F) in July.

Flora and fauna

The ecoregion supports flora and fauna typical of forest-tundra. Low-lying areas may feature stunted trees and willow and alder on floodplains. Elsewhere the ground cover is grasses, heaths, and members of the families Asteraceae, Ranunculaceae, and Rosaceae. Mosses and lichens take over at higher elevations. Species diversity is relatively low due to the harsh climate and the isolation of the area since glacial times. Large mammals the include the East Siberian brown bear, the Anadyr fox, and some bighorn sheep in the highlands. Common smaller mammals include the East Siberian ermine and the American mink. Large colonies of migrating birds rest or nest in the area every summer and autumn. Numbers of over 700,000 individuals and 200 species have been recorded in the ecoregion. [4]

Protections

There is at least one significant nationally protected area in this ecoregion, the Koryak Nature Reserve, on the northeastern region of Kamchatka, stretching from mountains to the coast. A 2017 estimate approximated that 43,231 square kilometers of the region are included in protected areas. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vishera Nature Reserve</span> Nature reserve in Perm Krai, Russia

Vishera Nature Reserve, also known as Vishersky, is a nature reserve in the middle latitudes of the Ural Mountains in Perm Krai, Russia. It covers an area of 2,412 km2, more than 75% of which is dark coniferous forest (taiga). An additional 20% of the territory is treeless mountain landscape. The Vishera River flows through nature reserve for about 130 km. Administratively, the reserve is located in the extreme north-east of Perm Krai, in Krasnovishersky District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Koryak Nature Reserve</span> Nature reserve in Kamchatka, Russia

Koryak Nature Reserve is a Russian 'zapovednik' Located in the north of the Kamchatka Peninsula, in the valley of the Kuyul River in the Russian Far East, and in separate coastal areas on the coast of the Bering Sea. The reserve includes the surrounding mountains of the Gauvin Peninsula and adjacent waters in Lavrov Bay, and one fourth of the total area covers waters of the Bering Sea. Koryak is an important area for large colonies of nesting waterfowl and migratory seabirds; studies have found that the majority of the seabirds migrating along the Kamchatka Peninsula spend their winters in Japan. Protecting this connection was one of the reasons for the establishment of the reserve in 1995. The rivers of Koryak are important spawning grounds for salmon. Also protected are the floral communities of the reserve, which include prime examples of "Bering forest tundra". The reserve is situated in the Koryak Okrug of Kamchatka Krai. The reserve covers an area of 327,106 ha (1,262.96 sq mi). The site is part of a Ramsar wetland area of international importance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poronaysky Nature Reserve</span> Strict nature reserve in Sakhalin Oblast, Russia

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northeast Siberian taiga</span> Ecoregion in northeastern Siberia, Russia

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daurian forest steppe</span> Ecoregion in Mongolia and Siberia

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Altai alpine meadow and tundra</span> Ecoregion in the Altai Mountains

The Altai alpine meadow and tundra ecoregion is a terrestrial ecoregion covering the higher elevation of the Altai Mountains at the center of the "X" formed by the borders separating Russia, Kazakhstan, China, and Mongolia. The mountain peaks are the farthest north in Central Asia, separating the plains of Siberia to the north from the hot, dry deserts to the south. Altitudes above 2,400 meters display characteristics of tundra, with patches of alpine meadows and some trees immediately below the treeline. The ecoregion is in the montane grasslands and shrublands biome, and the Palearctic realm, with a humid continental climate. It covers an area of 90,132 square kilometres (34,800 sq mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cherskii–Kolyma mountain tundra</span>

The Cherskii–Kolyma mountain tundra ecoregion is an ecoregion that covers the higher elevations of the Chersky Range and the Kolyma Mountains, the only large mountain range in northern Russia. It is in the Palearctic realm, and tundra biome. It has an area of 556,589 square kilometres (214,900 sq mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chukchi Peninsula tundra</span> Ecoregion in Russia

The Chukchi Peninsula tundra ecoregion is an ecoregion that covers the northern coast of Russia along the East Siberian Sea, a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean. The climate is somewhat milder than would be expected for its latitude, but the moderating effects of the East Siberian Sea and Bering Sea permits summer daytime temperatures above 50 °F (10 °C). Many colonies of migrating birds visit the area. The ecoregion is in the Palearctic realm, and tundra biome. It has an area of 298,367 square kilometres (115,200 sq mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kamchatka Mountain tundra and forest tundra</span>

The Kamchatka Mountain tundra and forest tundra ecoregion is an ecoregion that covers the central mountain range of the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East. The region is one of volcanos, caldera, geysers, and mountain tundra. It is in the Palearctic realm and tundra biome. It has an area of 119,400 square kilometres (46,100 sq mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kola Peninsula tundra</span> Ecoregion in Arctic Ocean

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northeast Siberian coastal tundra</span>

The Northeast Siberian coastal tundra ecoregion is an ecoregion that covers the coastal plain of the central north region of Siberia in Russia. This coastal region borders the Laptev Sea and the East Siberian Sea, both marginal seas of the Arctic Ocean, from the Lena River delta in the west to the Kolyma River delta in the east. There are several large river deltas in the area that support breeding grounds for 60 to 80 species of migratory birds. The region is in the Palearctic realm, and the tundra biome. It has an area of 846,149 square kilometres (326,700 sq mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taimyr–Central Siberian tundra</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transbaikal Bald Mountain tundra</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yamal–Gydan tundra</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Siberian Mountains</span> Mountain range in Russia

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Low Arctic tundra</span> Tundra ecoregion of Canada

The Canadian Low Arctic Tundra ecoregion covers a rolling landscape of shrubby tundra vegetation along the northern edge of the mainland Canada along the border of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, and a small portion in Quebec on the northeast coast of Hudson Bay. The region is important for large herds of caribou and other large mammals, and for large nesting colonies of birds such as snow geese. The region is mostly intact, with 95% remaining intact.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torngat Mountain tundra</span>

The Torngat Mountain tundra ecoregion covers the Torngat Mountains on the northeastern tip of the Labrador Peninsula where the provinces of Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador meet. The mountains feature glacially carved U-shaped valleys and deep fjords. The vegetation over most of the territory is that of arctic tundra, herbaceous cover, or bare rock. The region supports seasonal polar bears, black bears, and caribou. The Atlantic coast is on the Atlantic Flyway for migratory birds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kytalyk National Park</span>

Kytalyk National Park is a protected area for the Arctic breeding grounds of migratory birds on the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, including a significant portion of sites for the critically endangered Siberian crane. The name "kytalyk" is the Yakut-language word for the Siberian crane. The park is on the low-lying tundra of the delta of the Indigirka River, on the East Siberian Sea in northern Russia. The park was officially created in 2019. The park is located in Allaikhovsky District of the Sakha Republic.

References

  1. "Bering tundra". GlobalSpecies.org. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  2. "Bering tundra". World Wildlife Federation. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  3. "Climate of 63.75 Latitude, 168.75 Longitude". GloalSpecies.org. Archived from the original on April 8, 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
  4. "Bering tundra". Encyclopedia of Earth. Archived from the original on March 8, 2010. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
  5. Dinerstein, Eric [in German]; Olson, David; Joshi, Anup; et al. (2017-04-05). "An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm". BioScience . 67 (6): 534–545, Supplemental material 2 table S1b. doi: 10.1093/biosci/bix014 . ISSN   0006-3568. PMC   5451287 . PMID   28608869.