Northeast Siberian taiga | |
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Ecology | |
Realm | Palearctic |
Biome | Boreal forests/taiga |
Geography | |
Area | 1,529.373 km2 (590.494 sq mi) |
Country | Russia |
Rivers | Lena River, Kolyma River |
Climate type | Dfd |
The Northeast Siberian taiga ecoregion (WWF ID: PA0605) is an area of "sparse taiga forest" between the Lena River and the Kolyma River in northeastern Siberia, Russia. The ecoregion's internal borders form a patchwork of territory constituting the southern part of the East Siberian Lowland, as well as lowlands around the East Siberian Mountains, including the ridges and peaks of the Verkhoyansk Range and the Chersky Range. On the southern border of the ecoregion is the north coast of the Sea of Okhotsk, giving the region maritime boreal forests as well as the continental forests situated inland. The ecoregion is one of the largest tracts of virgin boreal forest in the world, due to the very sparse population and difficult access. It is mostly in the Sakha Republic (Yakutsk region). [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
The ecoregion covers an area about 1,800 km west–east by 1,000 km north–south. The western border is the Lena River; beyond that is the East Siberian taiga ecoregion. The eastern edge is the Kolyma River, beyond which farther east is the Bering tundra ecoregion. To the north is a strip Arctic coastal tundra about 100 km wide, the Northeast Siberian coastal tundra ecoregion. The Okhotsk Sea to the south completes the outline of the ecoregion, but internally the Verhkoyansk and Chersky mountains (which are in the "Cherskii-Kolyma mountain tundra" ecoregion) confines the ecoregion into valleys and lowlands. [6] The region is in the Palearctic realm (Euro-Siberian region). It covers 1,670,283 km2 (644,900 sq mi).
The Verkhoyansk Range is an "L-shaped" range that runs down the east side of the Lena before turning west–east across the south of the ecoregion. The Chersky Range runs northwest-to-southeast through the middle of the region. Their upper slopes and peaks are too cold and dry to support the forests and flora of the lowlands in the Northeast Siberian taiga ecoregion. To the east and north of the mountains lies the Kolyma River basin. In addition to the Kolyma River, the ecoregion contains the Indigirka River and the Yana River. [7]
The region has an extreme subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification Dfd), with long, extremely cold winters and short warm summers. [8] Regions with a Dfd climate have 1-3 months with temperatures averaging above 10 °C (50 °F) and at least one month with mean temperatures below −38 °C (−36 °F) , this region has some of the coldest winters in the Northern Hemisphere with the lowest temperature recorded being −68 °C (−90 °F).
Verkhoyansk, Sakha Republic, Russia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Climate chart (explanation) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Precipitation is relatively low, ranging from 150–200 mm/year in central Yakutia, to 400–500 mm/year in the mountains.
The dominant trees are Larix cajanderi (Dahurian larch), Larix sibirica , Larix × czekanowskii , Betula dahurica , Betula pendula (silver birch), Pinus sibirica , Pinus sylvestris , Pinus koraiensis , Picea obovata , Abies sibirica , Juniperus communis , Quercus acutissima , Quercus mongolica , Ginkgo biloba , Prunus serrulata , Prunus padus , Tilia amurensis , Salix babylonica , Acer palmatum , Populus tremula , Ulmus davidiana , and Ulmus pumila , with a ground cover of Pinus pumila (Siberian dwarf pine) Haloxylon ammodendron (saxaul), Elaeagnus angustifolia , Tamarix ramosissima , Prunus sibirica , and lichen. Further development of the forest is limited by the continuous permafrost of the area, and by the harsh cold winters and relatively low precipitation. [6] The region is a large sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide. [9]
In the lowland floodplains there are steppe floral communities that feature fescue ( Festuca ), wheatgrass, alpine oatgrass ( Helictotrichon ), cinquefoils ( Potentilla tollii), Orostachys spinosa, Carex pediformis, and others. [7] The ecoregion is one of the floral regions of the Circumboreal Region.
Migrant waterfowl are common in the northern areas near the tundra; species include Melanitta nigra (Common scoter), Anser fabalis (Bean goose), and Anas formosa (Baikal teal). Off the rocky coast of the Sea of Okhotsk are important breading areas for seabirds. Over one million individuals from 15 species are seen in the area, and is one of the only breeding grounds for the Little curlew and the critically endangered Siberian crane.
The Siberian taiga also is home to galliforms, like the willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) and rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) in areas of open tundra. Populations of black-billed capercaillies (Tetrao urogalloides) and hazel grouse (Tetrastes bonasia) tend to inhabit forested habitat.
Common mammals are elk (Alces alces), Siberian chipmunk (Eutamias sibiricus), lynx (Felis lynx), Siberian weasel (Mustela sibirica), red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and brown bear (Ursus arctos).
Notable protected areas of the Russian Federation in the West Siberian taiga include:
The region is relatively untouched by human activities; the region is one of the largest virgin forests in the world. There is some mining activity, and logging. As usual with boreal forests, wild fires are a threat in the summer.
The area is sparsely populated; the only city is Magadan on the Okhotsk Sea, and scattered mining and logging villages. [6] [7]
The East Siberian taiga ecoregion, in the Taiga and boreal forests biome, is a very large biogeographic region in eastern Russia.
Olyokma Nature Reserve is a Russian 'zapovednik' located south of the middle reaches of the Lena River on the right bank of its second largest tributary - the Olyokma River at the junction of the Aldan Highlands and the Olyokma-Chara Plateau in Olyokminsky District of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia). The area is remote and relatively undisturbed, being 80 km from a town.
Central Siberia Nature Reserve is a Russian 'zapovednik'. With over 1 million hectares of protected area, it is one of the largest forest reserves in the world. The reserve is located in the middle Yenisei, lower Bakhta and lower Stony Tunguska river valleys, of the Central Siberian Plateau. Notably, the territory covers both banks of the Yenisei for over 60 km. The reserve is situated in the Turukhansky District of Krasnoyarsk Krai.
Sokhondo Nature Reserve is a Russian 'zapovednik' in the south of Eastern Siberia, 25 km north of the border with Mongolia. It is the farthest source of the Amur River, and is centered on the Sokhondo Mountain massif, in the highest sector of the Khentei-Chikoy Highlands in the Khentei Range mountain range. The Sokhondo massif has two peaks, and is an ancient volcano. Also within the borders are many lakes of glacial origin. In 1985, Sokhondo was named a UNESCO MAB Biosphere Reserve. The reserve is situated in the Chita district of Chita Oblast.
The Transbaikal conifer forests ecoregion covers a 1,000 km by 1,000 km region of mountainous southern taiga stretching east and south from the shores of Lake Baikal in the Southern Siberia region of Russia, and including part of northern Mongolia. Historically, the area has been called "Dauria", or Transbaikal. It is in the Palearctic realm, and mostly in the boreal forests/taiga biome with a subarctic, humid climate. It covers 200,465 km2 (77,400 sq mi).
The West Siberian taiga ecoregion covers the West Siberian Plain in Russia, from the Ural Mountains in the west to the Yenisei River in the east, and roughly from 56° N to 66° N latitude. It is a vast, flat lowland region of boreal forests (taiga), and wetlands, covering an area about 1,800 km west–east, by 1,000 km north–south.
The Okhotsk-Manchurian taiga ecoregion is an area of coniferous forests in the Russian Far East, covering the Amur River delta, the west coast of the Okhotsk Sea, and the rugged extension of the northern Sikhote-Alin Mountains that run southwest-to-northeast through the Primorsky and Khabarovsk regions. It is the southernmost taiga forest in Eurasia. The ecoregion is distinguished from surrounding ecoregions by the slightly warmer climate due to the maritime influence and the shield of the mountains to the west, and by the mixing of flora and fauna species from Okhotsk-Kamchatka communities to the north and Manchurian species from the south. The forest at lower altitudes is "light taiga", and "dark taiga" at higher altitudes.
The Sakhalin Island taiga ecoregion covers most of Sakhalin Island, the largest island of Russia, which is separated from the mainland by the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan. The region is one of taiga, coniferous and mixed broad leaf forest landscape, with mixed larch forests at the lower elevations and shrubs at higher elevations. The vegetation is influenced by a maritime climate that is relatively warmer than the colder continental taiga in Siberia to the west. A long, thin island, 1,000 km by 200 km, Sakhalin is connected to the mainland by ice bridges in the winter, so it shares certain flora and fauna species. It is in the Palearctic realm, and mostly in the taiga biome with a Humid continental climate, cool summer climate. It covers 403,504 km2 (155,794 sq mi).
The Kamchatka-Kurile meadows and sparse forests ecoregion covers the coastal zones of the Kamchatka peninsula, northern section of the Kuril Islands, and the Commander Islands in the Russian Far East. The region noted for its sparse forests of Betula ermanii, and also for extensive tall-herb meadows. It is in the Palearctic realm, and mostly in the boreal forests/taiga biome with a Humid continental climate, cool summer climate. It covers 146,334 km2 (56,500 sq mi).
The Ussuri broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion covers a mountainous areas above the lower Amur River and Ussuri River in Primorsky Krai and Khabarovsk Krai in the Russian Far East. The ecoregion is in the Palearctic realm, with a Humid Continental climate. It covers 187,357 km2 (72,339 sq mi).
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).
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).
The East Siberian Lowland, also known as Yana-Kolyma Lowland, is a vast plain in North-eastern Siberia, Russia. The territory of the lowland is one of the Great Russian Regions. Administratively, it is a part of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia).
The East Siberian Mountains or East Siberian Highlands are one of the largest mountain systems of the Russian Federation. They are located between the Central Yakutian Lowland and the Bering Strait in Northeast Siberia. The area of the East Siberian Mountains has a very low population density. The territory of the mountain system is one of the Great Russian Regions.
The Changbai Mountains mixed forests ecoregion covers the Changbai Mountains and surrounding foothills in China and North Korea. The region features extensive and naturally preserved deciduous and conifer forests. The region exhibits high biodiversity due to its relative isolation, temperate climate with high rainfall, and centrality to central Chinese, Siberian, and European floral communities. In 1979, a significant portion of the ecoregion was designated the Changbaishan Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
The Jiang Nan subtropical evergreen forests ecoregion covers the mountainous divide between the lower Yangtze River and the coastal plain of South China. The region is also a climatic divide between the temperate valleys of the north and the subtropical forests of the south. The region is important for biodiversity and endemic species. The rugged limestone karst hills have been relatively protected from conversion to agriculture, and support specialized plant and animal communities.
The Manchurian mixed forests ecoregion covers the forested hills surrounding the river plains of northern China, Russia, North Korea, and South Korea. The ecoregion supports a number of rare species due to the relative isolation, the diversity of habitat, with mixed forests of deciduous Mongolian oak and conifers of Korean pine. Because mountains rise above the region on three sides, with plains and wetlands below, the area supports high biodiversity as a transition zone.
The Hokkaidō deciduous forests ecoregion covers the northern and southern coasts of the island of Hokkaido, the northernmost of the main islands of Japan. The region sits in the transition zone between the colder subarctic forests to the north and the more temperate forests to the south. Characteristic trees include Mongolian oak, Basswood, and Ash trees.
The Northwest Territories taiga ecoregion (WWF:NA0614) is located in the Northwest Territories and Yukon provinces of Canada. It covers forest and tundra along the Mackenzie River Valley and the surrounding highlands in the southern portion of the valley.
Tokinsko-Stanovoy National Park is located at the mountainous headwaters of the Zeya River, in the Stanovoy Highlands of the Russian Far East. It was created in 2019 to protect important natural features - particularly the Siberian snow sheep, and also the cultural heritage of the reindeer-herding indigenous Evenki people. The park is located in the Zeysky District of Amur Oblast, at the meeting point of the borders of Amur Oblast, the Sakha Republic, and Khabarovsk Krai.