Ubsunur Hollow Biosphere Reserve - Ecology

Ecology

The Hollow, located on the border between Mongolia and Russia, is the most fascinating environmental habitat in Central Asia because of the complex ecosystems that mingle here. Its area is 10,688 km2 (4,127 sq mi). The terrain includes glaciers, taiga, desert, alpine tundra, sub alpine meadows, and a vast mountain taiga areas. There are also forested steppes, treeless steppes, semi-arid deserts, and ever shifting sand dunes. It is a beautiful and amazingly diversified natural habitat, producing an interaction of Euro-Siberian and Central Asian-Mongolian plant and animal life. Because of its location on the cusp of the Euro-Siberian and Central Asian-Mongolian terrains, the flora and fauna exhibit a high biodiversity for mid latitudes. Animal species that inhabitant both mountains and tundra such as the irbis (snow leopard), Siberian roe, Altai snow cock flourish here, as well as taiga dwellers such as the maral, lynx and wolverine. Steppe dwellers include the Mongolian lark, demoiselle crane and long tailed Siberian souslik. Desert inhabitants include the bustard and midday gerbil. There are 359 bird species alone. Since the Hollow is a protected area, many species extinct elsewhere are found here.