Ussuri broadleaf and mixed forests
Ecoregion in the Russian Far East
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The Ussuri broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion (WWF ID: PA0443) 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).[1]
| Ussuri broadleaf and mixed forests | |
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 Ecoregion territory (in purple) | |
| Ecology | |
| Realm | Palearctic |
| Biome | temperate broadleaf and mixed forests |
| Geography | |
| Area | 223,516 km2 (86,300 mi2) |
| Countries | Russia |
Location and description
The ecoregion covers a Z-shaped area in which the northern section is a 400 km band of forest north of Khabarovsk parallel to the Amur River (which is 20–30 km to the south), the vertical band of which parallels the Ussuri River (which is 20–30 km to the west) on the western slopes of the Sikhote-Alin Mountains, and the base of which is the eastern slope of the Sikhote-Alin in Primorsky Krai.[1][2]
Climate
The region has a Humid continental, cool summer climate (Koppen classification (Dwb)). This climate is characterized by high variation in temperature, both daily and seasonally; with dry winters and cool summers.[3]
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Flora and fauna
The Ussuri forests are the most biologically diverse in northern Asia.[2] The maritime influence moderates the climate, precipitation is high enough to support rich forests, and the region is a boundary area between mountains, river flat lands, and sea coast.[5][6]
The forests of the region are dominated by Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis), Mongolian oak (Quercus mongolica), Larix gmelinii, Larix sibirica, Larix × czekanowskii, Juniperus communis, Betula dahurica, Betula pendula, Pinus sibirica, Pinus sylvestris, Picea obovata, Abies sibirica, Quercus acutissima, Ginkgo biloba, Prunus serrulata, Prunus padus, Tilia amurensis, Salix babylonica, Acer palmatum, Populus tremula, Ulmus davidiana, Ulmus pumila, Pinus pumila, Haloxylon ammodendron, Elaeagnus angustifolia, Tamarix ramosissima, and Prunus sibirica.
Wildlife such as brown bears, Asian black bears, wolves, red foxes, Sika deer, wapiti, wild boars, and the Common raccoon dog inhabit the region. It is also home to the largest species of cat, the Siberian tiger.
Protections
Notable protected areas of the Russian Federation in the ecoregion include:
- Bastak Nature Reserve, on the south-eastern spurs of the Bureya Range. (914 km2)
- Bolon Nature Reserve covering wetlands of the western approaches to Lake Bolon in the lower Amur River regions. (1,000 km2)
- Botcha Nature Reserve on the northeastern slopes of the Sikhote-Alin mountains. (2,674 km2)
- Komsomolsk Nature Reserve located where the Amur River cuts a narrow passage through the Sikhote-Alin. (643 km2)
- Khingan Nature Reserve includes forested spurs of the Lesser Khingan mountains. (940 km2)
- Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve An IUCN class Ia "strict ecological reserve" (a Zapovednik). (4,016 km2)
- Ussurisky Nature Reserve, one of the remaining virgin mixed deciduous-conifer forests in the Primorsky (Maritime) region of the Russian Far East. Located on the western slopes of the Sikhote-Alin mountains. (404 km2)
These are all IUCN class Ia "strict ecological reserves" (zapovedniks).
