Dzungaro-Tien Shan Forests of Wild Fruit Trees
Widespread in the Dzungarian Altai and the Tarbagatai Range are open Acer and Juglans forest supporting a rich under story of fruit trees. The main species Malus sieversii is closely related to our cultivated apple. There are also five pear species (Pyrus), wild apricots (Armeniaca vulgaris), the alych plum (Prunus divaricat), and even the local Crataegus species (C. azarolus) has fruit measuring up to 3 cm in diameter. Endemic species found here include Astragalus intermedius (Fabaceae).
Dzungaro-Tien Shan Picea schrenkiana Alpine Forests
Between altitudes of about 1500-2300m spruce P. schrenkiana becomes the dominant tree often associated with firs such as Abies semenovii and A. sibirica although the latter is confined to the Dzungarian Altai. Also present are various small-leaved hardwood species such as Betula tianschanica, Populus tremula and Sorbus tianschanica. Close to the upland limit of trees stunted spruce can be found associated with Juniperus sibirica and J. turkestanica. Among the endemic or near endemic species associated with these alpine forest are Astragalus alatavicus, A. cystocalyx (Fabaceae), Calamagrostis pavlovii (Poaceae), Lappula sericata (Boraginaceae) and Oxytropis sarkandensis (Fabaceae).
Dzungaro-Tien Shan Feather-Grass Steppe
Above the forest, between 2000-2600 m, the dominant species are the grasses Stipa caucasica and Festuca sulcata together with Artemisia compacta and A. tianschanica. This vegetation is often stratified with a ground layer of small species such as Androsace villosa (3-5cm), a middle layer (10-20 cm) of herbs such as Leontopodium alpinum and Potentilla conferta, while Stipa and Festuca together with other grasses such as the endemic Agropyron dishungaricum (Poaceae) form a tall layer growing up to 50 cm. On the more rocky slopes shrubs such as Caragana jubata, Rosa webbiana, Clematis songarica and Ceratoides paposa may predominate.
Dzungaro-Tien Shan Alpine-Sub-Alpine Meadow-Steppe
This belt between altitudes of about 2600-2900 m is often characterized by Phlomis oreophila especially on southwestern exposures. Other mountain species commonly found in this zone are grasses such as Festuca kirilovii and Roegneria (Agropyron) schrenkiana, together with alpine herbs like Aconitum nepellus var. tianschanicum, Dianthus hoeltzeri, Euphorbia alatavica, Gentiana kaufmannia, Ligularia altaica, Neogaya mucronata, Solenanthus stylosus, Thalictrum foetidum and Trollius altaicus. Endemic or near endemic species found in this zone include Alchimilla sauri (Rosaceae), Astragalus dsharkenticus (Fabaceae), Cerastium tianschanicum (Caryophyllaceae), Corydalis gortschakovii (Fumariaceae), Crocus alatavicus (Iridaceae), Gentiana dschungarica (Gentianaceae), Melandrium sordidum (Caryophyllaceae), Oxytropis pseudofrigida (Fabaceae), Scutellaria irregularis (Lamiaceae) and Trinia polyclada (Apiaceae).
Dzungaro-Tien Shan Kobresia Meadows
In the alpine zone above 2900 m Kobresia including K. capillifolia and K. humilis become the dominant species often forming extensive carpets. Low growing Caragana jubata and Dracocephalum imberbe are also characteristic. In the wetter areas Saxifraga sibirica occurs and sheltering between the many boulders Chrysosplenium nudicale, Cortusa matthiola and Festuca coelestis can be found.
Dzungarian Saline and Sandy Deserts
The most widespread vegetation of these sandy often-saline soils is characterized by Haloxylon ammodendron and H. persicum although the latter reaches its eastern limit in Dzungaria. Other typical species include Anabasis salsa, Ephedra przewalskii, Nanophyton erinaceum, Salsola arbuscula and the endemic Iljinia regelii (Chenopodiaceae). In the lowest part (Ebi Nor Basin) there are extensive solonchak (saline soils) and here Artemisia borotalensis and Ephedra przewalskii dominate, but further east on the Tertiary Plateaux there are many Mongolian elements. In the saline depressions tamarisks and the Mongolian endemic Brachanthemum mongalicum (Asteraceae) are common together with Caragana leucophloea and Zygophyllum xanthoxylon, while in the more sandy areas species such as Atraphaxis compacta, Calligonum mongolicum and Hedysarum mongolicum predominate. Finally, in northern areas there are extensive areas characterized by Artemisia species such as A. gracilescens, A. schischkinii and A. terrae-albae var. massagetovii. Many of the endemic or near endemic species of this desert are associated with solonchak soils. Among these are the shrub Anabasis jaxartica (Chenopodiaceae).
Further information required.
References
Anon. 2004. Central Asia Mountain Ecosystems. Seminar on the role of ecosystems as waster suppliers. Convention on Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes.
Hilbig, W. 1995. The vegetation of Mongolia. SPB Academic Publishing, Amsterdam.
Knystautas, A. 1987. The Natural History of the USSR. Century Hutchinson Ltd.
Murzayev, E. M. 1971. The deserts of Dzungaria and the Tarim Basin. In: World Vegetation Types. Ed. S. R. Eyre. Macmillan.
Seminar on the Role of Ecosystems as Water Suppliers. 2004. Central Asia Mountain Ecosystems. Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia. Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes.
Walter, H. & Box, E. O. 1983. Deserts of Central Asia. In: Ecosystems of the World 5 - Temperate Deserts and Semi-Deserts. Ed. N. E. West. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company.