Central Anatolian steppe
Central Anatolian steppe | |
---|---|
Ecology | |
Realm | Palearctic |
Biome | temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands |
Borders | |
Geography | |
Area | 24,934 km2 (9,627 sq mi) |
Countries | Turkey |
Conservation | |
Conservation status | Vulnerable[1] |
Protected | 1 km² (0%)[2] |
The Central Anatolian steppe is a
Geography
The Central Anatolian steppe is located in the
The largest is centered on
The ecoregion consists mostly of plains and river valleys, with an average elevation of 1,000 m. Mountains and plateaus define the edges of the ecoregion.[1]
Lake Tuz lies in a closed basin, fed by seasonal streams descending from the surrounding plateaus. The average elevation of the lake is 829 m. In the summer months, the lake mostly dries up, exposing salt flats. During the winter months the lake refills and expands.[1]
The steppe is mostly bounded by the Central Anatolian deciduous forests ecoregion, which occupies the plateaus and mountains of Central Anatolia. The Sündiken Mountains are part of the Anatolian conifer and deciduous mixed forests ecoregion. The Northern Anatolian conifer and deciduous forests ecoregion covers the Pontic Mountains, which enclose Central Anatolia on the north.
Climate
The ecoregion has a continental climate, with hot and dry summers and cold winters. The ecoregion is semi-arid, and annual precipitation ranges from 400 to 500 mm, and as low as 300 mm in some rain shadow areas.[1]
Flora
Lake Tuz is surrounded by salt steppe, composed of salt-tolerant (
The Karapınar Plain includes areas of salt steppe around smaller saline lakes, seasonal freshwater wetlands, and upland steppes characterized by Limonium anatolicum, with Petrosimonia brachiata, Alhagi pseudoalhagi, Salsola crassa, Petrosimonia nigeensis, and Frankenia hirsuta.[1]
Fauna
The ecoregion's salt lakes and freshwater wetlands are home to large populations of water birds, including resident and breeding birds and winter migrants.
A subspecies of Asian short-toed lark (Alaudala cheleensis ssp. niethammeri), inhabits the barren fringes of the ecoregion's salt and soda lakes. Steppe bird species include the great bustard (Otis tarda) and little bustard (Tetrax tetrax).[1]
Mammal species of the salt steppe include
References
External links
- "Central Anatolian steppe". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.