Gissaro–Alai open woodlands

Gissaro-Alai open woodlands
Gissaro-Alai open woodlands
	Palearctic
Biome	Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
Borders	List Alai–Western Tian Shan steppe; Badghyz and Karabil semi-desert; Central Asian northern desert; Hindu Kush alpine meadow; Pamir alpine desert and tundra; Paropamisus xeric woodlands; Tian Shan montane conifer forests; Tian Shan montane steppe and meadows;
Geography
Area	168,090 km2 (64,900 sq mi)
Countries	List Kazakhstan; Kyrgyzstan; Tajikistan,; Uzbekistan; Afghanistan;
Coordinates	40°45′N 70°15′E / 40.75°N 70.25°E

The Gissaro-Alai open woodlands

Tian Shan Mountains in western Tajikistan, and parts of eastern Uzbekistan and western Kyrgyzstan, in Central Asia.^[1]^[2]

The woodlands are typically of Juniper trees and shrubs, fitting the altitude zone situated between the desert valley floor (mostly on the west), and the tree line, above which the mountain ridges are glaciated and barren.

Location and description

The ecoregion winds its way around two chains of mountain ranges that extend westward from the Tian Shan Mountains. The northern chain is a direct extension of the Tian Shan, the southern chain is composed of (from west to east) the

Gissar Range, the Zarafshan Range, the Turkestan Range, and the Alay Range. Collectively the southern chain has been referred to as the Pamir-Alay. In between the two mountain chains is the Fergana Valley. To the east are the Pamir Mountains. The snow line is lowest in the west (3,400 metres (11,200 ft), and highest in the east (4,540 metres (14,900 ft)).^[1]

The higher elevations in the Pamir-Alay are in the

Alai-Western Tian Shan steppe

ecoregion.

Climate

The climate of the ecoregion is Humid continental climate - Hot, dry summer sub-type (Köppen climate classification Dsa), with large seasonal temperature differentials and a hot summer (at least one month averaging over 22 °C (72 °F), and mild winters. The driest month between April and September does not have more than 30 millimeters of precipitation.^[3]^[4]

Flora and fauna

Flora communities reflect altitude zones. Below 1800-2000 meters the desert foothills are characterized by sagebrush (

Lonicera).^[1]

Protections

Significant protected areas in the ecoregion include:

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Gissaro-Alai open woodlands". World Wildlife Federation (WWF). Retrieved December 28, 2019.
^ "Map of Ecoregions 2017". Resolve, using WWF data. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
^ Kottek, M.; Grieser, J.; Beck, C.; Rudolf, B.; Rubel, F. (2006). "World Map of Koppen-Geiger Climate Classification Updated" (PDF). Gebrüder Borntraeger 2006. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
^ "Dataset - Koppen climate classifications". World Bank. Retrieved September 14, 2019.

[wwf-1] "Gissaro-Alai open woodlands". World Wildlife Federation (WWF). Retrieved December 28, 2019.

[ecomap-2] "Map of Ecoregions 2017". Resolve, using WWF data. Retrieved September 14, 2019.

[3] Kottek, M.; Grieser, J.; Beck, C.; Rudolf, B.; Rubel, F. (2006). "World Map of Koppen-Geiger Climate Classification Updated" (PDF). Gebrüder Borntraeger 2006. Retrieved September 14, 2019.

[kop-data-4] "Dataset - Koppen climate classifications". World Bank. Retrieved September 14, 2019.

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