steppe zone of Russia - is the southern part of the East European Plain, Western Siberia and the east, which is covered by steppes to the foothills of the Altai and Baikal.In steppe zone summer is usually warm, with limited precipitation and cold winters.The amount of precipitation is about 200-450 mm per year.In summer, the air is moving from the Atlantic Ocean and because of the distance from it smoothly into continental.
steppe zone has a greater extent that generates heterogeneity of its climate.For example, in winter you can observe the phenomenon: the further moves to the east, the longer the winter, and the more it is cold.And if we move from west to east, it is significantly reduced cloudiness and precipitation, which is approximately 500-300 mm per year.In this climate already has signs of Continental, and she looks steppe land and, of course, changes the flora and fauna.
As low rainfall and high evaporation zone steppes of Russia, as a rule, has a runoff.The rivers are dry and completely dry in summer.Steppe zone - is a continuous absence of forests with a predominance of natural landscapes.It is completely dominated by herbaceous vegetation on the whole sea of hundreds of kilometers of fragrant herbs.The most common are: steppe oats fescue, feather grass, crested and bluegrass, but forb-grass was chosen over the northern areas.
steppe zone to the north contains black soil with humus in the soil is approximately 8-10%, and to the south, this level has reduced to 6%.When moving further to the south, in the sagebrush-fescue dry steppe grass cover more sparse and dominated by low-humus, sometimes less than 3-4% of the soil is brown.
existing natural steppe zone of several types: shrubs, grass, feather grass and wormwood.The nature of the cover influences the shape and composition of the soil surface.
the steppe always full of life, and the reason for that - grasses.That it provides shelter and food for many species of animals.Currently, there are more than 50 species of mammals and 250 species of birds.Only one large number of rodents: mice, voles, hamsters, jerboas, marmots.They tend to be very well adapted to the environment and have learned to disguise themselves from the numerous enemies, because they taught this natural area.
steppe is full of birds, such as the whitish harriers, merlin, larks, Imperial eagles.demoiselle.This also includes birds such as stone curlew, bustards, little bustards, Plover and Spotted trehperstki.They are very careful, like walking on the sown fields.You can also see gray and bearded partridges and quails nimble.
steppe zone is the perfect habitat for gerbils.Despite its dense, knock the body into a ball, animal moves rapid jumps on its hind legs while managing all their movements tail.Speed and quick reactions it needs as it is a desirable prey of local predators - foxes and weasels.
Birds also do not stop the hunt for tasty prey for a moment, so the front legs in rodents are much shorter back, and they are very fast runners.There are also animals that did not leave his refuge - land.This is the real excavations, these include zokor and mole rats.Steppe ants also keep up with them, and erect majestic buildings underground and on the surface.
active hamsters, voles, and mole rats are securely stored food reserves, which have been collected by them in the summer, in small burrows.Immunodeficient mouse digs a small mound or "barrows" and hides it in his food.Pika loves fragrant hay, she folds it into a neat stack directly at the entrance to its burrow.Of the hoofed animals most commonly found saiga.He has excellent visual acuity, which helps him in moments of danger, and the speed it runs at all none.
