Observation of animals and plants of Kazakhstan -
The formation of the vegetation cover of Kazakhstan begins with the flooding of the main part of the territory at the end of the Cretaceous period - the beginning of the Paleogene. In the Paleogene, the entire Turanian Basin was covered by the sea. The sea divided the continent towards Kazakhstan.
East of the Turgai Strait, broad-leaved and evergreen coniferous plants are mainly distributed in the Altai and Saryarka regions. Subtropical evergreen species (Poltava flora) have developed to the west of the Turgai Strait (Mugajar, Zhalpi Syrt, Zhem Ustyurt). Since the sea retreated and the size of the land began to increase (Paleogene), the flora of Africa penetrated through Iran to Kazakhstan. These include ephemeral plants, alfalfa, carob bushes, and some tree species.
In the first half of the Paleogene, when the plains were flooded by the sea, subtropical broadleaf forests spread to the hills and mountains along its shores. In the second half of the Paleogene, seawater retreated, dried up, and was replaced by today's large and small lakes.
In the Neogene, when the climate turned cold and the mountainous regions were covered with ice, thermophilic plants disappeared, modern types of forests formed, and plants such as walnuts, apricots, and apples remained. Arctic and alpine vegetation spread from Siberia. Today's vegetation of Kazakhstan is being formed gradually over a long period of time. Both native plants and imported species had a significant impact on the formation of modern plants.
Vegetation of modern Kazakhstan
The flora of modern Kazakhstan has about 6,000 plant species. Compared to other neighboring countries (Russia, Central Asia, the Caucasus), this is not much. This is influenced by the abundance of deserts and semi-deserts in Kazakhstan, the soil and the climate. Secondly, a significant part of Kazakhstan is young in terms of geological history.
It was only in the Neogene that the Caspian Lowland and the Turan Basin emerged from the sea. Ustyurt and Betpakdala came out a little earlier. Therefore, vegetation in these territories has not yet fully formed.
Mountain vegetation of Kazakhstan
The mountainous regions of Kazakhstan are rich in vegetation. The rich flora of Central Asia and the Mediterranean is especially preserved in the Western Tien Shan. There are Paleogene nuts, sycamore, almonds, Turkestan maple, pears, etc. The flora of the Syr Darya-Karatau is even richer. There are more than 1,000 plant species, 150 of which are unique to the area and are found nowhere else. Coniferous forests are found on the slopes of the Tien Shan, Altai and Semirechensk Alatau.
Spruce, pine, and cedar grow here. The alpine belt is covered with grass and meadows. Steppe vegetation grows in the foothills and lowlands. The Altai mountain steppes are rich in wild rose, hawthorn and willow fruits. The foothills of the Semirechensk Alatau and the Tien Shan mountain range look like deserts. Ephemeral plants (aspen, chestnut, poppy, tulip, etc.) are common in them. Low-mountain belts are represented by poplar, birch, wild, apple, apricot and hawthorn forests.
Vegetation of the desert of Kazakhstan
The vast plains of Kazakhstan, stretching for 1,600 km from north to south, are dominated by steppe and desert vegetation. In desert areas (Saryesik Atyrau, Moinkum, Betpakdala, etc.), saxaul, birch, juniper and poplar groves grow along the rivers.
Forests and greenery in Kazakhstan
In Kazakhstan, 303 plant species are listed in the Red Book and are protected by state reserves. After all, hay is valuable in terms of pastures, and forests are essential materials for production.
Kazakhstan is one of the least forested countries in the world. Only 11.4 million hectares (4.2%) of the total area are forested. It plays an important role in cleaning the environment, protecting the soil from erosion, strengthening its roots, protecting arable land and preventing landslides. Forests and greenery are also useful for cleaning the air from dust, wind and drought.
Modern plant species of Kazakhstan
Modern plant species in Kazakhstan are divided into coniferous forests, small deciduous forests, shrubs, steppe shrubs, saxaul, desert shrubs, steppe plants, subtropical plants, meadows, annual desert plants.
Animals in Kazakhstan
There are 180 species of mammals, 500 species of birds, 52 species of reptiles, 12 species of amphibians and 104 species of fish in Kazakhstan. Invertebrates (crustaceans, snails, worms, etc.), etc. There are more than 30,000 species of insects alone.
The forest-steppe zone of Northern Kazakhstan is home to moose, roe deer, white rabbits, gray mice, water rats, forest mice, partridges, white partridges, waterfowl - swans, geese, ducks, gulls, partridges. From the coast to the foothills of the Altai Mountains, there are many marmots, steppe marmots, vole mice, etc. in the steppe strip of cereals and wormwood. From spring to autumn, herds of white antelopes graze here, and in winter they move into the desert.
Moose and roe deer occupy a significant part of the western part of the steppe belt, which is occupied by forests in the Ural valley. There are also black mink, muskrat and forest marten. 200 years ago, the beaver, which was on the verge of extinction, began to appear again. Of the amphibians, turtles, forest frogs, etc. can be found here. There are many partridges, grey partridges, cranes, sparrows.
Marmots, voles, steppe hawks, white rabbits, lynxes, deer and argali live east of the steppe strip. In the desert belt, where vegetation varies, there are several species of terns and partridges, sand mice and rabbits. In the 1940s and 1950s, both white antelopes and gazelles were common here. Birds of prey, lizards, hawks, sparrows, etc. are found in this belt. The Ustyurt argali, which occurs between Ustyurt and Mangystau. The plateau is home to long needle-tailed hedgehogs, jeyrans, and desert lynx - caracals.
It is worth noting the representative of a unique breed that is not found anywhere else in Kazakhstan - the Jalman. It is located only in Betpakdal, a salt marsh in the village of Balkhash. in some coastal areas, only in the basins of Alakol and Zaisan. Birds of prey, hawks, cranes, and hawks can be found here. Saxaul sparrows and desert owls live in the sands of Balkhash. A number of lizard species (snakes, lizards) are common in the desert.
The forests of the river and lake valleys are inhabited by deer, wild boars, hares, pheasants, etc. A very rare relict seagull, listed in the "Red Book" of Kazakhstan, lives in the Alakol region. The fauna of the mountains surrounding the east and south of Kazakhstan is also diverse. In the coniferous forests of Altai there are moose, deer, moose, Siberian heron, argali, Altai wolf, brown bear, sable, bear, mink, leopard, squirrel, mouse, Altai marmot, partridge, etc.
Deer, roe deer, argali, Siberian heron, brown bear, lynx, leopard, and long-tailed squirrel live in the mountains south of the Zaisan basin [Sauyr, Tarbagatai, Zhetysu (Dzungarian Alatau). Instead of blue marmots, red and very rare Menzbir marmots were imported to Zhetysu (Dzungarian Territory), Trans-Ili Alatau and Talas Alatau. Birds of prey, thrushes, and eagles live in the mountains of southeastern Kazakhstan.
Development of wildlife in Kazakhstan.
From the point of view of the development of the animal world, Kazakhstan belongs to the Paleoarctic-zoogeographic region. The origin and formation of fauna is similar to the history of vegetation development. In the Paleogene, Kazakhstan was inhabited by tropical and subtropical animals. They were similar to the animal species of India and Africa. During the Ice Age, some warm-blooded animals became extinct, and some migrated to warmer climates.
Some species have survived in the mountainous regions of southeastern Kazakhstan (Zhetysu Alatau, Zailiysky Alatau, Uzunkara ridge (Ketpen)) and they were reborn after the Ice Age. This group includes such animal species as jeyran, tiger, wild boar, deer, stag, white-tailed deer and red-tailed deer.
During the ice Age, cold-resistant animals migrated to Kazakhstan from the north of the continent. Some species are still preserved in mountainous areas. These include tundra partridges, owls, etc. After the Ice Age, Central Asian animals and birds came to Kazakhstan. These include mice, woodpeckers, birds of prey, and rabbits. Later they moved to the steppes and deserts.
Modern fauna of Kazakhstan.
The fauna of Kazakhstan now includes 178 species of mammals, 489 species of birds, 104 species of fish and more than 50,000 species of invertebrates. According to their distribution, their ranges are divided into several zoogeographic zones. These include steppes and forest-steppes (Northern Kazakhstan, along the Irtysh River), deserts and semi-deserts (northern and eastern shores of the Caspian Sea, along lakes Ural, Turgai, Kyzylkum, Balkhash and Zaisan, Betpakdala, Sarysu, Syrdarya, Ustyurt), mountainous areas. (Altai, Sauyr, Tarbagatai, Zhetysu Alatau, Tien Shan, Karatau, Ulytau, Kalba, Saryarka).
Steppe animals adapted to the peculiarities of nature, and their color changed depending on the color of the steppe. Such properties are typical for many species of mice and scorpions. The steppe is home to mice, squirrels, wolves, foxes and badgers. Saiga antelopes are common. Lizards, cranes, and various species of sparrows are found among steppe birds.
Forest-steppe animals of Kazakhstan
Forest-steppe mammals include rabbits, white-tailed deer and roe deer. Wolves and foxes are also common here. The birch forests are home to birds of prey such as falcons and hawks. Snakes are rare in the forest, and there are some species of lizards.
Animals of the desert of Kazakhstan
Desert animals are adapted to heat and deserts. Some of them lie in a deep pit during the day and go out hunting at night. Daytime animals are found in the steppe only in the early morning and evening. During the day they lie in the shade, under a bush. Desert animals run fast, looking for water from afar, and birds can fly far without landing. Many people are tolerant of the desert. They feed on wet plants (marmots, sand mice, some species of sparrows) and are happy with it. There are also animals that live in spring and early summer, when the ground is wet, and sleep in the summer heat.
Wildlife protection of Kazakhstan
Wildlife protection in Kazakhstan is in full swing. Rare and endangered species of animals are listed in the "Red Book of Kazakhstan", 125 species of vertebrates and 96 species of invertebrates are under special protection. Among them are mammals (jeyran, argali, leopard, snow leopard, Tien Shan brown bear, reed cat, mink, etc.), birds (flamingos, pink flamingos, black and white owl, cuckoo swan, steppe eagle, partridge, pheasants, etc.), reptiles, amphibians and several types of fish. The country is also working to restore the numbers of animals such as wild donkey, jeyran and saiga, as well as the return of imported animals.
In order to protect the natural resources and animals of Kazakhstan, national parks (Bayanaul, Zailiysky Alatau, Karkaraly, Altynemel, Ordabasy) and nature reserves (Aksu-Zhabagly, Nauryz, Almaty, Barsakelmes, Ustyurt, Korgalzhyn, western Altai, Alakol) have been organized.
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