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ISSN 2079-0961, Arid Ecosystems, 2022, Vol. 12, No. 4, pp. 407–413. © Pleiades Publishing, Ltd., 2022.
Russian Text © The Author(s), 2021, published in Aridnye Ekosistemy, 2021, Vol. 27, No. 4(89), pp. 74–81.
The Ecosystem and Biotic Diversity of the Southeastern Altai-Tuva
Desert-Steppe Orobiome
G. N. Ogureevaa, * and M. V. Bocharnikova
a Department of Geography, Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991 Russia
*e-mail: ogur02@yandex.ru
Received May 10, 2022; revised June 10, 2022; accepted July 1, 2022
Abstract—Based on the biome concept in biogeography and the ecological-geographical approach to the
analysis of biodiversity, a regional assessment of the Southeast Altai-Tuva orobiome, which is unique for Rus-
sia, is given. The orobiome is considered as a reference unit for the inventory and analysis of the ecosystem
and biotic diversity of mountain areas. The characteristics of bioclimatic indicators characterizing the origi-
nality of the desert-steppe orobiome of the Subarid class of zonality types and its altitudinal zones are given.
The altitudinal structure of the vegetation cover is revealed, in accordance with which the spatial differentia-
tion of flora, plant communities, and ecosystems as a whole is formed. A quantitative assessment of floristic
(about 1400 species of vascular plants) and phytocoenotic diversity by zones (nival, desert-tundra, forest-
steppe, and steppe) is given. The features of the spatial structure of the diversity of communities in the con-
ditions of a mountainous territory are revealed.
Keywords: biodiversity, mountain biome, ecosystem, biota, altitudinal spectrum
DOI: 10.1134/S2079096122040151
The geography of the botanical diversity of moun-
tain territories differs significantly from the plains due
to the three-dimensional structure and high degree of
differentiation of ecotopes; its ecosystem and biotic
diversity is considered based on a systemic concept
and an ecological–geographic approach to data inter-
pretation. Ideas about the altitudinal vegetation zones,
types of altitudinal zonality, and the hierarchy of their
subdivisions determine the principles for the forma-
tion of typological diversity and the structure of the
vegetation cover of mountains, which are related to the
altitudinal gradient of conditions and their zonal–sec-
toral differentiation (Ogureeva, 2012).
The work was carried out within the state assign-
ment on the topic “Spatio-temporal organization of eco-
systems under conditions of environmental changes” of
Moscow State University and on the basis of the
MWG Herbarium Center for Collective Use (created
with the support of the Development Program of
Moscow University).
The formation of the vegetation cover of mountains
and biota components occurs when they are closely
associated with the altitudinal gradient of conditions,
which is complicated by a number of factors that have
no direct correlation with changes in absolute height,
but still contribute to the regional specificity of moun-
tain systems. The basis of the altitudinal gradient is the
climate as the leading system-forming factor in the
altitudinal structure of the vegetation cover of moun-
tains. The concept of ecosystem (biome) diversity
makes it possible to reveal the patterns of formation of
mountain biodiversity according to the structure of
altitudinal spectra, formed florocenotic complexes,
and their relationship with bioclimatic parameters on
the gradients of heat supply and moisture (Ogureeva
and Bocharnikov, 2017).
MATERIAL AND METHODS
This work is based on the original materials of the
authors and the analysis of published data on the char-
acteristics of the vegetation cover of the orobiome and
the conditions for its existence and development.
A comparative analysis of biodiversity in relation to
climate is based on bioclimatic indicators used as key
characteristics that define climate as the main factor in
its spatial organization. The Chelsa global digital
model (Karger et al., 2017), which contains data on the
spatial distribution of a number of bioclimatic vari-
ables based on a spatial resolution of 30″, characteriz-
ing heat and moisture supply based on values averaged
over 1979–2013, was the source of climate informa-
tion. The choice of the model is explained by its cre-
ation taking into account the characteristics of the
atmospheric circulation (Dee et al., 2011), which
improved the quality of the results, especially those
related to obtaining moisture indicators, which are of
particular importance in connection with the orogra-
phy of mountainous areas.
SYSTEMATIC STUDY OF ARID TERRITORIES
408
ARID ECOSYSTEMS Vol. 12 No. 4 2022
OGUREEVA, BOCHARNIKOV
The climatic substantiation of the altitudinal struc-
ture of the orobiome vegetation was carried out on the
basis of determining the climatopes of the typological
divisions of vegetation (vegetation altitudinal zones),
which are characterized through key bioclimatic indi-
cators averaged over a long-term period for individual
years, seasons of the year, and months. The idea of cli-
matopes of altitudinal zones is consistent with the
ecosystem concept and the climate conditionality of
ecosystems at the regional level (Rivas-Martinez et al.,
2011).
The average long-term indicators of the heat and
moisture supply of the year, the warmest (July) and the
coldest (January) months, were used to characterize
the altitudinal zones of the orobiome. Bioclimatic
indices, which are used in the analysis of the relation-
ships between vegetation and climate, were also calcu-
lated based on the initial indicators. They include the
continentality index and the summer ombrothermic
index (Rivas-Martinez et al., 1999, 2011). Projections
of vegetation on the territory with certain values of
bioclimatic indicators were determined by conjugating
the map of altitudinal vegetation zones and layers of
climate model indicators. This served as the basis for
the identification of climatopes, considered as a set of
climatic conditions that contribute to the formation of
the vegetation cover of the zones within a single altitu-
dinal spectrum. Quantitative assessment of climatic
conditions was carried out on the basis of determining
the average value of bioclimatic indicators and the
standard deviation from the average for the climatope
of each altitudinal division. These values are inter-
preted as the optimal conditions for the formation of
vegetation in the altitudinal zone.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The Southeast Altai-Tuva orobiome stands out
among the mountain biomes of Russia with the
unique combination of ecosystems and their biotic
composition. It stretches along the southern periphery
of the Altai-Sayan Mountains from Southeastern Altai
to the southeastern ridges of Tuva. This band includes
the vast Ukok plateau (2000–2400 m a.s.l.) and the
Tarkhatinsky basin, the eastern parts of the South
and North Chuisky ridges, the vast Chui basin
(1750–1900 m a.s.l.), further east across the ridge
Sailyugem (3499 m a.s.l.) and the Dzhulukul plateau
to the Chikhachev ridge (3248 m a.s.l.) and the
Mongun-Taiga massif (3976 m a.s.l.). Then it stretches
in a narrow strip along the southern macroslopes of
the Zapadnyi ridge (2972 m a.s.l.) and Eastern Tannu-
Ola (2592 m a.s.l.), including the northern part of the
Ubsunur basin and the Erzin steppe massif (Fig. 1). In
general, the modern appearance of the territory of the
biome is characterized by the development of massive
mountain ranges exceeding 3000 m a.s.l., high-moun-
tain plateaus, elevated intermountain basins, and arid
denudation-remnant low mountains and low hills of
the Gobi type.
The orobiome is characterized by the Tuva-South-
east Altai type of zonality, the only one type in the veg-
etation cover of Russia that belongs to the Mongolian-
Altai group of the Subarid class of zonality types (Ogu-
reeva, 1983; Karta …, 1999): alpine (Saxifraga oppositi-
folia, Sibbaldia tetrandra, S. procumbens, meadow:
Ranunculus altaicus, Gentiana grandiflora, and Trol-
lius lilacinus) wasteland-tundra (steppe tundra, cryo-
phyte steppes: Dryas oxyodonta, Betula rotundifolia,
Salix berberifolia, S. krylovii, S. reticulata, wastelands:
Kobresia myosuroides, K. humilis, Carex rupestris,
C. stenocarpa Festuca kryloviana, F. supina, and Ptila-
grostis mongolica) forest-steppe (forests of Larix sibir-
ica with groves of Betula microphylla) steppe (turf-
grass steppes: Festuca lenensis, Poa attenuata, Agropy-
ron cristatum, Koeleria cristata, Cymbaria dahurica;
desert steppes: Stipa glareosa, Cleistogenes squarrosa,
Artemisia frigida с Caragana bungei, C. pygmaea,
nanophyton desert steppes; Karta …, 1999). The
southern boundary of the biome extends beyond Rus-
sia and runs much further south in the mountains of
Northern Mongolia. Orobiome is located in the con-
tact zone of the boreal and arid regions of Eurasia. The
upland-steppe (desert-tundra) type of high moun-
tains, the xerophytization in the vegetation of each
zone, and the sharp exposure asymmetry of the altitu-
dinal boundaries of the zones, which is typical for arid
mountain systems, should be noted among its charac-
teristic botanical and geographical features (Yunatov,
1950; Malyshev, 1977; Agakhanyants, 1981).
The vegetative cover of the orobiome is formed
under conditions of a sharply continental climate with
negative average long-term annual temperatures and
extreme dryness against the background of a general
significant uplift of the territory (Table 1).
The mountain-steppe altitudinal zone is character-
ized by the highest heat supply (the average annual air
temperature is about –2°С and the July temperature is
about 16°С), which is replaced by the forest-steppe,
wasteland-tundra, subnival, and nival zones in accor-
dance with the regular decrease in temperatures. The
annual amount of precipitation slightly increases in
accordance with the altitudinal gradient: from 150 mm
in the area of the desert steppes to 300–400 mm in the
highlands. The significant absolute heights at which
the mountain-steppe zone is formed cause a short
growing season for the development of their commu-
nities (the sum of active temperatures above 10°C
varies within 1000–1900°C). The sum of active tem-
peratures in the subnival and nival zones does not
exceed 100°C.
The position in the central part of Eurasia, sur-
rounded by massive mountain ranges, provides free
access of dry air masses from Mongolia and limited
access of Atlantic air masses from the north, which
leads to the formation of an arid boreal hyperconti-
ARID ECOSYSTEMS Vol. 12 No. 4 2022
THE ECOSYSTEM AND BIOTIC DIVERSITY 409
nental type of bioclimate (Rivas-Martinez et al.,
2011). The altitudinal-zonal differentiation and the
basin effect, expressed in the lower heat supply of the
basins compared to the surrounding slopes of the
ridges are the decisive factors for the orobiome. Altitu-
dinal zones are characterized by climatopes with dif-
ferent thermal climates (Rivas-Martinez et al., 2011).
Bioclimatic indices serve as informative characteris-
tics of climatopes of high-altitude zones, which make
it possible to clearly distinguish the conditions for the
formation of a mountain-steppe zone from high-
mountain zones. The highlands are characterized by a
lower continental climate compared to the climatopes
of the lower part of the spectrum. Mountain steppes
are formed at a relatively high heat supply during the
growing season and a low amount of precipitation,
which is reflected in the low values of the ombrother-
mal index (Table 1). An inversion, according to which
lower temperatures are observed in the forest-steppe
and mountain-steppe zones that form in intermoun-
tain basins, is expressed for winter heat supply.
The Botanical Diversity of the Southeast
Altai-Tuva Orobiome
The f loristic diversity of the orobiome develops
under the conditions of a sharply continental arid cli-
mate, mountainous terrain, and long-term develop-
Fig. 1. The altitudinal structure of the Southeast Altai-Tuva Orobiome. Altitudinal zones: (1) nival and subnival; (2) wasteland-
tundra; (3) forest-steppe; (4) mountain-steppe.
Novosibirsk
Reservoir
Altitudinal belts
Leninsk-
Kuznetsky
Kemerovo Krasnoyarsk Kansk
Barnaul
Biysk
Novokuznetsk
Gorno-Altaisk
Abakan
30
China Ulgiy
Ulaang
lake Khyargas-Puur
90°0′0′′ E
50°0′0′′ N
1
2
3
4
Aktash
@
@
@@
@@
@@
@@
@@
@@
@
@
@
650–750
400–500 46–50
46–58
61–65
62–67
650–750
450–550
500–700
196–210
181–19 5
196–210
190–200
2700
22700
1050
2100
1075
215
500
245
1000
650
230
300 500
1400
170 0
>65
>210
7
8
5
7
9
3
7
77
7
47.1
47.2
66
47.3
49.1
47.4
Table 1. The climatic characteristics of altitudinal vegetation zones of the Southeast Altai-Tuva Orobiome. Legend. Biocli-
matic indicators (mean ± standard deviation): T_ann, average annual temperature, °C; T_july, average temperature in July,
°С; T_january, average temperature in January, °С; P_ann, average annual precipitation, mm; P_july, average annual pre-
cipitation in July, mm; Ic, continentality index; Io_july, July ombrothermal index
Altitudinal zones
Bioclimatic indicators
T_ann T_july T_january P_ann P_july Ic Io_july
Nival and subnival –7.2 ± 1.5 8.1 ± 1.7 –23.6 ± 1.6 210 ± 65 54 ± 14 32 ± 1.4 71 ± 30
Wasteland tundra –6.4 ± 1.5 9.1 ± 1.7 –23.0 ± 1.4 168 ± 57 44 ± 11 32 ± 1.1 52 ± 23
Forest-steppe –2.4 ± 1.9 16.1 ± 2.4 –24.1 ± 2.1 235 ± 36 51 ± 10 40 ± 2.2 33 ± 11
Mountain steppe –1.9 ± 2.1 16.0 ± 3.6 –22.4 ± 1.1 205 ± 60 50 ± 15 38 ± 4.2 32 ± 9
410
ARID ECOSYSTEMS Vol. 12 No. 4 2022
OGUREEVA, BOCHARNIKOV
ment of the mountainous territory, which contributed
to the activation of migration processes in the f lora
and speciation at its different stages in contrasting
conditions of high-altitude zones. The total diversity
of vascular plants in the orobiome is about 1400 spe-
cies (Kuminova, 1960; Peshkova, 1985; Malyshev,
2002). The greatest floristic diversity is typical for the
mountain-steppe and forest-steppe zones (about
900–1000 species). More than 600 species grow in the
highlands. The level of floristic diversity is 700–800 spe-
cies in an area of 100 km2 and 1200–1400 species in an
area of 10000 km2 (Malyshev, 1977, 1994). The age of
the flora and vegetation cover of the Altai mountain-
ous country as a whole in the structure of zonality is
determined by R.V. Kamelin (1998) as Late Tertiary-
Quaternary.
The flora of the orobiome reflects close ties with
Central Asia and isolation of the mountains of South-
ern Siberia from the rest of the territory, within which
it develops (Lavrenko, 1970). Active migration pro-
cesses that took place along certain corridors under
the synchronization of the periods of glaciations and
interglacials of the Pleistocene and Holocene led to
allopatric speciation and the penetration of Central
Asian elements (Sedelnikov, 1988). The general nature
of florogenesis is autochthonous migratory. Sailyu-
gem-Mongun-Taiginsky in Altai and Western Tuva,
where many Central Asian species are found, located
on the eastern border of their ranges, stand out among
the most important f loristic nodes of the mountains of
Southern Siberia. The proportion of boundary species
is up to 40% (Сoluria geoides1, Potentilla lydiae, Allium
pallasii, Lonicera microphylla, Artemisia obtusiloba,
etc.), which indicates historical ties with Central and
Central Asia (Namzalov, 2021). The presence of a
number of species of different geographic origin and
different in time of penetration of f lora elements indi-
cates a commonality with the floras of Northern Mon-
golia and Central Asia. Orobiome flora is character-
ized by endemic and relict species, which are typical
for floras of all altitudinal zones. The nival zone
includes species common to the highlands of the
Pamirs, Tien Shan, and Himalayas (Saussurea glacia-
les and Waldheimia tridactylites). The Altai-Hima-
layan species Trollius lilacinus participates in the
groupings of high-mountain stony placers in South-
eastern Altai. The alpine species Potentilla salesoviana
grows on scree and rocky ruins, in the floodplains of
the upper reaches of the rivers of Western Tuva and
Southeastern Altai, reaching up to 3000 m a.s.l. It is
spread much higher in the mountains of Central Asia and
the Himalayas: up to 3700 m a.s.l. (Kamelin, 1998). This
rare ancient species, like Biebersteinia odora and Sau-
ssurea glacialis, is referred by R.V. Camelin to the
group of specifically highland Asian species, similar in
range, distribution, and range of heights.
1Latin names of plants are given according to the reference fund
of the Internet resource “PlantList”.
The species composition of the vegetation of the
alpine-tundra altitudinal zone is distinguished by the
greatest originality. Saussurea leucophylla, Oxytropis
oligantha, and Stellaria petraea, which form dense
turfs or cushions, play a high role in the composition
of cryophytic steppes and cobresia tundras. A signifi-
cant number of endemics and relic elements are found
in the coenofloras of the communities of the desert-
tundra zone. The Asian species Caragana jubata orig-
inated from Tibet forms shrub communities on stony
placers in the desert-tundra zone of Southeastern
Tuva at altitudes of about 2000 m a.s.l. (Kamelin,
1973; Koropachinsky, 1975; Ogureeva, 1980).
The biome occupies the northern part of the vast
Tuva-Mongolian floristic province (Kamelin, 2005).
The originality of the flora is determined by the com-
plex of relic Central Asian (Tuva-Mongolian) moun-
tain desert-steppe and desert species, many of which
are endemic to the province (Chenopodium frutescens,
Kochia krylovii, and Gypsophila desertorum), as well as
desert species located on the northern border of distri-
bution (Reaumuria soongarica, Allium mongolicum,
Potentilla imbricata, etc.). The group of mountain-
steppe species is also specific with a large number of
endemic species from the genera Astragalus and
Oxytropis, for example, the South Siberian-Mongo-
lian xeropetrophyte Oxytropis tragacantoides, which
forms a cushion-shaped low prickly shrub, rises along
the stony slopes of the mountains of the biome to
2600 m a.s.l. The flora of the deserted steppes is still
largely associated with the steppes of Mongolia and
the steppe deserts of Central Asia (Stipa glareosa,
Oxytropis aciphylla, Anabasis brevifolia, and Caragana
bunge). The flora of the biome includes relict species
with the Central Asian ancestors (Gueldenstaedtia
monophyla and Brachanthemum baranovii). The Cen-
tral Asian species of Nanophyton erinaceum form dense
cushions in nanophyton-pebbly feather grass desert
steppes on gravel-stony poorly developed soils in the
Khemcha, Ulugkhem, and Ubsunur depressions.
Chenopodium frutescens, a rare endemic and relict spe-
cies, stands out among the halophytes of the Chuya
steppe and the steppes of Tuva on solonchaks. The
community of endemic and relict species of the steppe
basins of Tuva and Southeastern Altai indicates a
genetic relationship between their steppe vegetation
(Sobolevskaya, 1950; Koropachinsky, 1975). The total
number of endemic species in the orobiome flora
reaches 30. The Red Book of the Russian Federation
(2008) includes 19 species of vascular plants.
The spatial differentiation of the botanical diversity
of the orobiome is associated with the altitudinal
structure of the vegetation cover as part of the alpine-
desert-tundra-forest-steppe type of zonality. High-
mountain altitudinal zones, and first of all, the sub-
zone of steppe tundra (wastelands) have a wide vertical
development. The extreme degree of reduction of the
forest zone leads to direct contact of the alpine-tundra
vegetation with the steppe. The steppe zone includes
ARID ECOSYSTEMS Vol. 12 No. 4 2022
THE ECOSYSTEM AND BIOTIC DIVERSITY 411
desert mountain steppes at absolutely high altitudes
with separate fragments of desert-type communities at
altitudes of 1700–1900 m a.s.l. (Ogureeva, 1983). In
general, the altitudinal structure of the orobiome veg-
etation is represented by four zones: nival (together
with subnival), desert-tundra, forest-steppe, and
mountain-steppe (Fig. 1).
The vegetative cover of the orobiome is distin-
guished by a high phytocenotic diversity typical for
each of the altitudinal zones within a single altitudinal
spectrum of the Mongolian-Altai group of zonality
types. The altitudinal spectrum of the orobiome has
the highest position, starting at absolute heights of
more than 1500 m a.s.l., which, among other things,
largely determines the botanical and geographical fea-
tures of mountain ecosystems (Ogureeva, 1999).
Alpine ecosystems make up a significant part of the
orobiome, occupying 46% of its area; about 1% of the
territory is occupied by glaciers and snowfields. The
upland-steppe type of highlands, typical for arid
mountain systems (Agakhanyants, 1981), is one of the
botanical and geographical features of the orobiome.
The vegetation of the highlands is composed of typical
Central Asian complexes (Krasnoborov, 1986). They
include cryophytic steppes, polster and high mountain
tundras (including cobresia and sedge communities
developed on the northern border of their distribu-
tion). Sparse groups of cryopetrophytes (Waldheimia
tridactylites, Lupinaster eximium, and Saussurea gla-
cialis) develop on the tops of the highest ridges (up to
3500 m a.s.l.). Alpine short grass meadows (Ranunculus
altaicus, Gentiana grandiflora, etc.) are confined to the
valleys of high-mountain streams and runoff hollows).
Wasteland-tundra zone (2400–2800 m a.s.l.) is
characterized by increased phytocenotic diversity,
formed under the influence of the contact between the
vegetation cover of the highlands of South Siberia and
Central Asia. Polydominant psychrophytic steppes
(Festuca tschujensis, F. altaica, Koeleria altaica, Poa
attenuata, and Ptilagrostis mongolica) are widespread
along the slopes of the ridges and terraces of river val-
leys. The extreme cryoarid conditions of the zone are
characterized by the development of xerophytic com-
munities of the cushion Oxytropis tragacanthoides.
High-mountain dryad (Dryas oxyodonta), cobresia
(Kobresia myosuroides and K. humilis), and sedge
(Carex rupestris and C. stenocarpa) tundras develop
under conditions of the least insolated slopes of the
zone. Species of psychrophytic steppes (Festuca kr ylo-
viana, Artemisia depauperata, and Ptilagrostis mongol-
ica; Dirksen et al., 1997) often grow in the alpine tun-
dra. Along the moraine fields of the leveling surfaces,
large areas are occupied by communities of dwarf
birches (Betula rotundifolia) in combination with areas
of dryad-lichen tundra in rubbly places.
Forest-steppe zone (2200–2500 m a.s.l.) has a frag-
mentary distribution in the altitudinal spectrum of the
orobiome, occupying 13% of its area at high altitudes.
Sedge (Carex pediformis and C. duriuscula) and herba-
ceous (Galium verum and Artemisia commutata) types
of larch (Larix sibirica) and birch-larch (Betula micro-
phylla) forests are developed, forming exposure com-
binations with small turf-cereal steppes. The forest
component of the exposure forest-steppe determines
the highest position of the upper forest boundary in
the altitudinal spectra not only in the mountains of
Southern Siberia, but also in the entire Asian part of
Russia (Ogureeva, 1980; Chistyakov et al., 2012). Forb
meadow (Phleum phleoides, Poa angustifolia, P. step-
posa, P. botryoides, Astragalus adsurgens, Medicago fal-
cata, and Artemisia commutata) steppes along the
northern slopes and edges of larch forests have a lim-
ited distribution.
Steppe zone (1500–2200 m a.s.l.) is the background
in the altitudinal spectrum of the orobiome; steppe
ecosystems occupy 41% of its area. Two subzones are
well defined. The subzone of real small sod grass
steppes (1800–2200 m a.s.l.) is characterized by signif-
icant phytocenotic diversity, participation of steppe
communities of various florocenotypes. The steppes
of Stipa krylovii, Festuca valesiaca, Festuca lenensis,
Koeleria cristata, Festuca lenensis, Poa attenuata, Agro-
pyron cristatum, Koeleria cristata, Artemisia frigida for-
mations predominate. The high occurrence of steppe
shrubs (Caragana bungee and C. pygmaea) is typical.
Arctogeron (Arctogeron gramineum) and chamerodos
(Chamaerhodos altaica) steppes, which are more typi-
cal for the steppes of Transbaikalia and Mongolia are
common among the Pleistocene relict communities
(Peshkova, 1972). Compositionally rich oatmeal
steppes (Helictotrichon altaicum) are typical for the
western part of the biome, where they play a signifi-
cant role along the slopes of the Tannu-Ola, Mongun-
Taiga, and Chulyshman highlands (Kuminova, 1985).
Desert steppes are confined to the lower part of the
spectrum (1500–1800 m a.s.l.), widespread in the bot-
toms of intermountain basins, often saline (Namzalov,
1994). The specificity of the steppe zone lies in the
development of dry and desert steppes: snake steppes
(Cleistogenes squarrosa), cold sagebrush steppes (Arte-
misia frigida), and the important role of steppe com-
munities with edificators from among the desert-
steppe Central Asian elements: Kochia prostrata,
Nanophyton erinaceum, Krascheninnikovia ceratoides,
and Stipa glareosa. Central Asian species (Gueldens-
taedtia monophylla, Allium mongolicum, Artemisia
obtusiloba, Potentilla astragalifolia, and Anabasis brev-
ifolia) act as co-dominants in the desert steppe com-
munities; mountain-steppe elements proper play a
secondary role and occupy no more than 40% of the
cenoflora composition of their formations (Revushkin
and Rudaya, 2001).
CONCLUSIONS
All the mentioned botanical and geographical fea-
tures of the Southeast Altai-Tuva desert-steppe orobi-
412
ARID ECOSYSTEMS Vol. 12 No. 4 2022
OGUREEVA, BOCHARNIKOV
ome show the high conservation value of its mountain
ecosystems among the general ecosystem diversity of
the mountains of Russia. The structure of the biome is
dominated (in % of the total area) by high-mountain
ecosystems: mountain tundra and alpine meadows
(24.1%) with significant stony fields, moraines, snow-
fields, and glaciers (56.2%); mountain steppes occupy
about 40%, but the specificity and originality of their
florocenotic composition is very high. Relict frag-
ments of larch forests, occupying areas of slopes that
are narrowly localized in terms of exposure, make up
only 1.2% of the biome. A rich flora, including a sig-
nificant number of rare, relict, and endemic species, a
unique combination on the mountain slopes of various
plant communities of the deserted steppes of the Mon-
golian complex of formations and the northern Cen-
tral Asian deserts, rare communities for the vegetation
cover of Russia (blackberry, maned caragana, small-
leaved birch, etc.), high-mountain petrophytic groups
with the participation of relict species create a unique
combination of xerophyte ecosystems of the arid-type
orobiome.
The need to preserve the natural ecosystems of the
biome is obvious. The problem of preserving the gene
pool of rare species of plants and animals of the biome
is partially solved in the transboundary Ubsunurskaya
Kotlovina state natural biosphere reserve and in the
Sailyugemsky national park, where high-mountain
ecosystems of ridges, individual massifs of mountain
exposition forest-steppe and mountain soddy-grass
steppes and northern steppe steppes that are rare for
the country are protected. Central Asian deserts with
fragments of halophytic vegetation (Ofitsialnyi sait…,
2022a, b). At the same time, there is a need to organize
constant monitoring of the state of populations of rare
species outside protected areas, which is important for
the conservation and development of mountain xero-
phyte ecosystems in Russia and globally.
The concept of ecosystem and species diversity of
mountainous regional biomes is a kind of reference
point for the current state of our knowledge of biodi-
versity at the regional level. Based on the concept of
biomes in biogeography, developing technologies and
new methods for obtaining and processing informa-
tion, it is possible to further study the geography of biodi-
versity, organize the protection and monitoring of natu-
ral objects of different status, and in general, improve the
overall environmental system of the country.
COMPLIANCE WITH ETHICAL STANDARDS
Conf lict of interests. The authors declare that they have
no conflict of interest.
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Translated by M. Shulskaya
