Mongolian-Manchurian grassland

The Mongolian-Manchurian grassland (Chinese: 蒙古高原草原-内蒙古草原-东北草原) covers an area of 887,300 square kilometers (342,600 sq mi). This temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands ecoregion of the Palearctic realm forms a large crescent around the Gobi Desert, extending across central and eastern Mongolia into the eastern portion of Inner Mongolia and eastern and central Manchuria, and then southwest across the North China Plain. To the northeast and north, the Selenge-Orkhon and Daurian forest steppes form a transition zone between the grassland and the forests of Siberia to the north. On the east and southeast, the grasslands transition to temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, including the Manchurian mixed forests, Northeast China Plain deciduous forests, and Central China loess plateau mixed forests. On the southwest, the grasslands extend to the Yellow River, across which is the Ordos Plateau steppe. It is between the Altai Mountains in the west and the Greater Khingan Region in the east.

The climate is temperate, with hot summers and cold winters. Being relatively dry, from a combination of lack of rainfall and being landlocked, only select animals can live here.

In the winter the grass becomes dry and very flammable, making wildfires more common. Grass recovers quickly from the fire - however, trees do not. This partially explains the absence of trees in the area. There are also seasonal droughts in the grasslands, typically occurring during summer.

The majority of people in the steppe are nomads called Mongolians. Families in mongolian steppe live in "gers" which is a large portable tent. Mongolians are also master horse riders so many families own many horses that roam the steppe. The people in the steppe use the animals there for their food and drink. They also have a very prominent musical culture with a wide variety of traditional Mongolian songs.

The dominant flora consists of medium to tall grasslands, dominated by feather grass (Stipa baicalensis, S. capillata, and S. grandis), sheep's fescue (Festuca ovina), Aneurolepidium chinense, Filifolium sibiricuman, and Cleistogenes sqarrosa. The drier regions surrounding the Gobi host drought-tolerant grasses, together with forbs and low, spiny shrubs.

The southwestern slopes of the Greater Khingan range support pockets of broadleaf deciduous forest, of either Mongolian oak (Quercus mongolica), or a mixture of poplar (Populus davidiana and P. suaveolens), Siberian silver birch (Betula platyphylla), and willow (Salix rorida).

There are also plants such as;

• Feathergrass - It lives long since animals don’t consume it
• Sheepgrass - It is perennial.
• Lyme Grass - It can provide food for the animals who need it.

A bobak marmot

Despite how it may appear, wildlife can be found in a variety of habitats not restricted solely to the open steppe. Many are programmed to traversing enormous distances in extreme weather and terrain by running and/or flying.

• The black grouse occupies the belt of steppe, forests, and mountains stretching much of Asia.[1]
• The Daurian partridge feeds and hides in dense grassland and underbrush.
• The ringneck pheasant has been introduced to similar grassland habitat in the United States for hunting and sport.
• The brown eared-pheasant (Crossoptilon mantchuricum) is also adapted to the mountainous forest of Northeast China and other similar ecoregions.
• The bobak marmot (Marmota bobak), also known as the steppe marmot, inhabits the area
• The gray wolf lives here.
• The Mongolian wild ass (or onager) once covered vast steppe, though now exist in isolated patches.
• The Mongolian gazelle is numerous here.
• The Przewalski's horse has been reintroduced here.
• Corsac foxes drink very little water, instead, obtaining it mostly through their prey.
• The bearded vulture's powerful beak can hammer large bones against hard rock.
• The northern goshawk can be found in deciduous and coniferous woodland edges.
• The steppe eagle specializes in seizing ground squirrels and other small mammals.
• Asian badger - They are commonly infected and they are bitten by parasites lice, fleas, and ticks. They have strong, long claws well-adapted for digging their homes and for food.
• Mongolian Gazelle - It provides a nice food supply for animals and will affect the plants they graze in. They can jump very high and far to escape predators they might encounter. Their small size allows them to adapt more easily to changes in their habitat.
• Steppe Lemming - They are a very important prey base. Their presence in an area can limit the presence of other voles. Unfortunately, they can also very easily reduce vegetation if necessary. They are very good at burrowing in the terrain. They have a very big migration when it may get too cold.

The Mongolian-Manchurian grassland faces threat from human expansion, though in most of its eastern area, it has not been altered by agriculture as much as its reaches in its western area, or similar grasslands in North America.[2][3]

• "Mongolian-Manchurian grassland". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.