Eastern Gobi desert steppe
The Eastern Gobi desert steppe is a deserts and xeric shrublands ecoregion in Mongolia and northern China. It is the easternmost of the ecoregions that make up the larger Gobi Desert. It lies between the more humid Mongolian–Manchurian grassland on the north, east, and southeast, and the drier Alashan Plateau semi-desert to the west.
Geography
The ecoregion lies on a plateau, mostly between 1000 and 1500 meters elevation. The ecoregion extends southwest along the Yin Mountains, which rise between 1,500 and 2,200 meters elevation.There are no large rivers in the ecoregion. Most of the ecoregion lies in closed basins, with intermittent streams that drain into salt pans and small ponds.
Climate
The climate is arid and continental. Winters are intensely cold, with January mean temperatures of. Summers are warm to hot, depending on elevation. The mean annual temperature ranges from -2 to -6 °C. Annual rainfall ranges from 100 to 150 mm, falling mostly in the summer, and varies considerably from year to year.Flora
The predominant vegetation is a steppe of drought-tolerant shrubs and low grasses. The legumes Caragana bungei and Caragana leucocephala are characteristic shrubs. Other shrubs include gray sparrow's saltwort, gray sagebrush, Potaninia mongolica, and Nitraria sibirica. Common grasses include the needle grasses Stipa gobica and Stipa glareosa and bridlegrass. The taana wild onion is the main browse eaten by many herd animals, and Mongolians claim that this is essential in producing the proper, hazelnut-like notes of camel airag.Fauna
Large mammals in the ecoregion include the Mongolian wild ass, Mongolian saiga antelope, Yarkand gazelle, and marbled polecat. Several species of jerboas are found in sandy areas. Jerboas are small mammals with long hindlegs and tails, adapted to burrowing and able to jump up to three meters. Native jerboa species include the long-eared jerboa, Kozlov's pygmy jerboa, Mongolian jerboa, and Gobi jerboa.Native birds include the lammergeier, cinereous vulture, MacQueen's bustard, chukar partridge, Pallas's sandgrouse, Mongolian ground jay, greater sand plover, and Mongolian finch.