Wildlife of
Alanija [Respublika Severnaja Osetija-Alanija]

Lowland and foothill steppe/forest-steppe on the northern plains and valley bottoms, with grass-forb communities and extensive agricultural conversion; also includes dry meadow slopes in lower foothills.

Moderate in the north and on broader valley bottoms; more continuous toward the Mozdok area, fragmented elsewhere by cultivation and settlements.

Montane forests on mid-elevation slopes and valley sides, ranging from broadleaf (e.g., beech, oak, hornbeam) to mixed and conifer-influenced stands (pine/fir/spruce components depending on site), with rich understory in moist ravines.

Widespread across the central/southern mountainous zone; strongest on mid-elevation slopes and wetter aspects.

High-elevation belts above treeline: subalpine shrub and krummholz transitioning to alpine meadows, rocky ridgelines, talus/scree, and small nival zones; supports cold-adapted mountain biota.

Extensive in the high Greater Caucasus and main ridges along the southern border; patchy by aspect and elevation.

Fast-flowing mountain rivers and streams, braided gravel reaches, spring-fed tributaries, and a limited number of small lakes/impoundments; critical for riparian habitat and migratory corridors.

Linear network throughout; highest density in mountainous catchments feeding the Terek system.

Floodplain wetlands, oxbow remnants, wet meadows, and reedbeds concentrated along larger river valleys and in lowland depressions; generally small and localized due to steep terrain and regulation/land use.

Localized and patchy, mainly in the Terek valley and lower reaches of major tributaries.

Greater Caucasus ridges and deep gorges (e.g., in the upper Ardon/Fiagdon valleys) with strong elevational zonation and high landscape heterogeneity.

Mid-montane broadleaf forests (notably beech- and oak-dominated stands) on moist slopes and sheltered valleys; important for large mammals and forest bird communities.

Pine and mixed conifer elements on cooler aspects and higher montane belts, often intergrading with broadleaf forest and subalpine woodland.

Open-canopy forest/wooded slopes and forest-steppe edges in foothills, frequently shaped by grazing, fire history, and proximity to settlements.

Foothill dry meadows and managed hayfields; also natural grass-forb communities on lower mountain slopes.

Northern lowland steppe and forest-steppe mosaics (especially toward Mozdok), heavily converted to cropland but retaining fragments on less arable sites.

Subalpine shrub belts and slope scrub (including krummholz-like formations near treeline) that buffer forest-to-alpine transitions.

Species-rich alpine and subalpine meadows above treeline used for summer pastures, interspersed with rocky outcrops and snowbed vegetation.

Sheer limestone and metamorphic rock faces in gorges and high ridges, providing nesting/roosting sites and specialized cliff flora.

Karst and fracture caves in mountainous areas, locally important for bats and subterranean invertebrates.

Terek River corridor and major tributaries (Ardon, Fiagdon, Gizeldon, Urukh) with gravel bars, riparian willow/poplar zones, and high-gradient headwaters.

Small natural and artificial lakes/ponded waters in valleys and foothills; limited in extent compared to rivers.

Floodplain wet meadows, backwaters, and reedbeds along lower river sections; sensitive to drainage, embankment, and flow regulation.

Croplands and pastures dominate many lowland/foothill areas, forming a mosaic with steppe remnants and riparian strips.

Urban/industrial habitats around Vladikavkaz and other towns, with associated transport corridors through major valleys.

Peri-urban gardens, smallholdings, and mixed land use belts around major settlements, often adjacent to foothill woodlands and river terraces.