Wildlife of
Altajskij kraj

Dry and moderately dry Eurasian steppe dominates the plains (notably the Kulunda/Barnaul steppe landscapes), with feather-grass and forb communities, salt-affected patches, and meadow-steppe in less arid pockets.

Widespread across the western and southern plains; a major share of the territory outside forest belts (much converted to cropland).

Forest-steppe mosaics of birch/aspen groves, mixed small-leaved forests, and pine forests on sandy terraces (classic 'ribbon' pine forests) interspersed with meadows and agricultural land.

Broad belt across central/northern parts and on sandy river/lake terraces; patchy but extensive.

Southern-taiga influences appear locally in cooler, more humid northern/NE sectors and on upland ridges, with denser conifer presence and taiga-like understories compared with the open forest-steppe.

Limited and localized (minor proportion), mainly toward the cooler/higher or more humid fringes.

Only weakly expressed within the krai itself: low-mountain and foothill environments (e.g., Tigirek/Salair-related uplands) can show subalpine-like meadows and rocky slopes, but true alpine belts are largely outside the krai in the higher Altai Mountains.

Very limited; confined to uplands/foothills.

Major river systems (Ob and tributaries such as the Aley and Charysh), floodplain channels, oxbows, and numerous lakes (including saline/alkaline steppe lakes) provide extensive aquatic habitats.

Distributed throughout; densest along the Ob valley and in lake districts.

Floodplain marshes, reedbeds, wet meadows, lake-margin wetlands, and peatier depressions occur along the Ob and in closed-basin steppe lake systems, important for breeding and staging waterbirds.

Patchy but regionally important, concentrated in floodplains and around lakes.

Feather-grass and forb steppes (including dry and meadow-steppe variants) across the Kulunda and adjacent plains; remnants often persist in less-arable or protected tracts.

Mesic grasslands and hay meadows in forest-steppe and river valleys, often forming broad meadow complexes on floodplains.

Shrubby steppe and edge scrub (e.g., along ravines, sandy terraces, and forest-steppe ecotones), including willow scrub in wetter zones.

Forest-steppe mosaics combining groves, shelterbelts, and larger forest tracts; key for ecotone wildlife assemblages.

Birch and aspen stands (often secondary/regenerating) on richer soils and in moister parts of the forest-steppe belt.

Pine-dominated 'ribbon forests' on sandy substrates and mixed conifer pockets on uplands; important for fire-shaped dynamics and specialized understories.

Open groves and sparse tree cover in forest-steppe (parkland-like structure), providing transition habitat between grassland and closed forest.

Low mountains/foothills with dissected terrain, cooler microclimates, and mixed forests/meadows; includes rugged protected areas in the Tigirek uplands.

Small areas of high-elevation-style meadow on upland crests and cool slopes in the foothill/montane fringe (more subalpine-like than true alpine).

Rock outcrops and steep river-valley or upland faces in foothill areas, used by raptors and cliff-nesting birds where present.

Localized karst or rocky cavities in upland/foothill zones (where geology permits), providing roost sites for bats and specialized invertebrates.

Ob mainstem and tributary networks with braided sections, backwaters, and oxbow lakes; key corridors for migration and riparian forests.

Numerous steppe lakes (fresh to saline/alkaline) and floodplain lakes; critical for waterfowl, shorebirds, and fish where salinity allows.

Small natural and artificial ponds (farm and settlement reservoirs) that add breeding habitat for amphibians and local waterbirds.

Floodplain wetlands, wet meadows, and lake-margin reedbeds (Phragmites/Typha) especially along the Ob and in lake basins.

Smaller peat-accumulating depressions and wet forest hollows (more typical toward cooler/moister parts and in poorly drained lowlands).

Extensive cropland (grains, oilseeds, fodder) and pasture dominates much of the steppe/forest-steppe; field margins and fallows can retain steppe flora and ground-nesting birds.

Cities and industrial areas (e.g., Barnaul and other centers) with altered riverbanks, parks, and brownfield habitats.

Peri-urban dacha gardens, smallholder plots, and mixed residential zones forming a mosaic with shelterbelts and small wetlands.