Wildlife of
Irkutskaja oblast'

Vast Siberian taiga across most lowlands and uplands: larch- and pine-dominated forests with spruce/fir in moister sites; frequent fire-driven mosaics and large intact forest blocks.

Dominant biome; roughly ~70-85% of the oblast, especially the Angara basin and northern/central areas.

Warmer, more productive mixed and small-leaved forests (birch, aspen) and mixed conifer-broadleaf patches in southern valleys/foothills and around settlements; often secondary after logging/fire.

Patchy; more common in the south and river valleys, ~5-15% locally.

Forest-steppe/steppe-like grasslands on drier south-facing slopes and intermontane basins in the south/southwest; often interleaved with open pine and birch woodland and heavily used for hayfields/pasture.

Limited; mostly southern margins and basin bottoms, generally <5-10%.

High-elevation belts of subalpine sparse woodland, alpine meadows, and mountain tundra in the Eastern Sayan and Baikal mountain ranges; long snow cover and short growing season.

Mountain tops and upper slopes; roughly ~3-8% depending on elevation zones.

Lake Baikal (western and northern shores) plus large rivers (Angara, Lena headwaters/tributaries) and numerous lakes/streams; cold, clear waters with strong seasonality and ice cover.

Regionally significant but small by area; ~2-5%, concentrated at Baikal and major river corridors.

Floodplain wetlands, oxbows, riparian marshes, and peatlands/mires in poorly drained taiga lowlands and along major rivers; important for waterfowl and carbon storage.

Scattered; often concentrated in lowlands and river valleys, ~2-6%.

Extensive taiga landscapes with large intact tracts, mixed-age stands, and disturbance mosaics from fire and logging.

Larch and pine forests widespread; spruce-fir in cooler/moister sites; cedar pine (Pinus sibirica) locally in mountain/valley settings.

Birch and aspen stands common as post-fire/post-logging succession, especially in southern and accessible areas.

Open pine-birch woodland and forest-steppe transitions in drier southern basins and slopes.

Steppe/forest-steppe grasslands in the south and intermontane basins; many areas converted to hayfields and pasture.

Willow/alder shrub thickets on floodplains, lake margins, and post-disturbance sites; dwarf shrub communities near treeline.

Eastern Sayan and Baikal ranges with strong elevational zonation, steep valleys, and cold microclimates.

Subalpine and alpine meadow complexes above treeline in the Sayan and Baikal highlands, important for summer grazing wildlife.

Rocky escarpments and cliffs along parts of Lake Baikal's shore and mountain valley walls; localized nesting and talus habitats.

Lake Baikal dominates freshwater habitat diversity (nearshore, pelagic, and deepwater zones) with many endemic organisms; smaller taiga lakes also occur.

Major rivers (Angara; tributaries feeding the Lena and Baikal) with riparian forests, gravel bars, and floodplain channels.

River floodplains, oxbow complexes, wet meadows, and lowland mire systems supporting high bird diversity.

Shallow, vegetated margins of rivers and lakes and seasonally inundated floodplain basins.

Peat-forming mires in poorly drained taiga lowlands; acidic, nutrient-poor conditions with sphagnum and dwarf shrubs.

Urban/industrial habitat concentrated around Irkutsk, Angarsk, Bratsk, Ust-Ilimsk and other towns, with strong river-reservoir influence.

Cropland, hayfields, and pasture mainly in the south and in broader river valleys where climate/soils allow.