Wildlife of
Sverdlovskaja oblast'

The dominant biome: extensive taiga forests on both sides of the central Urals, with dark conifer stands (spruce-fir) in cooler/moister sites and pine forests on sandy/rocky soils; widespread birch/aspen regrowth where disturbed.

Widespread; the great majority of the oblast (roughly ~70-85%), especially central and northern districts and much of the Ural foothills.

Southern and lower-elevation transition forests with more mixed composition and higher proportions of birch, aspen, and locally other broadleaf associates; includes forest-meadow mosaics around settled/agricultural zones.

Patchy, more common in the south/southwest and around river valleys; limited compared with taiga (~5-15%).

High-elevation Ural landscapes with subalpine open woodlands, mountain meadows, stony slopes, and locally treeless upper belts resembling mountain tundra; short growing seasons and strong wind exposure.

Restricted to the highest ridges and peaks of the Urals within the oblast; small area overall (<5%), but ecologically distinctive.

Large river networks, floodplains, oxbows, lakes, and major reservoirs (including urban/industrial water bodies) supporting riparian forests, aquatic vegetation, and fish communities.

Present throughout; concentrated along major rivers and reservoir systems (~5-10% as water and riparian corridors).

Peat bogs, forested mires, and marshy lowlands in poorly drained flats and headwater basins; important for carbon storage and as breeding habitat for birds and amphibians.

Scattered but locally extensive in lowland depressions, especially toward the eastern lowlands and flat interfluves (~3-10%, highly variable by district).

Small areas of meadow and forest-steppe-like openings (many secondary or maintained by land use), especially in the south and around settlements and river terraces.

Localized and fragmented (<5%), mostly in the southern belt and anthropogenic clearings.

Spruce-fir and pine-dominated taiga across the Urals and lowlands; includes dark conifer stands in moist/cool sites and pine forests on well-drained sands and rocky ridges.

Birch-aspen forests widespread as secondary growth after logging, fire, and industrial disturbance; common around transport corridors and older cutovers.

Broad taiga and mixed-forest matrix that supports large mammals and wide-ranging species; includes a mosaic of age classes due to disturbance history.

Open, patchier forest structure on ridgelines, shallow soils, and near the upper treeline, transitioning toward subalpine communities.

Central Ural mountain landscapes with steep valleys, rocky slopes, and pronounced elevational zonation; key protected areas often focus on these complexes.

Subalpine and alpine-like meadows on high ridges and plateaus with short-stature vegetation and seasonal flowering; important for pollinators and upland birds.

Rock outcrops and escarpments along Ural ridges and river canyons (notably where rivers cut through bedrock), providing nesting and refuge habitats.

Karst and rock cavities occur locally in suitable geology, especially along some river valleys; used by bats and specialized invertebrates where present.

Major rivers (e.g., Iset, Chusovaya, Tura, Tavda) with riparian forests, gravel bars, and floodplain channels; key ecological corridors across the region.

Natural lakes and numerous artificial reservoirs/ponded systems associated with hydropower and industrial water supply; variable trophic conditions.

Small impoundments, quarry ponds, and forest ponds are common near settlements and former industrial sites, providing amphibian and waterfowl habitat.

Mire complexes, wet forest swales, and floodplain wetlands; often peat-forming and sensitive to drainage and fire.

Peat bogs (raised and transitional) in lowland depressions and flat interfluves, with sphagnum cover and scattered stunted pine/birch.

Reed- and sedge-dominated marsh fringes along slow rivers, oxbows, and lake margins; important for breeding birds.

Forested wetlands (alder/birch/spruce in wet ground) along floodplains and seepage zones; seasonally inundated.

Meadow openings (natural and human-maintained), including hayfields and riverine meadows, especially in the south.

Cropland and hay/pasture mosaics concentrated in the southern and more populated parts of the oblast; interspersed with forest patches.

Major urban/industrial ecosystems centered on Yekaterinburg and other cities, with altered hydrology, heat-island effects, and fragmented green spaces.

Peri-urban forest-dacha landscapes around large cities, with high recreation pressure and mixed managed/semi-natural habitats.