Mongolian–Manchurian grassland

TheMongolian-Manchurian grassland, also known as theMongolian-Manchurian steppeorGobi-Manchurian steppe, in thetemperate grasslandbiome, is anecoregioninEast Asiacovering parts ofMongolia, theChinese Autonomous regionofInner Mongolia, andNortheast China.
The Mongolian-Manchurian grassland (Chinese:蒙古高原草原-内蒙古草原-东北草原) covers an area of 887,300 square kilometers (342,600 sq mi). Thistemperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublandsecoregionof thePalearctic realmforms a large crescent around theGobi Desert, extending across central and easternMongoliainto the eastern portion ofInner Mongoliaand eastern and centralManchuria, and then southwest across theNorth China Plain. To the northeast and north, theSelenge-OrkhonandDaurianforest steppesform a transition zone between the grassland and the forests ofSiberiato the north. On the east and southeast, the grasslands transition totemperate broadleaf and mixed forests, including theManchurian mixed forests,Northeast China Plain deciduous forests, andCentral China loess plateau mixed forests. On the southwest, the grasslands extend to theYellow River, across which is theOrdos Plateau steppe. It lies between theAltai Mountainsin the west and theGreater Khingan Regionin the east.
The climate is hypercontinental sub-humidorsemi-arid, with theKöppen classificationsBSkor in the extreme east,DwaorDwb. The region features warm summers with decreasing rainfall from east to west, alongside frigid, extremely dry winters. Being relatively dry, from a combination of being landlocked and the proximity of theSiberian High, only select animals can live here.
The dominant flora consists of medium to tall grasslands, dominated byfeather grass(Stipa baicalensis,S. capillata, andS. grandis),sheep's fescue(Festuca ovina),Aneurolepidium chinense,Filifolium sibiricuman, andCleistogenes sqarrosa. The drier regions surrounding the Gobi host drought-tolerant grasses, together with forbs and low, spiny shrubs.
The southwestern slopes of theGreater Khinganrange support pockets of broadleaf deciduous forest, of eitherMongolian oak(Quercus mongolica), or a mixture ofpoplar(Populus davidianaandP. suaveolens),Siberian silver birch(Betula platyphylla), andwillow(Salix rorida).
There are also grasses such as:
Despite its landscaping,wildlife can be found in a variety of habitats not restricted solely to the open steppe. Many are programmed to traverse vast distances inextreme weatherand terrain by running, digging, and/or flying.
In the winter the grass becomes dry and very flammable, making wildfires more common. Grass recovers quickly from the fire, but trees do not. This partially explains the absence of trees in the area. There are also seasonal droughts in the grasslands, typically occurring during summer.
The majority of people in the steppe are Mongolian nomads. Families in the Mongolian steppe live in "gers" which are a type of large portable tent. Mongolians are also master horse riders so many families own many horses that roam the steppe. The people in the steppe use the animals there for their food and drink. They also have a very prominent musical culture with a wide variety of traditional Mongolian songs.
The Mongolian-Manchurian grassland faces threat from human expansion, though in most of its eastern area, it has not been altered by agriculture as much as its reaches in its western area, or similar grasslands inNorth America.
5.09% of the ecoregion is in protected areas. Protected areas include:
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