Animals and plants of Eurasia: who lives on the vast continent?

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:43

The largest continent of our planet is Eurasia. It is washed by all four oceans. The flora and fauna of the continent is striking in its diversity. This is due to difficult living conditions, relief, temperature contrast. In the western part of the mainland there are plains, while the eastern part is mostly covered with mountains. All natural areas are present here. Basically, they are elongated from west to east.

Flora and fauna of the Arctic deserts, tundra and forest-tundra

The northern regions of Eurasia are characterized by low temperatures, permafrost and swampy terrain. The flora and fauna in these areas is poor.

There is no continuous soil cover in the Arctic deserts. You can meet only mosses and lichens, very rarely - some types of cereals and sedge.

The fauna is mainly marine: walruses, seals, in summer such bird species as goose, eider, guillemots arrive. There are few land animals: a polar bear, an arctic fox and a lemming.

On the territory of the tundra and forest-tundrain addition to plants of the arctic deserts, dwarf trees (willows and birches), shrubs (blueberries, princesses) begin to occur. The inhabitants of this natural zone are reindeer, wolves, foxes, hares. Polar owls and white partridges live here. Fish swim in rivers and lakes.

Animals and plants of Eurasia: taiga

The climate of these areas is warmer and more humid. Coniferous forests dominate on podzolic soils. Depending on the composition of the earth and the relief, they differ from each other. It is customary to distinguish between dark coniferous and light coniferous. The first plants of Eurasia are represented mainly by firs and spruces, the second - by pines and larches.

Meet among conifers and small-leaved species: birch and aspen. Usually they dominate in the first stages of forest restoration after fires and clearings. On the territory of the continent is 55% of the coniferous forests of the entire planet.

There are many fur-bearing animals in the taiga. You can also meet lynx, squirrel, wolverine, chipmunk, elk, roe deer, hares and numerous rodents. Of the birds at these latitudes, crossbills, capercaillie, common hazel grouse, nutcrackers live.

Mixed and broad-leaved forests: animals and plants of Eurasia

The list of fauna of the territories south of the taiga is represented by numerous trees. They are mainly located in Europe and the Far East.

In broad-leaved forests, the flora is characterized as follows: tree layer (usually 1-2 species or more), shrubs and herbs.

Life at this latitude freezes in the cold season and begins to wake up in the spring. Most often you can find oak, linden, maple, ash, beech. Mostly, these Eurasian plants bloom and bear fruits rich in nutrients, such as acorns, nuts, and others.

The second tree layer is represented by bird cherry Poppy, yellow maple, Maksimovich cherry, Amur lilac, viburnum. Honeysuckle, aralia, currants, and elderberry grow in the undergrowth. Creepers are also found here: grapes and lemongrass.

The flora of the Far East is more diverse and has a southern appearance. There are more vines in these areas, and moss is present on the trees. This is due to the precipitation that the Pacific Ocean brings. Mixed forests here are simply unique. You can find larch, and nearby - actinidia, spruce and nearby - hornbeam and yew.

The relationship between the animal and plant world is unconditional. Therefore, the fauna of these territories is more diverse: deer, wild boar, bison, roe deer, squirrel, chipmunk, various rodents, hare, hedgehog, fox, brown bear, wolf, marten, weasel, mink, Amur tiger. There are also some species of reptiles and amphibians.

Forest-steppes and steppes

As we move from the west to the east of the continent, the climate changes significantly. Warm weather and lack of sufficient moisture have formed fertile chernozems and forest soils. The flora becomes poorer, the forest - rare, consisting of birch, linden, oak, maple, alder, willow, elm. In the eastern part of the mainland, the soils are saline, only grasses and shrubs are found.

However, in the spring, the expanses of the steppe are simply pleasing to the eye: the plants of Eurasia are waking up. Multi-colored carpets of violets, tulips, sage, irises are located for many kilometers.

With the advent of heat, the fauna also becomes active. It is represented here by steppe birds, ground squirrels, voles, jerboas, foxes, wolves, saigas.

It is worth noting that most of this natural area is used in agriculture. Most of the natural fauna has been preserved in places not suitable for plowing.

Deserts and semi-deserts

Despite the harsh climate of these areas, the flora and fauna are rich in diversity. Plants of the mainland Eurasia of this natural zone are unpretentious. These are wormwood and ephemeroid, cactus, sand locust, camel thorn, tulips and malcomia.

Some go through their life cycle in a couple of months, others quickly wither, which saves their roots and bulbs underground.

The animals of these places are nocturnal, because during the day they have to hide from the scorching sun. Large representatives of the fauna are saigas, smaller - various rodents, ground squirrels, steppe turtles, geckos, lizards.

Savannas and woodlands

This natural area is characterized by a monsoon climate. Tall plants of Eurasia in savannahs in drought conditions are not often found, mainly palm trees, acacias, thickets of wild banana, bamboo. In some places you can find evergreen trees.

Some native flora during the dry seasonshed their leaves for several months.

The fauna of the savannas and light forests, characteristic of this area, is a tiger, an elephant, a rhinoceros, a large number of reptiles.

Evergreen subtropical forests

They occupy the Mediterranean area. Summers are hot here, while winters are warm and humid. Such weather conditions are favorable for the growth of evergreen trees and shrubs: pine, laurel, holm and cork oak, magnolia, cypress, various lianas. In places where agriculture is well developed, there are many vineyards, wheat and olive plantations.

Animals and plants of Eurasia, characteristic of this natural area, are significantly different from those that lived here before. Man is to blame for everything. Now wolves, tigers, ground squirrels, marmots, markhor goats live here.

Tropical rain forests

They stretch from east to south of Eurasia. The flora is characterized by both coniferous and deciduous forests: cedar, oak, pine, walnut, and evergreens: ficus, bamboo, magnolia, palm, which prefer red-yellow soils.