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The '''Central Asian northern desert''' is an [[ecoregion]] in the [[deserts and xeric shrublands]] [[biome]], located in the [[Central Asia]]n countries of [[Kazakhstan]] and [[Uzbekistan]]. The annual precipitation ranges from {{convert|100|to|150|mm|in|0|abbr=on}}, the winters are cold at {{convert|-10|to|-15|°C|°F}} and the summers hot at around {{convert|25|°C|°F}}. There are a range of habitat types including salt flats, clay desert, rocky desert and some sand desert. The vegetation consists of scanty xeric shrubs including ''[[Artemisia (genus)|Artemisia]]'' and ''[[Salsola]]''. The fauna is varied, as well as mammals and birds, there are a large number of reptiles and many species of invertebrate. Some protected areas are included in this [[ecoregion]] but other parts are being [[environmental degradation|degraded]] by conversion to [[farmland]], [[overgrazing]] and [[poaching]].

==Setting==
The Central Asian northern desert occupies southern Kazakhstan and most of Uzbekistan, and largely corresponds with the desert known as the [[Kyzyl Kum]]. This ecoregion experiences a typical [[cold desert climate]]; January mean temperatures range from {{convert|-10|°C|°F}} to {{convert|-15|°C|°F}}, while July means range from {{convert|24|°C|°F}} to {{convert|26|°C|°F}}. On average, precipitation ranges from {{convert|100|mm|in}} to {{convert|150|mm|in}} annually. The topography of this ecoregion is varied, featuring salty "''[[solonchak]]''" deserts with a great number of [[Dry lake|salt flats]], clay deserts, rocky deserts, and a small area of sandy desert in the southern portion of the region.

==Flora==
The vegetation of this ecoregion is dominated by [[shrub]]s and semi-shrubs, with a variety of different species adapted to the different soil types found in it. Clay deserts support communities of ''[[Anabasis salsa]]'', ''[[Salsola]] orientalis'', and the ''[[Artemisia (genus)|Artemisia]]'' species ''A. terrae albae'', ''A. turanica'', and ''A. gurganica''. The stony deserts support mainly ''[[Salsola]] arbusculae formis'' and ''[[Nanophyton]] erinaceum'', while the "''solonchaks''" support the semi-shrubs ''[[Ceratoides]] papposa'', ''Artemisia terrae albae''', var. ''massagetovii'', ''A. santolina'', and ''A. songarica'', shrubs such as ''[[Calligonum]] aphyllum'', ''[[Ephedra]] lomatolepis'' as well as grasses such as ''[[Agropyron]] fragile''.

==Fauna==
Mammals of the Central Asian northern desert include the [[long-eared hedgehog]] (''Hemiechinus auritus''), [[Tolai hare]] (''lepus tolai''), various species of [[gerbil]] and [[jerboa]], [[saiga antelope]] (''Saiga tatarica''), ''steppe polecat'' (''Mustela eversmanni''), [[goitered gazelle]] (''Gazella subgutturosa ''), [[onager]] (''Equus hemonius'') and suslik (''[[Spermophilus]] spp.'').

Birds of this ecoregion include [[wheatear]]s (''Oenanthe isabellina'', ''O. deserti''), [[Asian desert warbler|desert warbler]] (''Sylvia nana''), [[brown-necked raven]] (''Corvus ruficollis''), the endangered [[houbara bustard]] (''Chlamydotis undulata''), [[black-bellied sandgrouse]] (''Pterocles orientalis''), [[golden eagle]] (''Aquila chrysaetos''), [[steppe eagle]] (''Aquila rapax''), [[Egyptian vulture]] (''Neophron percnopterus''), and the [[saker falcon]] (''Falco cherrug'').

Numerous reptiles can be found in this ecoregion, including numerous ''[[Agama (genus)|Agama]]'' lizards, Rustamov's skink gekko (''Teratoscincus scincus rustamovi''), Chernov's snake-lizard (''Ophimorus chernovi''), Ferghana sand lizard (''Eremias scripta pherganensis''), [[desert monitor]] (''Varanus griseus'') and the Central Asian cobra (''[[Naja oxiana]]'').

The [[invertebrate]] fauna of this ecoregion is quite rich, especially in the sandy deserts, supporting a variety of [[grasshopper]]s, [[beetle]]s, [[Butterfly|butterflies]], [[termite]]s and [[ant]]s.

==Conservation status and threats==
The conservation status of this ecoregion is listed as "Vulnerable", and the main threats to its integrity are conversion of habitat to farmland, over-hunting and poaching and the use of plants for firewood and silk production. Protected areas include the Barsa-Kelmes reserve on an island in the [[Aral Sea]], the Kaplankyr reserve, the Ustyurt reserve, and the Altyn-Emel National Park in Kazakhstan.

==References==
*{{WWF ecoregion|id=pa1310|name=Central Asian northern desert}}
*{{NatGeo ecoregion|id=pa1310|name=Central Asian northern desert}}

{{-}}
{{Paleartic deserts and xeric shrublands}}

[[Category:Deserts of Central Asia]]
[[Category:Deserts of Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Deserts of Uzbekistan]]
[[Category:Deserts and xeric shrublands]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of Asia]]
[[Category:Geography of Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Geography of Uzbekistan]]
[[Category:Biota of Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Biota of Uzbekistan]]
[[Category:Flora of Central Asia| ]]
[[Category:Palearctic ecozone]]

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