The Central Asian southern desertecoregion is an arid but ecologically active region between the east coast of the Caspian Sea and steppes at the base of the mountains of central Asia. Most of Turkmenistan and eastern Uzbekistan is in this ecoregion. The winters are milder than in the cold desert to the north, and a large number of endemic species have adapted to living in the particular climate and soil of the region. As with sandy deserts in general, the region is notable for high numbers of endemic species of reptiles and insects.
Location and description
The ecoregion covers the arid territory from the Caspian Sea on the west, almost to the Pamir-Alay) Mountains to the east. Most of Turkmenistan and the eastern half of Uzbekistan is this region. Covered are the coastal plains of the Caspian, the Krasnovodsk and Ustyurt Plateaus of northwest Turkmenistan, the Karakum Desert of central Turkmenistan, and the Kyzylkum Desert of eastern Uzbekistan and a portion of southern Kazakhstan between the Syr Darya and Amu Darya Rivers. The ecoregion is bisected by the thin ecoregion of the Central Asian riparian woodlands of the Amu Darya River.
Climate
The climate in the surrounding region is Cold desert climate. This climate features hot desert conditions in the summer, but cooler than hot deserts. Winters are cold and dry. At least one month averages below. Precipitation is 125-170 mm/year, with the little precipitation occurring in the winter and spring.
Flora and fauna
Soil type and quality is one of the main drivers of plant species across the ecoregion. Sandy areas typically feature White saxaul and Black saxaul, which are short hardy trees that are tolerant of drought and poor soils. The have extensive root systems to hold in the sand. Thin sandy and loamy soils support many species of sagebrush and salt-tolerate saltworts. Saline solonchak soils support salt-tolerant succulent semi-shrubs such as Halostachys, Halocnemum strobilaceum and Seepweeds. Common mammals include the Long-earned hedgehog, Brandt's Hedgehog, and Tolai hare. Also common are gerbils and ten species of jerboas.
Repetek Biosphere State Reserve, in the eastern Karakum Desert, established for the study of desert ecological recovery. It features the Desert monitors, and the Vulnerable Goitered Gazelle.
Badhyz State Nature Reserve, in the southern Karakum Desert, known for ungulate populations, including the Near-Threatened Onager.
