Updates from the Field

Activities: Yakutian Birds


Geography: Taiga & Tundra Ecoregions

The Republic of Yakutia is geographically divided into tundra and taiga ecoregions. An ecoregion is a "geographically distinct area of land or water that is characterized by climate, ecological features, and plant and animal communities" (definition from WWF Wild World). The Chabda Resource Reserve and neighboring nature reserves in southern Yakutia are located in the
east Siberian taiga. The Siberian Crane breeding areas to the north (including the Kytalyk Resource Reserve) are in the northeast Siberian coastal tundra. Click on the ecoregion links for more information about these areas.

Click on the image to the right to download a student map of Yakutia (.pdf 547KB). As a class or individually, ask students to label Yakutia, Yakutsk (the capital of Yakutia), and the nature reserves and tundra and taiga ecoregions. You may also add other geographic features, such as rivers or mountain ranges, using an atlas or other classroom resources.

For more information on ecoregions, visit the Wild World website. The site includes an interactive ecoregion map and an Educator Guide with activities focusing on mapping, ecoregions, and biodiversity. Through these activities, your students can build an ecoregion model or learn about biodiversity loss and conservation.


Discussion

Masha introduces us to several bird species (including two crane species) that migrate through southern Yakutia. Each spring, migrating cranes and other waterbirds stop to rest and feed in wetland areas along rivers and lakes that are flooded with melted snow and ice. Masha mentions that Siberian Cranes were not observed along their traditional flyway in southern Yakutia this spring. She states that high water levels caused the Siberian Cranes to choose other wetlands to rest at this spring. Based on this example, why do you think it is important to protect many wetland areas along the east Asia flyway? What will happen if wetlands along the flyway are lost to development for increasing human needs, such as drinking water or agriculture?