Masters in Biodiversity in a Changing World

Ural region as a polygon for studies of biodiversity on the border of natural ecosystems (altitudinal and latitudinal gradients, eastern-western slopes, lakes and rivers, swamps and meadows, coniferous and deciduous forests, steppes and tundra). Several climatic zones cross the whole territory, so that there are northern and southern borders of many biological species distribution. The plains adjacent to the Urals are characterized by an expressed horizontal zoning: boreal forest (northern, middle and southern taiga), broad-leaved forest and steppe. In the mountains, the pronounced vertical zoning is marked: mountain forest, subalpine, mountain tundra and alpine cold deserts, which are fragmentary presented in the northern part of the Urals. Moreover, the Urals is a highly industrial region. Mining and smelting enterprises are traditional for the region. Considerable areas are occupied by agricultural land, arable for crops and fodders. In recent decades, a lot of territories are impacted by recreational loads.