| Beringia lowland tundra | |
|---|---|
 The Kuskokwim Delta Wetlands | |
 1106. Beringia lowland tundra | |
| Ecology | |
| Realm | Nearctic |
| Biome | Tundra |
| Bird species | tundra swan,emperor goose,black brant,Steller's eider,bristle-thighed curlew,dotterel,bar-tailed godwit,Pacific golden plover,murre |
| Mammal species | brown bear, |
| Geography | |
| Area | 150,900 km2 (58,300 sq mi) |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Geology | lowland |
| Rivers | Kuskokwim River |
| Conservation | |
| Habitat loss | 0% |
| Protected | 0% |
TheBeringia lowland tundra is atundraecoregion of North America, on the west coast ofAlaska, mostly covered in wetland.
These are areas of flat, wet, lowland on the Bering Sea coast of Alaska north as far as theKotzebue Sound, and on the eastern coasts of the offshoreSt Lawrence Island andSt. Matthew Island. Lakes and ponds cover almost a quarter of the area, and wetlands cover most of it. The southernBristol Bay end of this coast receives much more rainfall than Kotzebue Sound in the north.
These flat lands are mostly covered in sedges and grass with shrubland on the more sloping areas such as Bristol Bay. Sedge plants includeEriophorum angustifolium andCarex species, while the dominant shrubs are ericas such as crowberry (Empetrum nigrum).
Wildlife includes large colonies of seabirds on the islands and waterbirds and shorebirds in the many wetlands such as theKuskokwim River delta, one of the largest waterbird nesting areas in the world and home to the world's largest communities oftundra swan, most of the world'semperor goose, and half of the world'sblack brant (Branta bernicla). The lagoon that forms the heart ofIzembek National Wildlife Refuge on the Alaska Peninsula has also long been recognised as an important staging ground for migrating birds. Other birds of the coastal wetlands includebristle-thighed curlew,dotterel,bar-tailed godwit, andPacific golden plover while seabirds of includeSteller's eider and the large colonies ofmurre on the islands.
Mammals includeNorth American river otter (Lontra canadensis),stoat (Mustela erminea),least weasel (Mustela nivalis),grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis),gray wolf (Canis lupus),moose (Alces alces), andcaribou (Rangifer tarandus). One of the largest bear populations is found inKatmai National Park and Preserve and onIliamna Lake.[1]
This ecoregion is almost intact apart from small fishing settlements on the coasts. Protected areas include: in the north theBering Land Bridge National Preserve on theSeward Peninsula andSelawik National Wildlife Refuge; theYukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge; and around Bristol Bay and on the Alaska Peninsula,Togiak National Wildlife Refuge on the north of the bay, Izembek National Wildlife Refuge,Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge along the southern coast of the peninsula,Becharof National Wildlife Refuge and Katmai National Park and Preserve. Also St. Matthew Island is one of the many that make upAlaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge.
Media related toBeringia lowland tundra at Wikimedia Commons
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