Biodiversity of Kyrgyzstan State

The basic kinds of endemic animals of the region are represented by mollusks, insects (beetles, locust, orthopterians, hymenopterans and lepidopterans). Endemic kinds of mammals are: relict gopher, red Tyan-shan and silvery microtine, red pika. The endemic reptiles are the Eremias nicolskii Bedriaga, the agama Pavloskii and the Ablepharus Alaii.

More abundant variety of ecosystems is represented in the western Tien-Shan and Central Tien- Shan biogeographical regions, where there are 16 out of 22 classes of ecosystems making up 72,7% of their total variety. Fergana and southern Kazakhstan regions are most meagre, there are 3-5 classes of ecosystems in them. Between them there are the Alai (13 ecosystem classes, 59,1%), Northern Tien-Shan, Issyk-Kul and central Tien-Shan regions (10 ecosystem classes per each, 45,4%). At present there is no single natural ecosystem on the territory of the country that does not suffer from human influence. Foothills steppes, Tugai and water bog complexes have practically disappeared in the Chui Valley; dry steppes, semi-arid and arid ecosystems in the Pre Fergana zone have disappeared too.

Ecosystems of river downstream degraded due to strong pollution. In many cases they disappeared physically because of complete utilisation of water for irrigation. Steppe desert and semi-arid ecosystems of foot hills plains, inter- mountain valleys, riverbanks, arboreal and shrub vegetation are subject to strong pasture destruction. Such position does not allow natural ecosystems to perform their most important ecological functions: maintenance of ecological balance, carbon dioxide extraction, strength of slopes, discharge regulation, soil layer formation, purification of air, maintenance of biological variety.

Species diversity

Kyrgyzstan is a unique location of species concentration of wild animals and plants in Central Asia. In comparison with average world index there is higher concentration of species of vertebrates, plants, mushrooms, molluscs etc.

Among plants and animals there are a lot of valuable, rare and endemic species. Fauna is rather variable and non-uniform by origin. Region fauna basis is made up by species peculiar to the Central Asian and Mediterranean regions. More than 500 species of vertebrates, including 83 mammals, 368 species of birds, 28 species of reptiles, 3 species of amphibians, 75 species of fishes, 3000 species of insects can be found here. Principle species of endemic animals are represented by molluscs and a number of insect groups (spiders, locusts, orthoptera, hymenopterous, and lepidoptera). Among mammals Menzbeer marmot, relic suslic, red Tien Shan and silver field voles red pika. Tien Shan and Pamir Alai endemic species include 4 species of reptiles: Nickolski Lizard, Turkestan agama, Pavlovski agama, and Alai ablepharus deserti.

Flora of the Republic accounts for more than 4500 species of highest plants. About 1600 species have economic and useful value including fodder - 450 species meliterous - 300 species, medicinal - 200 species, etherolieferous - 62 species, food - 50 species. Such variety of species is the richest gene pool providing relative steadiness of vegetable kingdom under the conditions of sharply changing phenomena of continental climate and utilisation of its resources. Taking into consideration a relatively limited area of the country, a variety of biocenosis can be represented rather considerably.

There are the vertical zones in distribution of animals on the territory of Kyrgyzstan: arid natural complexes of troughs: animals - yellow gopher, jerboas, eared hedgehog, hare-talai and other; birds - deserted bullfinch, pink starling; reptiles - east boa, steppe turtle and other; mountain natural complexes: animals – Tyan-shan brown bear, Turkestan lynx, wild boar, ermine, marten, squirrel; birds – blackcock, crossbiel, and other; difficulty-accessible high mountain natural complexes: animals - goat-teke, wolf, fox and other; bird - mountain goose, horned lark, snow and black vulture, alpine jackdaw.

Vertical stratification is well observed in proliferation of flora and fauna on the territory of Kyrgyzstan. As a whole the republic has favourable natural conditions. However gradually intensifying process of anthropogenic influence on environment impedes preservation of many species of animals and plants in natural freedom. Their number reduction occurred as a result of cattle-breeding intensification, developed without preservation of surrounding medium. Cutting down arboreal shrub vegetation, ploughing up significant plots, drying up reservoir and poaching damage essentially populations and their places of habitat.

Species under the threat

There are 92 animal species and 65 plant species on the list of species under the threat of disappearance. It is approximately 1% of the species abundance of Kyrgyzstan.

It is necessary to take into consideration that a considerable part of species have not been found yet. Areas of registered species are still far from being known for everybody as well as their number and status. Some species are known by single findings, and it is difficult to say something definite. At present 68 species of animals and 65 species of plants being under the threat of disappearance in the Republic Red Book.

Conditions of amphibians, snakes, predatory animals, mammals, and birds cause special alarm. Sharp change in habitat and the destruction of plants and animals led to disappearance of some species (11 species) and others were put under the threat of disappearance. Of fauna of large and middle-sized mammals - 3 species died out, 15 species are under threat. Birds: 4 species died out, 26 species are under threat. Flora: 3 species have practically disappeared, 54 species are under the threat of disappearance.

Fish resources

Currently 75 species of fish and 3 species of amphibians are known in Kyrgyzstan, 12 species are found only on the territory of the Republic. Here 0.23 of fish species falls per one thousand km2.

Degradation of water ecosystems (lakes, rivers, and water reservoirs) took place for the account of: chemical and biological pollution (21 of 75 species of fish were delivered from the outside); eutrophication of reservoirs because of organic waste pollution ; regulation of the river flow and water in-take for irrigation. It has resulted in the threat of extinction of water flora and fauna; disturbance of fishes communities structure; degradation of physical and chemical properties of water; deterioration of inhabitancy conditions of water organisms, migration and spawning of fishes.

Objects of fishery in the republic

Name	Aborigen	Acclim
Scamo trutta oxianus	+
Scamo issykogegarcuni		+
Samo gairdneri		+
Coregonus lavaretus ludoga		+
Coregonus peled		+
Esox lucius aralensis	+
Scardinius erythrophtalmus	+
Rutilis rutilts aralensis	+
Leuciscus schmidti	+
Leuciscus bergi	+
Ctenopharyngodon idella		+
Hypophtalmichtys molitrix		+
Tinca tinca		+
Schizothorax intermedius	+
Schizothorax pseudoaksaensis tschuensis	+
Schizothorax p. talassi	+
Schizothorax p. issykkuli	+
Diptychus maculatus	+
Diptychus dubowskii	+
Abramis brama orientalis		+
Carassius auratus		+
Cyprinus carpio	+
Silurus glandis	+
Perca fluviatilis		+
Perca schrenki		+

2 species of fish introducted into the Red Book of the Kyrgyz Republic and since 1985 1 species of the fish was added

Reference: Strategy project and actions plan of biodiversity preservation in the Kyrgys Republic. Ministry of environment protection. Bishkek, 1998.

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