Selengiin Tsagaan Lake (16347)
Mongolia, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Selengiin Tsagaan Lake
Central coordinates: Latitude: 49.9500, Longitude: 105.3500
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 662 to 1077
Area of KBA (km2): 171.54886
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site comprises a saltwater lake, located in the north of the Selenge River valley. There are extensive agricultural fields to the west and southwest of the lake, while, on the other side of the lake, there is a large wetland area with grassy meadows. Reed grows in some locations. In wet years, floodwater from the Selenge River enters the lake and the water level rises.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: Many waterbirds, mostly ducks, use the site as a breeding, moulting and stopover site during migration. In addition, the agricultural fields provide feeding habitats for birds on migration. Globally Threatened species found at the site comprise Swan Goose Anser cygnoides (EN) and Great Bustard Otis tarda (VU). Congregatory waterbirds that regularly occur in numbers exceeding 1% of their flyway populations include Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, Northern Shoveler A. clypeata, Green-winged Teal A. crecca, Gadwall A. strepera, Bean Goose Anser fabalis, Greylag Goose A. anser and Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea. In addition, thousands of Demoiselle Cranes Anthropoides virgo congregate near the site during their autumn migration. Non-bird biodiversity: Mammal species found around the lake include Red Fox Vulpes vulpes, Corsac Fox V. corsac, Grey Wolf Canis lupus and Siberian Marmot Marmota sibirica (EN).
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 50 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 50 |