Kultansor and Tatysor Lakes (19945)
Kazakhstan, Central Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Kultansor and Tatysor Lakes
Central coordinates: Latitude: 49.7667, Longitude: 71.4667
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 415 to 416
Area of KBA (km2): 62.04413
Protected area coverage (%): 0.00
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Two neighboring lakes within hilly steppe plain with some separate depressions with lakes and salt-marshes. Kultansor Lake has an area of 1,600 hectares, length - 5.7 km, width - 3 km, depth about 1.0 m. There are many peninsulas, lagoons and 8 islands. The only source of water is snow melt. Water is brackish or salty. In very dry years the lake is almost or completely dry. Tailor Lake has area of 400 hectares, length - 3.2 km, width - 1.5 km, average depth - 1.5 m, and has large reedbeds.
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: Up to 20,000 waterfowl concentrate here during spring and autumn passage. 80 species of waterbirds were observed here in the breeding and migration seasons. Besides waterbirds, breeding species include: Coturnix coturnix, Falco naumanni, Circus macrourus, C.pygargus, C. aeruginosus, Aquila nipalensis, Asio flammeus, Caprimulgus europaeus, and about 25 species of passerines. In some years, several tens of Flamingo feed at Kultansor. There are colonies of Larus ichtyaetus, L. cachinnans, L. ridibundus, terns, and ducks (Anas platyrhynchos, A. acuta, Aythya ferina etc.). Non-bird biodiversity: Around the lake, there is typical steppe landscape with grass and some bushes. Mammals include Canis lupus, Vulpes vulpes, Vulpes corsac, Meles meles, several species of rodent (jerboas, voles etc.), marmot. Reptiles include Lacerta agilis, Vipera ursini, and fishes - Carassius brama.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Grazing; near the north bank of Tatisor there is arable up to the shore-line; fisheries.
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | hunting
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 50 | |
| Shrubland | 5 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 30 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 15 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Bird disturbance by fishermen; in some years there is egg collection of colonial species by locals.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Only in the future |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |