Recent Climate-Induced Changes in Glaciers, Biota, Land Use Types and Population Adaptation Models in the South-Eastern Altai Highlands

Environments 2026 Open access

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Authors: D. A. Ganyushkin, Ekaterina Derkach, Alexander A. Erofeev, Andrey I. Pyak, Igor V. Volkov, Irina I. Volkova, Zoya N. Kvasnikova, Irina V. Kuzhevskaya, Yury N. Kurochkin, Svetlana G. Maksimova, Dmitry V. Bantcev, Daria A. Omelchenko
+14 more Oksana E. Noyanzina, Olga V. Surtaeva, Aldynay O. Khovalyg, Sergey O. Ondar, A. A. Babenko, Sayana Darzhaevna Mongush, M. D. Dongak, Otgonbayar Demberel, Buyan A. Adygbai, Bogdan A. Mikhaleiko, Yuri Y. Kolesnichenko, Irina A. Gammershmidt, Pradip K. Kar, Sergey N. Kirpotin
DOI: 10.3390/environments13030128
Cited by: 1
References: 48

Abstract

This article provides the first comprehensive description and assessment of environmental changes in a unique natural transboundary region—South-Eastern Altai, which is located in the arid territories of Russia and Mongolia. This region of Asia is rightfully included in the high-mountain Third Pole (Roof of the World). In three key areas, Tsambagarav Massif (Mongolia), Mongun-Taiga Massif, and North-Chuya Ridge (Russia), the following are considered: (1) the latest dynamics of glaciers from the early 1960s (beginning of regular instrumental observations) to the present day; (2) climate change and land use systems; and (3) the characteristics of the biota and the causes of its dynamics. The article concludes with a consideration of (4) population adaptation models.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Cryospheric studies and observations Climate change and permafrost Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology

Publication details

Journal / source
Environments
Publisher
MDPI AG
Volume
13
Issue
3
Pages
128–128
Publication date
25 February 2026
Language
EN