The dominant plant community in Ikh Nart is desert steppe. Several habitat types within this community are found in the reserve including arid grasslands, shrublands, rocky outcrops, and valley bottoms.
The plant community within habitats
The dominant plant community in Ikh Nart is desert steppe. Several habitat types within this community are found in the reserve including arid grasslands, shrublands, rocky outcrops, and valley bottoms.
The plant community within habitats varies depending on rainfall. Forbs such as onion grass (Allium spp.) often boom during relatively wet years and dominate the landscape. Other species common during wet years include Fringed Sagewort and Sage (Artemisia spp.).
During relatively dry years, the plant community is dominated by more stable populations of grasses and shrubs. Among the more common grasses include feathergrasses (Stipa spp.) and wheatgrasses (Agropyron spp.). Caragana (Caragana spp.) and Gobi Apricot (Amygdalus spp.) shrubs represent the more domin