Grasses, more dominant in the north, include various Stipa species (S. lessingiana, S. sareptana, S. kirghisorum and the endemic S. richterana) and tipchak (Festuca valesiaca).

Vegetation on the saline plains consists of Artemisia pauciflora, A. schrenkiana, A. nitrosa, Atriplex cana, Anabasis salsa, and Camphorosma monspeliaca.

Mammals in the ecoregion include the critically endangered saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica), Karaganda argali (Ovis ammon collium), goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutterosa), Pallas's cat (Otocolobus manul), gray wolf (Canis lupus), European badger (Meles meles) and marbled polecat (Vormela peregusna).

Agriculture, overgrazing, and fragmentation of habitat from human encroachment are the main threats to this ecoregion's integrity, and its conservation status is listed as "critical/endangered".

However, recent and dramatic reductions in the number of livestock in Kazakhstan have resulted in large areas having a greater chance for rehabilitation.