|
|
|
SITE NAME
|
Zackenberg, Greenland, Denmark
|
|
| Contact
details (phone/fax//e-mail//address): |
| +45 46301939(dir.)/+45 46301200(switchb.)/+45 46301914(fax) // mel@dmu.dk // National Environmental Research Institute Department of Arctic Environment Frederiksborgvej 399 Postbox 358 DK-4000 Roskilde DENMARK |
|
PROJECT DETAILS
|
|
Start of survey:
|
End
of survey:
|
Team
size:
|
|
3.06 |
1.09 |
3 |
|
WEATHER CONDITIONS
|
|
|
|
Weather conditions: |
It was a very early breeding season in contrast to last summer's unprecedented late snow melt. In early June, at the start of the season, we had 40 cm of snow at our sonic snow depth sensor against 130 cm last year, when we could use skies on the tundra until early July. This year, the snow melt was largely completed by mid-summer. The result was that the waders bred as early as we have recorded in previous early years; that is initial first egg dates around 8 June and the bulk of first egg dates within a few days later. The weather was beautiful during virtually all of June and early July, so the waders apparently had optimal conditions.
However, what should have been a very good breeding season, was interrupted by a fierce snow storm during the night of 17-18 July, i.e. in the middle of the chick rearing period. The result was demonstrated by more than 250 adult waders that appeared in the river deltas at the coast immediately afterwards - a clear indication of the many young lost during the snow storm. |
|
|
|
|
|
| Date of 50%
snow-cover: |
13 June |
|
| Date of ice-break
on rivers: |
8 June |
|
| Date of final loss
of snow: |
mid June |
|
BIOTIC CONDITIONS
|
| Rodents abundance evaluation: |
low |
|
Breeding conditions:
|
The population census in our 19 sq.km study area gave figures close to those obtained during the previous four seasons; that is about 100 pairs of Dunlins, around 40-60 pairs each of Ringed Plover, Sanderling and Turnstone, and about 25 pairs of Red Knot, together with 1-2 pairs of Red-necked Phalaropes. Areas of apparently optimal breeding habitat that have been snow covered in other years, remained unused, and it seems as if the wader populations are adjusted to 'average' conditions, as the species involved appear to be largely site tenacious.
About one quarter of the nests found were predated by foxes, which is within the range from previous years. Three fox dens in and around our census area held pups. The lemming population was at an absolute low, but local fox population seems to be more related to the numbers of musk oxen killed by wolfs and harsh weather during the previous winter.
Numbers of adult waders remaining on the tundra in late July are always diminishing quite fast, but this year, particularly few alarm calling waders remained after the snow storm, so there is little doubt that a large part of the chicks had died. However, numbers of juvenile waders appearing at the coast during August did not differ much from previous years. This means that conditions in other parts of the region must have been less severe. The snow storm hit the central part of Northeast Greenland, so the southern and possibly also the northernmost parts were not affected.
A very early breeding season with average predation and regionally low fledging success due to severe snowstorm in mid July. Bird breeding performance can be evaluated as moderate. |
|
|
Rodent dynamics:
|
|
|
|
Rodent species recorded:
|
| Latin | Abundance |
|---|
| Dicrostonyx groenlandicus | rare |
|
|
|
Summary
of fauna studies: |
| Homepage: http://biobasis.dmu.dk. |
|