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RESPONDENT
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Dmitri Karelin
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SITE NAME
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Lavrentia settlement, Chukotski Peninsula, Russia
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| Contact details
(phone/fax//e-mail//address): |
| (095)495-15-55 (home); (095)939-22-54 (off.) // dkarelin@pochta.ru;dkarelin@cepl.rssi.ru // Dmitrovskoe Shosse, apt.61, block 1, build. 99, Moscow, 127247, Russia
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PROJECT DETAILS |
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Project name:
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Stationary studies of carbon and water cycles and energy flows in seaside tundra of the Chuckchi Peninsula northwest
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Start of survey:
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End
of survey: |
Team
size: |
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12.07
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20.10
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3
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WEATHER
CONDITIONS
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Weather conditions: |
| Spring was late in vicinities of Lavrentia settlement, for the fifth year in a row. Average temperatures in July (+5.7øC), August (+6.2øC) and September (+2.2øC) were below the long-term average. Snow-free period was 3 weeks shorter than average, however, in contrast to previous dry seasons total amount and distribution of precipitation for July-October did not differ from the average. As no summer frosts, snowfalls, prolonged periods of rain or storms were recorded, weather conditions can be considered favourable for most tundra birds.
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| Date of ice-break on
rivers: |
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| Date of final loss of
snow: |
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BIOTIC
CONDITIONS
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| Rodents abundance evaluation: |
average
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Breeding conditions:
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Arctic and Red foxes became more common due to increased abundance of lemmings, also Pomorine Skuas were recorded. Peregrine Falcons were seen rarely, but on a regular basis (0.08 birds/sq.km). Rough-legged Buzzard and Gyrfalcon were also rare, and their status in the area remained uncertain. Both breeding Long-tailed Skuas (1 bird per sq.km) and Ravens (0.25 pair per sq.km) were common. Glaucous Gulls were abundant along shoreline, near seasbird colonies and settlements (6-8 birds/km), with ratio of juveniles to adults 1:10. Herring Gulls were less common (1.5 birds/km).
Sandhill Cranes were abundant - 0.5 pair per 1 sq.km, with juveniles becoming common in August. Mass migration of cranes across the Lavrentia Bay started earlier than normal, on 22 August, and continued to 22 September, with principal direction to the north-north-east. Migration was most intensive between 7 and 18 September, when 8-10 flocks (or approximately 400 birds) were seen passing daily. Twenty three flocks with the total of 1440 birds were registered on 14 September.
Pacific Golden Plover was common among breeding waders on plain tundra (4-6 pairs per 1 sq.km). Ringed Plovers inhabited floodplains and gravel flats of streams (0.3 bird/km), Red-necked Phalaropes - lake shores (0.5 bird/km), Dunlins - wet sedge tundra. Wader broods were rare in August. Dunlins were the dominant species among waders in tundra and coasts on migration between 9 August and 22 September, with hundreds passing daily during the peak period. Common migrants were also represented by Western Sandpipers (9-31 August, with 50-80 birds seen daily on peak), Pectoral Sandpipers (from 11 August through September, 30-40 birds daily on peak), Long-billed Dowitchers (during 31 August to 20 September, 10-20 birds daily on peak). Rare migrants included Red-necked Phalarope (4 records of 1-4 juveniles).
Adult Common Eiders and together with broods were common on sea in August (2 birds/km). Lagoons and coastal lakes near Lavrentia and Lorino settlements from late July to August were used by aggregations of 150-300 Pintails, as well as by moulting Common and Spectacled eiders, Long-tailed and Harlequin ducks, and Greater Scaups (tens of birds). Bronnich's Guillemots were met on sea close to the shore and on lagoons. Density of Pelagic Cormorants was 2.3 bird/km in mid August, of Black Guillemot - 0.1 bird/km. Ptarmigan broods of 8-10 birds were not uncommon in inland scrub tundra in mid August (1 brood per 3 sq.km).
Breeding passerines were dominated by Lapland Buntings with postbreeding density of 14 birds/km, while Yellow Wagtails, Snow Buntings, Weathers, Red-throated Pipits and Redpols were common in their respective preferable habitats. Fledgling of young in all these species was recorded in mid July, and they were abundant migrants. Pied Wagtails were less common.
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Rodent dynamics:
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| Lemmings were common in vicinities of Lavrentia, although not as abundant as, according to interview data, in inland Iony Lake area. Mass dispersion of juveniles and their burrowing activities occurred in the second half of August, when 8-10 animals could be met per 5 km of route. Arctic Ground-Squirrels were common everywhere, but inhabited colonies were particularly frequent near settlements, roads and banks. Pikas were common on rocks.
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Rodent species recorded:
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Summary
of fauna studies: |
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