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SITE NAME
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Ary-Mas, Taimyr, Russia
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| Contact details
(phone/fax//e-mail//address): |
| (499)780-16-53 // taimyr@orc.ru // Glavnaya St. 19A-193, Moscow, 105173, Russia
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PROJECT DETAILS |
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Project name:
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Taimyrski Reserve Expedition
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Start of survey:
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End
of survey: |
Team
size: |
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19.06
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26.08
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6
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WEATHER
CONDITIONS
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| Season phenology: |
average
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Weather conditions: |
| Spring developed rapidly in 2002. Ice broke on 9-12 June on the Khatanga and Novaya rivers which is somewhat later than average. Water table during flood was lower than average on the the Novaya River (approximately 3.5 m above low-water period level), but water table remained 0.5-1 m above low-water period level during the whole period of observations. By 19 June snow cover completely disappeared, except solitary snow patches in valleys and dense forest sites. Air temperatures were extremely high in the last 10 days of June, rising above +30øC twice (+33.4øC on 22 June and +33.8øC on 28 June). Air temperatures in July and August were close to average, +13.9øC and +11.6øC, respectively. Summer was wet with August being slightly less rainy, and maximal precipitation (9.2 mm) recorded on 10 July. Strong wind was rare, with a single record of velocity reaching 25 m/s on 13 August. Dense fog in the period from 19-23 August reduced visibility to 1 km, and was, probably, caused by forest fires in Yakutia.
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| Date of 50%
snow-cover: |
15.06
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| Date of ice-break on
rivers: |
7-10.06
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| Date of final loss of
snow: |
19-20.06
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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 Foxes were seen only twice, but they bred. Occupation of dens was low, but this is typical for the area. The last groups of reindeers were seen on 20-23 June on their northward migration, while the first ones migrating south were seen on 2 August, and became numerous from 6 August. Hares were numerous during the whole summer, and their remains were found near nests of buzzards along with lemming bodies. Rough-legged Buzzards occupied 90% of known nests on trees, while all nests outside forest were empty. Hatching started on 8 July. Among 3-6 chicks per nest most survived and fledged by 20 August. Two nests of Merlin were found, with 3 and 4 chicks, respectively. Gyrfalcon was seen as non-breeder. Snowy Owl was not recorded, while Short-eared Owls were represented by two territorial pairs, and became relatively common on post-breeding movements in August. Long-tailed Skua, Herring Gull and Arctic Tern were common, although nesting pairs were dispersed. Pomarine Skua nested, and flying juvenile was seen on 11 August along with juveniles of Herring Gull.
Willow Grouse and Rock Ptarmigans were both common having up to 10 chicks in broods which fledged by 10 August. All 3 species of divers bred, but only Black-throated Diver was relatively common. Nesting of Yellow-billed Diver was confirmed for the first time on a lake at the southwest of the area. Observations of geese were rare, and their frequency increased only during autumn migration. Long-tailed Duck and King Eider were the only common nesting duck species.
Bar-tailed Godwit and Spotted Redshank were the most common among waders, along with Pacific Golden Plover in tundra areas and Grey Phalarope on marshes. Ringed Plover was common on gravel river banks. Pectoral Sandpiper and Temminck's Stint nested sporadically. Ruff was numerous on migration, but nested in low numbers. First wader chicks were found on 8 July.
Red-throated Pipit and Willow Warbler were the most common passerines in the forest; Bluethroat, Redpol and Little Bunting in shrubs, while Lapland Bunting in tundra. Pallas' Bunting was relatively common. Nesting of all above species was successful, and their fledglings were seen in mass from 11 July. A few nesting pairs of Naumann's Trush were recorded. Flocks of Ravens of 10-20 birds became common in August.
Breeding was successful in all bird species.
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Rodent dynamics:
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| A single Siberian Lemming was seen during the period of studies, but approximately 30 animals were captured in different habitats by M.P.Telesnin. A vole (presumably, Middendorff's Vole) was seen in the tent on 23 June.
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Rodent species recorded:
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| Latin | Abundance |
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| Lemmus sibiricus | rare |
| Microtus middendorffi | rare |
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Summary
of fauna studies: |
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