|
|
|
|
SITE NAME
|
|
Nome area, Alaska, USA
|
|
| Contact details
(phone/fax//e-mail//address): |
| 406-587-7305/4069943190(f) // owjohnson2105@aol.com // Department of Ecology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717 USA
|
|
PROJECT DETAILS |
|
|
|
Start of survey:
|
End
of survey: |
Team
size: |
|
13.06
|
25.06
|
|
|
WEATHER
CONDITIONS
|
| Season phenology: |
average
|
|
|
Weather conditions: |
| Snowmelt was normal compared to the unusual situation in 2001 when most of the region was snow-covered until mid-June. When I arrived on 13 June, all of our usual study sites were snow-free.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Date of ice-break on
rivers: |
|
|
| Date of final loss of
snow: |
|
|
BIOTIC
CONDITIONS
|
| Rodents abundance evaluation: |
low
|
|
|
Breeding conditions:
|
As in the 2001 season, lemmings were not evident. The only rodents observed were Arctic Ground Squirrels. We recorded numerous Long-tailed Jaegers (several nests found), and a few Parasitic Jaegers (no nests found). No Pomarine Jaegers, owls, or foxes were seen.
Furthermore, vegetative development and flowering indicated that nesting conditions were favorable when birds returned in early spring. Nesting Golden Plovers (both Pluvialis fulva and P. dominica) were relatively abundant with densities in suitable habitats on the order of 3-4 pairs/km2 for dominica and 1-2 pairs/km2 for fulva. Our field work involved only these two species, and we had the following objectives: 1) continued assessment of site- and mate-fidelity, 2) collection of eggs for contaminant analyses, 3) obtaining additional measurements in both taxa to test the accuracy of certain interspecific identification criteria (especially bill/eye relationships) as put forth by Byrkjedal and Thompson in their book Tundra Plovers. During our stay, we recorded almost no predation - only one clutch of dominica (out of eight being monitored) was lost. We departed on 25 June before hatching began so have no knowledge of subsequent reproductive success.
|
|
|
Rodent dynamics:
|
|
|
|
Rodent species recorded:
|
|
|
|
|
Summary
of fauna studies: |
|
|
|