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RESPONDENT
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Vladimir Pozdnyakov
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SITE NAME
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Zhokhov Island, Russia
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| Contact details
(phone/fax//e-mail//address): |
| (411-2)33-68-15/(411-2)42-13-72(fax) // vpozd@mail.ru // Kulakovskogo St., 12-59, Yakutsk-7, 677077, Russia
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PROJECT DETAILS |
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Start of survey:
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End
of survey: |
Team
size: |
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21.07
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14.08
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1
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WEATHER
CONDITIONS
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| Season phenology: |
average
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Weather conditions: |
| Summer was, probably, slightly warmer than normal. Mean day air temperatures ranged from +0.1-+5.2øC from 23.06-14.08. However, night frosts occurred regularily: on 7 days in June, 11 days in July and 4 days in August. Mean air temperature for the whole period of studies was +1.7øC, with the minimal and maximal recorded -1.2øC and +10.6øC, respectively. By the start of observations on 21 July snow was absent from flat areas, but snow banks in depressions and in protected sites occupied considerable area. Island shoreline and sea surface became completely free from ice by the beginning of August, which contrasted with the situation in 3 previous years. Snowstorm on 27-28 July resulted in formation of snow layer up to 15 cm thick on flat surface, but snow almost completely melted by 1 August.
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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: |
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Breeding conditions:
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Arctic Foxes were absent, although 2-3 animals had spent summer on the island in the previous 3 years. Three Polar Bears (female with yearling and approximately 3-year old bear) stayed on island during the whole summer. Avian predators were represented mostly by 18-20 Glaucous Gulls, a part of which bred. Glaucous Gulls made living mostly from seabird colony, and we found remains of Kittiwakes, Thick-billed Murres, Black Guillemots and their eggs near nests of gulls. We found remains of minimum 20 eggs of Kittiwakes and minimum 10 eggs of murres near one of gull nests. Glaucous Gulls were, probably, collecting bodies of dead birds on the coast near colony, as active attempts to hunt adult seabirds were not observed. Skuas were rare: one Arctic Skua was regularily seen near the colony, while 2 Arctic and 2 Pomarine skuas (all solitary) were trying to catch Kittiwakes and Grey Phalaropes on 2 August, when phalaropes appeared near coast in high numbers. An Ivory Gull stayed on the island on 29 July. Ross's Gulls were often seen from 22.06-12.08 in groups of 2-6 (12 once) or as singles. Among 82 recorded birds only one was adult.
The larges seabird colony at the southeast of the island was inhabited by 30000 Kittiwakes, 5000 Thick-billed Murres and 500 Black Guillemots. Another colony of Black Guillemots had 180-200 nesting birds. Hatching started after 20 July in Kittiwakes and murres. Waterfowl occurred in small numbers and included nesting Common Eiders (pacific) and non-breeding King Eiders. Turnstone was the only breeding wader with the total population of 20 pairs on the island. Juvenile Turstones were observed since 31 July. A Knot was seen on 23 July, and small flocks of Grey Phalaropes (up to 10-15 birds) were observed along the coast during the whole period of studies. We counted 2031 Grey Phalaropes, all in active moult, feeding or resting along lee eastern shore on 2 August, with 1000 birds in the largest flock. Snow Buntings bred successfully and were numerous in constructions of deserted polar stations. Juveniles fledged by 21 July. Flocks of 10-30 adult and juvenile Snow Buntings were seen in the first days of August, and most birds left the island by 10 August.
Judging by numbers of juveniles reporduction was successful, and snowstorm in the end of July had not strong adverse impact.
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Rodent dynamics:
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| Lemmings are absent on the island.
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Rodent species recorded:
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Summary
of fauna studies: |
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