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SITE NAME
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Chernaya and Velt rivers, Malozemelskaya tundra, Russia
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| Contact details
(phone/fax//e-mail//address): |
| (8212)431007(off)/43-81-21(hom)/(8212)240163(fax) // mineev@ib.komisc.ru // Oktyabr'ski prospect 146-9, Syktyvkar, 167031 Russia
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PROJECT DETAILS |
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Project name:
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Tunrda zoological team
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Start of survey:
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End
of survey: |
Team
size: |
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28.06
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9.08
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5
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WEATHER
CONDITIONS
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| Season phenology: |
average
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Weather conditions: |
| Weather was very hot in June and July, when air temperatures occasionally reached +30øC.
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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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Rough-legged Buzzard was rare, with 1 nest (4 eggs on 30.06) found in the Chernaya River area and 1 nest (chick and 1 egg on 21.07) in the Velt River area. Among skuas Arctic Skuas bred in small numbers. Bean Goose, Glaucous Gull and Arctic Tern were abundant breeding and moulting birds, while all wader, in particular Dunlin and Ruff, were rare compared with 2001. Little and Temminck's stints and Ringed Plover also bred in small numbers. Ringed Plover migrated in flocks up to 100 birds in the first half of July, while Ruffs migrated in flocks of 10-60 birds from 20.07.
Abundance of Willow Grouse increased compared with 2001, and broods of 6.9 chick on average (range 2-12, n=12) were seen from 11.07. Lapland Bunting, Willow Warbler, Little Bunting, Sedge Warbler, Redwing and Fieldfare, Redpoll occurred at a very low density compared with 2001.
Human impact was absent in the area in summer, but migrating geese were hunted in spring, as evidenced by numerous hides found on the sea coast.
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Rodent dynamics:
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| Lemmings and voles were rare in the Velt River basin. Lemmings were not abundant in the Chernaya River basin, but Water Voles were relatively common in river valleys there. Arctic Hares were numerous and bred.
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Rodent species recorded:
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| Latin | Abundance |
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| Dicrostonyx torquatus | rare |
| Arvicola terrestris | rare |
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Summary
of fauna studies: |
| Data on birds of the Chernaya River basin were published in Russian Ornithological Journal, 2005, V. 14, express issue #278, 92-98.
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