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SITE NAME
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Zackenberg, Greenland, Denmark
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| Contact details
(phone/fax//e-mail//address): |
| +45 4630 1939/45 4630 1914 // olethorup@post.tele.dk; mel@dmu.dk // National Environmental Research Institute, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
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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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1.06
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31.08
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4
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WEATHER
CONDITIONS
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Weather conditions: |
| In general fine weather June and most of July, cold and rainy last week of July, average in August.
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| Date of 50%
snow-cover: |
15.06
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| Date of ice-break on
rivers: |
1.06
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| Date of final loss of
snow: |
27.06
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BIOTIC
CONDITIONS
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| Rodents abundance evaluation: |
average
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Breeding conditions:
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2004 was another early season in Zackenbergdalen. Laying was initiated in most wader nests before 20 June and medians of the first egg dates were before 10 June in three out of five species.
Nest success was exceptionally high in 2004. With 1997 as the only exception showing a somewhat higher nest success, the nest predation in all wader nests combined was at approximately 55-65% in 1996-2003, while the predation level was at less than a quarter of that in 2004. Only 3 or 4 out of 55 found nests were depredated. At three nests, shell fragments were found that indicated predation by a bird, most likely a skua or Glaucous Gull. All previous breeding seasons the nest success has been substantially higher in Dunlin than in the other two species with a fair number of data, Sanderling and Ruddy Turnstone, and this pattern was retained in 2004, although at a much higher level. Also the chick survival was very high.
Waders experienced a high breeding success irrespective of a record high number of Arctic Fox dens with pups and a high number of fox encounters within the bird census area. This is the first observation in Zackenberg of a simultaneous occurrence of high numbers of lemmings and foxes and good nesting success. Also Long-tailed Skua had a very high breeding success, as 21 pairs fledged 22 juveniles.
The numbers of breeding pairs in Zackenbergdalen were within the fluctuations of the previous seasons. However, the number of Snow Bunting territories was well above average.
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Rodent dynamics:
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| Lemmings were seen regularly early and rarely late in the season.
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Rodent species recorded:
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| Latin | Abundance |
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| Dicrostonyx groenlandicus | common |
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Summary
of fauna studies: |
| The ZERO annual report 2004 includes results from monitoring bird populations and their breeding success and phenology, as well as other results from the monitoring of climate and basic biological parameters. It will be published in some months, at the ZERO web-site www.zackenberg.dk and in print.
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