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SITE NAME
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Kotuy River lower reaches, 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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Expedition of the Reserve "Taimyrsky"
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Start of survey:
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End
of survey: |
Team
size: |
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17.08
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29.08
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3
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WEATHER
CONDITIONS
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Weather conditions: |
| According to reports by local residents spring and summer were relatively cold and wetter than usual. Mean monthly air temperatures were +3.3øC in June, +11.7øC in July and +7.8øC in August, precipitation was 21.7 mm, 43.8 mm and 49.2 mm in these three summer months (based on the data from meteostation in Khatanga, 33 km to the north from the study area). Mean daily air temperatures dropped below +8øC on 21.08, indicating the beginning of temperature autumn. Precipitation occurred daily in the period from 17-29.08, and temperatures dropped below freezing on several days.
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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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Surveyed area in the valley of the Kotuy River and ancient river terrace belongs to the northern taiga subzone. Migration of reindeers to the south started in the period of our stay in the area.
Among passerines Willow Warbler, Petchora Pipit and Dusky Thrush were the most abundant in the forest, while Bluethroat and Redpoll prevailed in bushes. Ravens were relatively common. Most waders were observed on migration, feeding on bars at rivers and lakes (Little Stint, Ringed Plover and Grey Phalarope). Common Snipes occurred in bogs of the Kotuy River floodplain at a high density reaching 4-6 birds per 1 km of a transect. Bar-tailed Godwit and Spotted Redshank were seen in marginal areas of forest bogs. Gulls and skuas were rare. Three broods of Red-breasted Merganser with 6 chicks in each were observed, along with one brood of Long-tailed Duck and one of Greater Scaup. Flocks of geese were migrating over the area to the south at a high altitude (1000-2000 m). We saw also broods of Red-throated and Black-throated divers, consisting of one chick each. Willow Grouse were very rare. Two nests of Rough-legged Buzzards were found, which apparently had been occupied in the current season. Merlins, including one juvenile, wandered in the area. One record of Short-eared Owl was made.
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Rodent dynamics:
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| Rodents were common in all habitats, and 61 animal was captured per approximately 1000 trap-nights, including Northern Red-backed, North Siberian and Tundra voles, Wood Lemming and Tundra Shrew. Northern Pika was seen on rocks near the river.
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Rodent species recorded:
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| Latin | Abundance |
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| Microtus oeconomus | common |
| Clethrionomys rutilus | common |
| Microtus middendorffi | common |
| Microtus gregalis | common |
| Myopus schisticolor | rare |
| Ochotona hyperborea | rare |
| Sorex arcticus | rare |
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Summary
of fauna studies: |
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