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SITE NAME
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Laplandsky State Reserve, Kola Peninsula, Russia
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| Contact details
(phone/fax//e-mail//address): |
| 81536-58018/81536-58018(f) // Alex@lapland.ru // Laplandsky State Reserve, Zeleuny per., 8, Monchegorsk, 184506, Russia
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PROJECT DETAILS |
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Project name:
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Archives of nature
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Start of survey:
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End
of survey: |
Team
size: |
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1.01
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31.12
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2
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WEATHER
CONDITIONS
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Weather conditions: |
The season was generally early warm and rainy. Phenological spring started on 2 April when maximum air temperatures consistently rose above freezing, while the respective date in 2005 was 22 April and the long-term average 12 April. The last air frost occurred on 26 May and the last frost on soil on 2 June. Snow disappeared from 50% of the flat open surface on 17 May and on 20 May in the forest and in mountains, respectively. Ice-break occurred on 18 May, and snow completely melted on 29 May. Ice broke 5 days earlier than average on large lakes, and they frose 9 days earlier. Thus, the spring was 10 days ealier than average and birds also arrived earlier.
Summer started on 12 June when daily mean air temperatures consistently rose above +10øC, while the respective date in 2005 was 9 June and long-term average 12 June. Autumn started on 5 September when daily mean air temperatures consistently dropped below +10øC, while in 2005 this occurred on 6 September with the long-term average 30 August. The first air frost occurred on 1 October and frost on soil on 21 September. As in 2005 winter started on 19 October when daily mean air temperatures consistently dropped below freezing, with the long-term average 24 October. Snow had blanketed the ground on 25 October in the forest; winter was warm.
Mean monthly air temperatures were 2.9øC above the long-term average in April, 2.2øC in May, 2.7øC in June, 1.1øC in August, 0.4øC in September and 5.3øC in December, but were 1.7øC below average in July, 0.5øC in October and 0.2øC in November. Mean yearly air tempearature was 1.4øC above the long-term average, and only July was relative cold of the summer months. Snowfalls and other extreme events were not recorded from mid May to the end of summer. Precipitation was 129% of the monthly average in April, 117% in May, 124% in June, 146% in July, 26% in August, 158% in September, 116% in October, 111% in November and 194% December, while mean yearly precipitation was 116% above average. Thus, precipitation was above average in all months with the exception of February, March and and August. Water level was high in rivers and lakes in June and July. Rainy weather in September also resulted in increasing water levels.
Weather conditions were generally favourable for reproduction of birds. Weather data were obtained from http://rp5.ru, while long-term averages were available from the weather station in Monchegorsk.
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| Date of 50%
snow-cover: |
17-20.05
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| Date of ice-break on
rivers: |
18.05
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| Date of final loss of
snow: |
29.05
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BIOTIC
CONDITIONS
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| Rodents abundance evaluation: |
high
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Breeding conditions:
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The yield of Bilberry Vaccinum myrtillus ranked 5 on a scale of 5, Clusterberry Vaccinum vitis-idaea, Bog bilberry Vaccinum uliginosum, Alpine bearberry Arctous alpina, pine, Grey Alder Alnus incana 4, Crowberry Empetrum nigrum, Cloudberry Rubus chamaemorus, Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 3, Cranberry Oxycoccus sp., spruce, European Rowan Sorbus aucuparia 2 and birch 1.
European Mink, Otter, Wolverine, Wolf and Brown Bear were common, while numbers of Red Fox, Ermine and Least Weasel were realtively low. Abundance of Marten remained high during the last three years.
Among birds of prey nests or indications of breeding were found in the Osprey, Golden Eagle, Eurasian Kestrel, Gyrfalcon and Merlin, while Rough-legged Buzzards and owls were rare without any sign of breeding.
The density of Tetraonid birds determined in the course of counts in August was 60 birds/10 km2, which is the record low value found during 1998-2006. The abundance of waterfowl (divers and ducks) per unit length of lake and river shoreline increased 40% compared with 2005 value. Waders bred in usual numbers in forested areas. Crossbills were rare. Juvenile Redpolls, European Siskins, Willow Warblers, Siberian Tits became numerous from July, while abundance of other small birds was close to normal. Passerines and waders departed earlier than usual.
Human impact is minimal in the area.
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Rodent dynamics:
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| As expected, the abundance of Clethrionomys spp. voles started to increase in 2006, although only from the second half of summer. The population of Bank Voles reached its maximal value by autumn in the area of the long-term station "Elnyun". Abundance of Microtus spp. voles, particularly the Tundra Vole, was high based on observations and catches at the Chunozerkaya station. Numbers of shews (Sorex spp.) increased as well. Assuming favourable winter the population of the Grey-sided Vole should reach its peak value in 2007, while Bank Voles should enter the stage of decrease. In autumn most of Clethrionomys spp. voles were mature animals of this year. Reproduction continued until October in Grey-sided and Bank voles due to satisfactory weather and good resources of food. Clethrionomys spp. voles can be expected to remain abundant in 2007, while numbers of Microtus spp. voles and shrews will probably decrease.
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Rodent species recorded:
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| Latin | Abundance |
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| Microtus oeconomus | abundant |
| Clethrionomys glareolus | abundant |
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Summary
of fauna studies: |
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