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RESPONDENT
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Vladimir Morozov
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SITE NAME
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East of Bolshezemelskaya Tundra, Vorkuta city vicinity, Russia
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| Contact details
(phone/fax//e-mail//address): |
| (495)1553044 // piskulka@rambler.ru // Shebashevski Proezd, 7-16, Moscow, 125315, 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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8.06
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2.08
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WEATHER
CONDITIONS
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Weather conditions: |
The snow accumulation had been low during the winter according to reports of local people, and wide tundra areas became snow-free already after warming in late April - early May. Heavy showers in early June further contributed to the snowmelt, and at this time snow remained only in river valleys and locally in high willow stands on slopes of hills.
Ice broke on the rivers during the last 5 days of May, but the flood was low due to small amounts of snow and the following drop of temperatures. The spring had started early and initially developed rapidly, but retarded in June, and accordingly phenological events in the second half of June occurred on the dates close to long-term average. The second flood on rivers in the period from 10-20 June was higher than the first flood, and then the river islands and lower floodplain were flooded. Ice on the lakes broke in mid and late June.
According to observations from 8 June to 2 August the summer was warm with moderate amount of precipitation. Extreme weather events were not recorded.
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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: |
low
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Breeding conditions:
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Neither Arctic Foxes, nor Red Foxes were recorded.
A few pairs of Rough-legged Buzzards nested, but mostly unsuccessful, and some clutches were deserted at the incubation stage. A single nest with one chick with already developed feathers was recorded in late July. Northern Harriers nested at a very low density, and observations of owls were restricted to a single vagrant Short-eared Owl. Long-tailed Skuas probably did not breed as neither nests, nor broods were recorded, and adults were observed mostly in wandering flocks. Herring Gulls either did not breed, or failed, and many pairs in mid summer left their territories for river valleys and lakes.
Waders nested in numbers usual for the area. Long-tailed Skuas in flocks and Herring Gulls were the principal predators. According to general impression nest success of most waders did not exceed average, with an exception of the Eurasian Golden Plover, Terek Sandpiper and Ringed Plover that showed better performance. Nest success of the Ruff was low.
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Rodent dynamics:
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| Populations of lemmings and voles were at a low, and these animals were not recorded during June and almost the whole of July. Muskrats and fresh excavations of Water Voles were observed locally. Numbers of Arctic Hares were relatively high.
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Rodent species recorded:
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Summary
of fauna studies: |
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