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RESPONDENT
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Sergei Kharitonov
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SITE NAME
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Agapa River basin, Taimyr Peninsula, Russia
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| Contact details
(phone/fax//e-mail//address): |
| (499)135-9802/(499)135-9802(fax) // serpkh@gmail.com // Bird Ringing Center, Moscow, 117312, Russia
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PROJECT DETAILS |
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Project name:
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New studies on the Agapa River, Taimyr Peninsula
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Start of survey:
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End
of survey: |
Team
size: |
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7.06
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19.07
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2
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WEATHER
CONDITIONS
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| Season phenology: |
average
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Weather conditions: |
The Agapa River was surveyed in the period from 7 June - 19 July in course of the trip on dingeys from the upper river reaches (70°11' N, 86°15' E) to the inflow into the Pyasina River (71°26' N, 89°13' E). The seasonal phenology was average in 2007.
The second half of June was colder in 2007 than in 2004, when a similar 420 km downstream had been undertaken, with mean air temperatures +9.9°C and +11.1°C, respectively. July 2007 was also colder than in 2004 (+10.0°C and +12.1°C). Maximum air temperature of +29.1°C was recorded on 5 July 2007. The 2007 season was considerably more windy than in 2004. When we arrived at the upper river reaches, approximately 50% of the tundra surface was under snow. Ice-break occurred on 23 June in 2004 and on18 June in 2007. A short snowfall was recorded in the first half of July.
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| Date of 50%
snow-cover: |
7.06
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| Date of ice-break on
rivers: |
18.06
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| Date of final loss of
snow: |
20.07
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BIOTIC
CONDITIONS
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| Rodents abundance evaluation: |
low
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Breeding conditions:
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The total number of Rough-legged Buzzards recorded on the same river section in 2007 was higher than in 2004 (76 and 62 birds, respectively). However the number of breeding Buzzards was significantly lower in 2007, but the clutch size was considerably higher than in 2004.
Peregrine Falcons were recorded at 20 sites in 2007, including 15 nests and 5 territories, which indicated an increase in abundance in this part of Taimyr by a factor of 1.5 during the period 2000-2007.
Numbers of White-tailed Sea Eagles increased from 7 observations in 2004 to 23 in 2007. Northern Harriers, mostly males, were recorded north to 70°25' N. A female Pallid Harrier was observed at 70°23' N, 86°17' E on 22 June, when the bird was examined at a range of less than 5 m. A single Merlin was recorded at 70°17' N on 9 June. Among owls we observed Short-eared Owls, apparently non-breeders.
Arctic Foxes were rare, and breeding was not recorded.
We found 68 nests of Red-breasted Geese in 2007 along a river stretch where 54 nests had been found in 2004, an increase at 26%. However, species abundance was still below the levels in the mid 1980s. 13 breeding females of Red-breasted Geese were captured on nests in 2007 and banded with colour rings with number codes. Willow Grouse were common breeders.
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Rodent dynamics:
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| According to visual evaluation numbers of Siberian and Collared lemmings, as well as Red-backed and Grey-sided voles were lower in 2007 than in 2004, although rodent abundance was low in both seasons. Distribution of rodents was uneven in 2007, and they occurred locally at a relatively high density.
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Rodent species recorded:
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| Latin | Abundance |
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| Lemmus sibiricus | rare |
| Dicrostonyx torquatus | rare |
| Clethrionomys rufocannus | rare |
| Clethrionomys rutilus | rare |
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Summary
of fauna studies: |
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