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RESPONDENT
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Andrei Degtyarev
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SITE NAME
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Indigirka River lower reaches, Russia
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| Contact details
(phone/fax//e-mail//address): |
| (411-22)-455749 // dbr@sakha.ru, alazeya@yandex.ru // Dept. of Bioresources, Sverdlova, 14, Yakutsk, 677005, 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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3
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WEATHER
CONDITIONS
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Weather conditions: |
| May and early June were rather cold (snow was gone by 10-17 June) but in the second half of June and July the air temperature was above average, without sudden cold spells which favoured bird breeding. The Indigirka opened up on 12 June, the water level was high and it was retained atypically long - about 1.5 months. Large lakes became ice free only on 8-12 July.
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| Date of ice-break on
rivers: |
12.06
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| Date of final loss of
snow: |
17.06
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BIOTIC
CONDITIONS
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| Rodents abundance evaluation: |
average
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Breeding conditions:
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Numbers of Arctic Foxes increased as well but had not reached their peak levels: 2-3 sightings per week could be made; known den were occupied. Nests of Snowy Owls and Rough-legged Buzzards were not found. Predation by Arctic Foxes, Snowy Owls, gulls and skuas was of medium intensity and caused no strong damage to nesting birds.
Wader migration was brisk but there was a slight delay with nesting initiation. Common breeding wades included Red-necked and Red Phalaropes, Pectoral Sandpipers, Ruff (large leks were formed). Temminck's Stints and Long-billed Dowitchers Limnodromus scolopaceus were less common but bred successfully. Normal breeding was recorded for Ross's Gulls Rhodostethia rosea, King and Spectacled Somateria fischeri Eiders, Long-tailed Ducks, Peregrine Falcons and passerines. Overall the season was favourable for breeding waders.
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Rodent dynamics:
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| Lemming numbers increased compared with the previous year. During the first half of June up to a dozen of these rodents could be seen on an excursion, while only 1-2 animal in July.
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Rodent species recorded:
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Summary
of fauna studies: |
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