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RESPONDENT
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Inga Bysykatova
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SITE NAME
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Mainland east of Yana River Delta, Yakutia, Russia
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| Contact details
(phone/fax//e-mail//address): |
| Phone (411-2) 335690/Fax: 335812 // ipbysykatova@gmail.com; ingabysykatova@yahoo.com // Institute for Biological Problems of Cryolithozone, SB RAS, 41, Lenin Ave, Yakutsk, 677980 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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16.07
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2.08
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2
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WEATHER
CONDITIONS
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Weather conditions: |
| Observations were carried out from 16 July to 2 August in the sparse larch forest north of Tumat and mostly on the tundra northward to Sellyaskaya Bay on the Laptev Sea, east to Lake Soluntakh, southwest to Churpunnya Mountain, and back to Tumat. Day-time air temperatures were approximately 5 - 10°C. Rain occurred on 5 days. The total distance traveled was 520 km. The vegetation of uplands on the tundra was principally Eriophorum vaginatum with an under story dominated by Betula exilis, Ledum decumbers, and Sphagnum spp. Salix spp. was most conspicuous along banks of rivers where in some cases plants reached 1 m in height. A relatively high percentage of the landscape was in wetlands of varying types. Wetland types included temporary wetlands that varied widely in size with water depths typically not higher 15 cm, and dominated by Carex aquatilis, large open lakes, e.g. Soluntakh Lake, and large, mostly vegetated, wetlands with central zones dominated by Arctophila fulva. Many of these large wetlands supporting Arctophila fulva occurred in close proximity to other wetlands forming wetland complexes. Temporary wetlands dominated by Carex aquatilus and wetlands with central zones dominated by Arctophila fulva supported most water bird use. Permafrost depths where we measured ranged from 13 to 38 cm. Loss of river and lake banks from melting of the permafrost was encountered throughout the surveyed area.
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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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Mamalian predator populations appeared to be relatively low but probably are increasing. Over the 20-day period, we observed 1 wolf and 1 female arctic fox, the latter was at a den overlooking at wetland and had at least 3 half-grown pups. Ermine were present but no live animals were sighted. Wolverine and brown bear occur in the areas we surveyed based on interviews with local residents but none were sighted. Shed antlers and bones of caribou were often sighted but no caribou were seen. Caribou presence in the area we traveled is apparently sporadic. Reindeer herders and their herds were encountered early in the survey period. Rough-legged buzzards were the most common avian predator and were observed on nearly all days at no more than 5 pairs per day. Many buzzards likely were nesting based on their behavior. One active nest was visited with 4 partially feathered young in a Salix sp. thicket near a large wetland. Peregrine falcons were seen at 5 locations, mostly adjacent to rivers and lakes where hill sides had collapsed from permafrost melt creating cliffs which provided nesting sites. One gyrfalcon was observed flying from a cliff near Sellyaskaya Bay. One short-eared owl and no snowy owls were seen during surveys. Jaegers were common and all 3 species, i.e. parasitic, long-tailed, and pomarine were present. At least one species of jaeger was encountered most days and often several sightings were made in a single day. Herring gulls were common. No Ross's gulls or Sabine's gulls were seen although local residents indicated Ross's gulls had been present the previous year. Arctic terns were observed on one wetland where they were aggressive and presumably breeding.
Siberian cranes were common on wetland complexes along the survey route and a total of 140 individuals were sighted. No young were observed but a majority of the adults were paired; many were seen at distances too great to confirm whether or not young were present. Sandhill cranes were present but uncommon with 1 pair exhibiting behavior suggesting presence of young. Swans were often seen but many at distances too great to identify species. Whooper swans and Bewick's swans were identified to species at several sites. The proportion of swan pairs with cygnets was low suggesting poor reproductive success. Bean geese were the most common species of goose and broods were seen on most days with 23 broods being the largest number counted in a single day. Greater and lesser white-fronted geese (occasionally with broods) were sighted along the survey route but at a much lower frequency than bean geese. Two white-fronted goose broods about a week a part in age with 8 goslings and still down covered, were seen on 27 July. Black brant nested in relatively large numbers on the coast at Sellyaskaya Bay according to local residents but none were seen along our survey route nor were snow geese which local residents indicated breed in low numbers in the Bay area. King eiders were common near the coast and a few broods were seen. We saw no Steller's eiders but were told they occur in the area but in much reduced numbers from the past except for the Lyakhovskii Islands where many occur. We also were informed that spectacled eiders occur at low densities with numbers not having changed much over time. We encountered long-tailed ducks at 4 sites and females with broods at 2 sites. Residents stated numbers of long-tailed ducks have declined significantly over the last 10 years. A flock of molting greater scaup was seen on the Syuryuktyakh River but no broods were seen during surveys. No dabbling duck species was common. Pintails were the most often seen dabbling duck with 4 broods encountered. Pintails and king eiders move their broods to temporary wetlands where dense stands of Carex aquatilus make viewing difficult in July and August. Several flocks of molting pintails of 5-20 birds were encountered along the Syuryuktyakh River. Green-winged teal were observed at several sites but no broods were observed. One white-winged scoter was seen within the sparse larch forest north of Tumat and one female duck thought to be a Baikal teal was seen exhibiting brood behavior.
Willow ptarmigan were common on the tundra and most were with broods which in almost all instances were capable of flight for short distances. One ptarmigan brood was observed being attacked by a herring gull near the Syalakh River causing a parent to fly up and attack the gull which was distracted long enough for the brood to escape. Rock ptarmigan were much less common with 2 being seen at separate sites.
Loons were seen on most days and of those that could be identified to species, Pacific loons were most common. On pair of white billed loons was identified. On 24 July a Pacific loon with 2 small down-covered young was seen in an opening on a temporary wetland. Few loon broods were seen during surveys which may reflect that most broods were on temporary wetlands at sites where visibility is poor. The fact that many species of water birds take their young to temporary wetlands in this region likely occurs, in part, in response to presence of numerous species of avian predators.
Our survey area appears to be a major breeding ground for arctic-nesting shorebirds. Most shorebirds were located in temporary wetlands as were nearly all broods. The only exceptions of shorebirds not being in wetlands were single sightings of adult black-belled plover and whimbrel seen in Alopecurus spp dominated tussock at different sites on the day before arrival at Soluntakh Lake. An adult spotted redshank was observed on a sphagnum covered mound surrounded by Carex aquatilus near Lake Soluntakh. Pectoral sandpipers, little stint, Temminck's stint, common snipe, and northern phalaropes were seen at several wetland sites as were single identifications of long-tailed dowitcher and Sharp-tailed sandpiper.
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Rodent dynamics:
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| Voles were often seen and lemmings were occasionally observed. Local residents (hunters, trappers, fishermen, reindeer herders) interviewed stated numbers of lemmings remained low but were increasing. We observed one arctic hare near Lake Soluntakh.
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Rodent species recorded:
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Summary
of fauna studies: |
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Impact of human activities:
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