Wrangel Island
Page 3 of 3
III. Structure of the Work
The expedition will include one group consisting of two persons. In autumn the base camp will be on Wrangel's Cape Blossom. The research will begin with stationary observations on Cape Blossom — a traditional walrus haul-out spot — and a place with high concentrations of polar bears. This will take place from September through mid-October. After that, from mid-October to early November, a route survey along the entire coast of Wrangel Island will be conducted. During stationary observations, route surveys will be conducted along the coast from the base camp northward and eastward. In spring, stationary observations will be conducted in one of the areas with high denning concentrations (Thomas Mountain, Dream Head, Cape Warring or Herald Island).
The principal investigator will be Dr. Nikita Ovsyanikov, who has 19 years of experience in working in the field of the High Arctic and eight years experience in working with polar bears on Wrangel and Herald islands.
Observations will be carried out visually from a distance of five meters to two kilometers (for distant observations, strong telescopes and binoculars will be used). Safety rules, for both observers and the bears, were developed during years of working with the polar bears of Wrangel Island, which has the highest known density of polar bears in the world.
IV. Methods
The basic method will be direct visual observations on polar bears near the base camp on Cape Blossom and on routes (using snowmobiles and Zodiacs, if available). The counting and mapping of polar bears and their dens will be carried out. Activity of polar bears will be recorded by text and registered by video camera. Special precautions will be taken to avoid disturbing the bears, particularly females with small cubs.
As research in the Arctic has a complex nature, ecological and faunistic observations will be carried out simultaneously with observations on polar bears. This data will be presented to the Wrangel Island Nature Reserve for inclusion in the reserve's data base and will be published in the Chronicle of Nature (Letopis Prirodi), the annual monitoring report of the reserve.
V. Equipment
Binoculars, telescope, video camera.
Required camping equipment: arctic clothing (two sets), arctic tents (one), arctic sleeping bags (2), heaters, and other necessary accessories.
Transportation: snowmobiles with sledges (two), Zodiac (medium size, one), engines (Yamaha or similar, 40-50 hp, one), 10-20 hp, one.
VI. Staff
A total of two people will compose the field group: one principal researcher, one field technical assistant.
VII. Implementations
Results of this research will be analyzed and presented in scientific publications on the behavior, distribution, and population structure of Wrangel Island's polar bears. The final report will submitted to the sponsors and administration of the Wrangel Island Nature Reserve.
To promote better understanding of the problems of conserving polar bears and arctic nature, collected materials and the results of this study will be used for public education in the form of magazine articles and films.
The expedition will include one group consisting of two persons. In autumn the base camp will be on Wrangel's Cape Blossom. The research will begin with stationary observations on Cape Blossom — a traditional walrus haul-out spot — and a place with high concentrations of polar bears. This will take place from September through mid-October. After that, from mid-October to early November, a route survey along the entire coast of Wrangel Island will be conducted. During stationary observations, route surveys will be conducted along the coast from the base camp northward and eastward. In spring, stationary observations will be conducted in one of the areas with high denning concentrations (Thomas Mountain, Dream Head, Cape Warring or Herald Island).
The principal investigator will be Dr. Nikita Ovsyanikov, who has 19 years of experience in working in the field of the High Arctic and eight years experience in working with polar bears on Wrangel and Herald islands.
Observations will be carried out visually from a distance of five meters to two kilometers (for distant observations, strong telescopes and binoculars will be used). Safety rules, for both observers and the bears, were developed during years of working with the polar bears of Wrangel Island, which has the highest known density of polar bears in the world.
IV. Methods
The basic method will be direct visual observations on polar bears near the base camp on Cape Blossom and on routes (using snowmobiles and Zodiacs, if available). The counting and mapping of polar bears and their dens will be carried out. Activity of polar bears will be recorded by text and registered by video camera. Special precautions will be taken to avoid disturbing the bears, particularly females with small cubs.
As research in the Arctic has a complex nature, ecological and faunistic observations will be carried out simultaneously with observations on polar bears. This data will be presented to the Wrangel Island Nature Reserve for inclusion in the reserve's data base and will be published in the Chronicle of Nature (Letopis Prirodi), the annual monitoring report of the reserve.
V. Equipment
Binoculars, telescope, video camera.
Required camping equipment: arctic clothing (two sets), arctic tents (one), arctic sleeping bags (2), heaters, and other necessary accessories.
Transportation: snowmobiles with sledges (two), Zodiac (medium size, one), engines (Yamaha or similar, 40-50 hp, one), 10-20 hp, one.
VI. Staff
A total of two people will compose the field group: one principal researcher, one field technical assistant.
VII. Implementations
Results of this research will be analyzed and presented in scientific publications on the behavior, distribution, and population structure of Wrangel Island's polar bears. The final report will submitted to the sponsors and administration of the Wrangel Island Nature Reserve.
To promote better understanding of the problems of conserving polar bears and arctic nature, collected materials and the results of this study will be used for public education in the form of magazine articles and films.
Page 3 of 3