Preliminary results of a Taimyr-Evenk reindeer population study using the Argos/GPS satellite system in 2015-2016

A P Savchenko,S A Dubintsov,N V Karpova,A N Muravyov,I A Savchenko,P A Savchenko

doi:10.1088/1755-1315/315/7/072020

A P Savchenko, S A Dubintsov + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/315/7/072020

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Abstract

The goal of the study was to investigate the distribution of tagged wild reindeers on the territory of Evenkiya and to provide recommendations on preserving and rational use of the population. The study was performed in 2015–2016 by the Department of Hunting Resources Research and Nature Reserve Management of the Siberian Federal University. The relocations of 10 wild reindeers equipped with Argos satellite tags were monitored, land and aerial surveys of the reindeers were also performed. Besides, taxation and cartographic documents of the State Hunting Register, as well as information received from hunters and hunting providers were used during the research. The areas of divisions were delimited mostly with the help of GIS-technologies. The borders of habitats, their size and the character of animal moving were found through signals received from satellite radio tags. To assess the behavior of the animals, the speed of their movements was analyzed both by the azimuth straight line between two daily points and by a tortuous trajectory. The maximum duration of signal from collars with new battery blocks in 2015-2016 was 438 and 444 days. The total distance covered by reindeers by the beginning of the third decade of July was 1641.1 km from locations of tagging, according to the satellite positioning data. The average speed was 13.5 km per day. A radical decrease in the number of tagged reindeers occurs with the beginning of spring migration. Two large waves of reindeer migration with an interval of 20–26 days have been observed in recent years. The positioning of tagged animals provides objective information on the migration of the herds, their fawning and wintering grounds. The possibilities of using a database for complex quality assessment of the population size and location of reindeer resources of Yessey group, as well as features of their habitats, are discussed in the article, with the biotic, abiotic and anthropogenic factors being taken into consideration.

Highlights

The development of regional wild reindeer population resources is the main source of income for most households and for the native population of Evenkiya
Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd of the subgroup representing the hunting resource, and with preserving of the subpopulation listed in the Red Book of the Krasnoyarsk Territory [1]
The following individuals were caught near Lake Talakh: female lassoed on April, 19, equipped with a satellite tag ID 108969; female lassoed on April, 19 (ID 147056); female lassoed on April, 19 (ID 112853)

Summary

Introduction

The development of regional wild reindeer population resources is the main source of income for most households and for the native population of Evenkiya. Mixing of populations of the forest and tundra reindeers has been observed on the territory of the Evenk municipal region. This causes serious problems in the balance of the wild and domestic reindeer livestock, in the development. Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd of the subgroup representing the hunting resource, and with preserving of the subpopulation listed in the Red Book of the Krasnoyarsk Territory [1]

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