Bering Island Research Articles

Geometrids (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve and other natural areas of the Kamchatka Peninsula

An overview of geometrid moth species (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve is presented. Additionally, materials from the Bystrinsky and Nalychevo Nature Parks, the Yuzhno- Kamchatsky and Kol River protected natural areas, as well as from the Bering Island (Commander Islands National Park). An annotated list has been compiled, including 79 species, of which Biston betularia (Linnaeus, 1758) and Scotopteryx chenopodiata (Linnaeus, 1758) are listed for the fi rst time for Kamchatka. Seventy species have been recorded in the Kronotsky Nature Reserve, 39 of which are new to the reserve. About 80% of geometrid moth species known on the peninsula inhabit the reserve. For all 79 species, we provided data on the collected material, distribution in the reserve and Kamchatka Krai, relative abundance, food plants for caterpillars and other ecological features.

Fishery and notes on the biology of Pacific ocean perch Sebastes alutus (Sebastidae) off the Commander Islands

The fishery and some aspects of the biology of the Pacific ocean perch Sebastes alutus off the Commander Islands. It has been established that the harvest of this species is episodic in nature, is not subject to seasonal dynamics and is carried out in a local area located west of the Bering Island. The contribution of this water area to the total catch of rockfishes in the Petropavlovsk-Commander subzone in 2001–2022 did not exceed 26.5%. Near the Commander Islands, S. alutus was observed at depths of 138–370 m at a water temperature near-bottom of 3.1–3.9°C, and in catches it was represented by individuals 17–45 cm length. Presumably the formation of accumulations in the upper part of the continental slope to the west of the Bering Island is due to the presence of an anticyclonic circulation, which contributes to the formation of high concentrations of zooplankton as the main food source and favorable conditions for the development of spawned larvae.

Genetic features of the island populations of sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka (Walbaum, 1792) in Russian part of the species range

Sockeye salmon genetic diversity in the Kuril Islands (Iturup, Urup, Paramushir, Shumshu) and the Commander Islands (Bering Island) was examined on 7 microsatellite loci. Average estimates of the heterozygocity observed on different loci vary from 0.300 to 0.858. General estimate of genetic differentiation θst is 15%, with a 95% confidence bootstrap interval [10.40–21.18%]. The results obtained in the program BOTTLENECK 1.2.02 made it possible to identify the passage of the “bottle neck” by all island populations. Unique properties and significant differences from each other are shown for allfivчe populations examined. The level of sockeye salmon intrapopulation diversity found in the Kuril and Commander Islands is significantly lower compared to that in the continental water bodies, what is generally typical for marginal populations of the species range.

GEOGRAPHIC VARIATIONS IN THE SHAPE OF THE UPPER TOOTHROW OF THE ARTCIC FOX (<i>VULPES LAGOPUS</i> L. 1758): EFFECTS OF ASYMMETRY AND ALLOMETRY

Geographic variations in the shape of the upper cheek toothrow were studied using geometric morphometrics. For this, 288 specimens from 19 localities (North America, Eurasia, and Pacific and Arctic islands) were employed. Monomorphism of the toothrow for mainland foxes, both from North America and Eurasia, as well as the foxes from Greenland and St. Lawrence Island was found. The Arctic foxes of four Pacific island populations, i.e. two from the Commander Islands and two from the Pribilof Islands, differ significantly from the mainland counterparts in toothrow shape. The Arctic foxes from the Mednyi Island, the Bering Island and the Pribilof Islands differ from each other by toothrow shape as well. The Mednyi Island Arctic foxes show the shortest toothrow, a wide hard palate, and the most massive teeth. On the contrary, the Pribilof Islands Arctic foxes are the most small-toothed. Allometry does not affect geographic variations in the shape of the Arctic fox toothrow. High-level fluctuating asymmetry is found in the Mednyi Island and St. George Island Arctic foxes. Most probably the high level of fluctuating asymmetry is conditioned by both the extremely low genetic diversity as the result of a dramatic numbers decline in the recent past and the strong impact of heavy metals as the result of a coastal diet. We suppose that the same reasons. i.e. low genetic diversity and coastal diet, could have determined the high level of fluctuating asymmetry of the Arctic fox toothrow on the St. George Island.

Comparative microscopic and electron microscopic study of somatotropic pituitary cells in two rare mammalian species

The aim of this study was to find out the microscopic and ultrastructural features of somatotropic endocrinocytes in two rare mammalian species in postnatal ontogenesis.Material and methods. We used material from river beavers (Castor fiber L.) and sea otters (sea beaver, Enhydra lutris), listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. The collection of material was carried out in the Voronezh Reserve and on the rookeries of marine mammals on the Commander Islands (Bering Island, Medny Island). To fix the material, Shteve, Bouin, and Zenker liquids were used. Paraffin sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, aldehyde fuchsin according to Helmi–Dyban. The linear dimensions of cell structures were measured, the cross-sectional area of cells and their nuclei was calculated, and the nuclear cytoplasmic index was calculated. The numerical density of somatotropic endocrinocytes in the field of view was determined. For electron microscopy, pituitary specimens were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde and 1% osmium fixative. Sections were prepared on BS-490 and LKB-4800 ultramicrotomes. Sections were counterstained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate and studied under a Tesla BS-500 electron microscope.Results. In river beavers and sea otters at the age of 6 months, compared with newborn animals, the number of somatotropic cells in the center of the pituitary gland increases by 3.46 (p<0.05) and 3.32 times (p<0.05), respectively, and in the lateral zones – 2.61 times (p<0.05) and 3.39 times (p<0.05); cell cytoplasm area – 1.96 times (p<0.05) and 1.85 times (p<0.05); the area of the nuclei – 1.48 times (p<0.05) and 1.30 times (p<0.05). In river beavers and sea otters at the age of one year, compared with six-month-old animals, an increase in the number of somatotropic cells in the center of the pituitary gland by 1.27 times (p<0.05) and 1.33 times (p<0.05) was revealed; and in the lateral zones by 1.08 times (p<0.05) and 1.02 times (p>0.05); and area of the cytoplasm of cells, respectively – 1.29 times (p<0.05) and. 1.25 times (p<0.05). The maximum indicators of secretory activity of somatotropic cells were found in river beavers and sea otters at the age of 1 year.

Зимовка гусеобразных Anseriformes на Командорских островах: современное состояние и исторический обзор.

New data and analysis of changes in the number of wintering Anseriformes on the Commander Islands, the northernmost wintering site in the Far East, are presented. The surveys were carried out in March 2015-2019, mainly overland and covering 61 % of the coast of Bering Island, with 100 % of the coast in 2015 as an exception. Boat surveys of A. canagicus were carried out separately in the southwestern part of the island in April. In total, 17 species were encountered, including 12 recorded regularly, and 5 not annually. On Medny Island, the survey was carried out once, on April 3-4, 2017, by boat, and covered the entire coast. There, 7 species were taken into account. The total number of wintering Anseriformes of the Commander Islands is about 21 thousand birds, including 18.5 thousand on Bering Island and 2.5 thousand on Medny Island. The majority is concentrated in the northern and central part of Bering Island; in the south, the number is much lower. The dominant species is H. histrionicus: 65-72 % on Bering Island and 63 % on Medny Island. Subdominant is P. stelleri (16-20 % on Bering Island) as well as S. mollissima (30 % on Medny Island). The density of birds in the northern and central parts of Bering Island is 90-111.5 individuals per km of the coastline; in the south of the island, there are about 12 individuals; and on Medny Island, 14.9 individuals per km of the coastline. Over the past 25 years, the numbers of A. canagicus, A. platyrhynchos, A. acuta, B. clangula, and M. serrator have increased. P. stelleri and C. hyemalis have decreased. A. penelope, M. americana, and B. albeola began to regularly occur at the wintering, and B. bernicla, A. crecca, and A. marila have been observed more often than before. M. deglandi and M. merganser are now more common during migration, and practically are not observed at the wintering.

Middle Eocene flora of the Bering Island (Komandor Islands, North-eastern Asia)

In this work, a securely dated middle Eocene plant fossil assemblage is described and illustrated. Plant fossils come from the volcanogenic-terrigenous deposits of the Tolstyi Cape Formation and Buyan Formation exposed in the east and south-east parts of the Bering Island, Komandor Islands (Commander Islands) group. They belong to conifers (four species) and dicotyledonous angiosperms (five species). A new combination Cupressinocladus napanensis (Budantsev) comb. nov. is described, a neotype and emended diagnosis for the species Dicotylophyllum beringianum (Chelebaeva et Akhmetjev) Budantsev and a later synonym for the species Macclintockia sabinae (Chelebaeva et Akhmetjev) Chelebaeva are proposed. The flora is shown to be most similar to the diverse late Eocene flora of Western Kamchatka. This, in turn, allows us to suppose that the Kamchatkan flora might be middle to late Eocene in age. It reflects coniferous-broadleaved deciduous vegetation existed in a wet temperate climate of northeast Asia.

The overabundance of resources leads to small but exclusive home ranges in Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) on Bering Island

The overabundance of resources leads to small but exclusive home ranges in Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) on Bering Island

ФЛОРА ВОДОРОСЛЕЙ-МАКРОФИТОВ КОМАНДОРСКИХ ОСТРОВОВ: РЕВИЗИЯ-2021. II. RHODOPHYTA

We present results of revision based on our personal data and reports published from 1889 to 2020 on the red algal species composition from the Commander Islands. The general list includes 150 species. Six species are reported for the first time, including Phymatolithon lamii, Neoabbottiella valentinae, Callophyllis beringensis, Kallymeniopsis verrucosa, Velatocarpus kurilensis, and Mazzaella hemisphaerica. These species are illustrated by photographs of samples collected by us from Bering Island in September 2020. Another 15 red algal species reported from this area by different authors we attributed by us to doubtful and incorrectly identified taxa. The list of valid species is organized similarly to that in our recent paper on flora of the green and brown algae from the Commander Islands [Klochkova et al., 2020]. In the list, we cite papers containing information on species records from this area. For all species, information on their distribution frequency, depth, and some ecological and biological features are provided. It is shown that in contrast to many other regions of the Russian Far East, the Commander Islands are well studied from phycological and floristic aspects. This is due to seasonal and year-round investigations carried out in this region in different time periods, a thorough diving survey on the coastal area and more complete study on microepiphyte species composition, including microscopic red algae.

Near Islands Aleutian Earthquake with MW = 7.8 on July 17, 2017: I. Extended Rupture along the Commander Block of the Aleutian Island Arc from Observations in Kamchatka

The largest instrumentally recorded regional back-arc earthquake with MW = 7.8, MC = 8.2 occurred on July 17, 2017 on the Bering transform fault (the boundary between the Beringia minor lithospheric plate and the Komandorskii (Commander) block of the Aleutian island arc). This seismic event, called the Near Islands earthquake or Near Islands Aleutian earthquake, caused the ground to shake with intensity I = 5–6 on Bering Island and a small tsunami wave on the Near Islands. The specific aspects of the peculiarities of the pattern of seismicity of the northwestern segment of the Aleutian arc and the tectonic position of the Near Island Aleutian earthquake, the details of its prompt processing, macroseismic manifestations, analysis results of ground motion peak amplitudes, focal mechanisms, and earthquake source models are discussed. The coseismic displacements according to the GNSS data are presented. It is concluded that the source of the Near Islands Aleutian earthquake did not fill the seismic gap near the Commander Islands, and the possibility of the strongest earthquake hitting the northwestern part of the Aleutian arc remains.

Новые таксоны Agrostis, Deschampsia, Hyalopoa и Poa (Poaceae) с Дальнего Востока России и из Восточной Сибири

Six new taxa in the family Poaceae are described from the Russian Far East and from East Siberia: Deschampsia komandorensis Prob. (sect. Deschampsia) from Commander Islands (Bering Island, North-West Cape), Agrostis × avatschensis Prob. (A. kudoi Honda × A. mertensii Trin.) from Avachinskii Volcano in Kamchatka, Poa archarensis Prob. (sect. Stenopoa) (revealed chromosome number 2n = 28) from Amur Region and Yakutia, Poa × alexandrae Prob. (sect. Stenopoa) from Magadan Region, Hyalopoa amgunensis Prob. (H. aggr. lanatiflora) from Khabarovsk Territory (Amgun River basin), Poa turgensis Prob. (sect. Stenopoa) from Transbaikalia.

Brucella Infection in Asian Sea Otters (Enhydra lutris lutris) on Bering Island, Russia.

Infection with Brucella spp., long known as a cause of abortion, infertility, and reproductive loss in domestic livestock, has increasingly been documented in marine mammals over the past two decades. We report molecular evidence of Brucella infection in Asian sea otters (Enhydra lutris lutris). Brucella DNA was detected in 3 of 78 (4%) rectal swab samples collected between 2004 and 2006 on Bering Island, Russia. These 78 animals had previously been documented to have a Brucella seroprevalence of 28%, markedly higher than the prevalence documented in sea otters (Enhydra lutris) in North America. All of the DNA sequences amplified were identical to one or more previously isolated Brucella spp. including strains from both terrestrial and marine hosts. Phylogenetic analysis of this sequence suggested that one animal was shedding Brucella spp. DNA with a sequence matching a Brucella abortus strain, whereas two animals yielded a sequence matching a group of strains including isolates classified as Brucella pinnipedialis and Brucella melitensis. Our results highlight the diversity of Brucella spp. within a single sea otter population.

Genetic differentiation of sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka from Kamchatka River basin and the lake–river systems of the west coast of the bering sea as inferred from data on single nucleotide polymorphism

The variability of 45 single nucleotide polymorphism loci (SNP) was studied in sockeye salmon from the Kamchatka River basin and four lake-river systems of the west coast of the Bering Sea. Based on the genetic differentiation estimates for the largest sockeye salmon populations of Eastern Kamchatka and Chukotka, the examined samples were combined into two regional groups represented by the population of the Kamchatka River drainage, which included numerous local subpopulations and seasonal races, and the northern population grouping from the rivers of Olutorsko-Navarinsky raion, wherein the sockeye salmon from Maynypilginskaya Lake-River system was relatively isolated. Considerable divergence was observed between the island (Sarannoe Lake, Bering Island) and continental populations. Genetic heterogeneity was revealed and groups of early- and late-maturing individuals were isolated in the sample of late-run sockeye salmon from Kamchatka River. In Apuka River, subdivision of the spawning run into two genetically distinct spatial and temporal groupings was also observed. The results suggest that the differentiation of sockeye salmon samples by single nucleotide substitution frequencies was largely due to differences in the direction and strength of local selection at some loci in the population complexes and intrapopulation groupings from the examined river basins of Eastern Kamchatka, Chukotka, and Commander Islands.

Foraging behavior of lactating northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) in the Commander Islands, Russia

We characterized the foraging behavior and habitat associations of lactating female northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) from two of four rookeries comprising the stable population on the Commander Islands (CI). The CI females included in the study were from Severo-Zapadnoe rookery (SZR in 2008 and 2009) and Servernoe rookery (SR in 2009) which are 16 km apart on the northern tip of Bering Island (BI). We used satellite-linked tags and time–depth recorders to track the animals at sea and record dive behavior. For SZR females, the average foraging trip duration, mean dive depth, and maximum travel distance for both years were 3.4 ± 1.42 days, 16 ± 9.8 m, and 85 ± 59.6 km, respectively. The same measures for SR females were 4.4 ± 1.90 days, 20 ± 9.7 m, and 159 ± 70.8 km, respectively. The mean duration of foraging trips, mean number of bouts per trip and trip duration, mean direction of foraging trips, and size of foraging areas were significantly different between females from SR and SZR. Foraging trips of females from neither rookery were associated with high chl-a concentration. Overall, females on the CI appeared to expend less time and energy during foraging trips than females on the Pribilof Islands, and this may explain why the latter population is declining while the CI population is stable.

Discovery of Commander Islands (new interpretation of the events of 1741)

The circumstances of the last two weeks of sailing of packet-boat “St. Peter” under the command of Vitus Bering during the Second Kamchatka Expedition are investigated, and knowledge on the discovery of the Commander Islands is refined. Packet-boat reached the group of Rat islands on the 25th of October, 1741, and the sailors discovered the island of St. Marcian (now Kiska Island). Over the next 6 days, moving west to the island of St. Avraamiy (now Attu island), sailors discovered the island of St. Stephen (now Agattu island) and the Semichi islands of Near Aleutian Islands group. On the 30th of October navigators of the ship changed course and sent the ship, as they thought, to the mouth of the Kamchatka River. In the next few days, the packet-boat followed from the island of St. Avraamiy (Attu island) to the north-west, and on the night from 4th to 5th November reached the 56th parallel. From this point packet-boat “St. Peter” turned to the west and at 8 am on November, 5 it was in the 30 km south of the southeastern tip of the Bering Island – the largest island in group of Commander Islands.

Age and length-weight structure of local stocks of sockeye salmon <i>Oncorhynchus nerka</i> in some feeding-spawning lakes of Kamchatka Region

Age and length-weight structure of sockeye salmon spawners are considered for the feeding-spawning lakes of southeastern Kamchatka, as Dalneye (1976-2013), Blizhneye (1939-2013), and Listvenichnoye (1999-2013), and for Lake Sarannoye on Bering Island (1990-2013). By these data, the age of sockeye salmon maturing is: 2.2, 2.3 and 3.2 in Lake Dalneye, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1 and 2.2 in Lake Blizheye, 2.2, 2.3 and 3.3 in Lake Listvenichnoye, and 2.2, 2.3, 3.2 and 3.3 in Lake Sarannoye. These age groups dominate in the samples of spawning sockeye with the portion 70-90 %. Long-term dynamics of length and weight of sockeye spawners is distinguished by negative trends significant for the longest time-series in Lake Blizhneye and insignificant for the shorter one in Lakes Dalneye; the length of observations in Lakes Listvenichnoye and Sarannoye is not enough to reveal trends. Besides, cyclic variations with the period 5-10 years could be revealed for the long tome-series. As a rule, each cycle includes the phases of gradual decreasing and sharp increasing of length and weight. Year-to-year dynamics of the length-weight structure in the common period of observations is similar for all investigated lakes.

Transfer of Platycola circularis Dons, 1941, symbiont of wood-boring isopod Limnoria, to Lagenophrys (Ciliophora, Peritrichia)

Dons described several new ciliates on the gribble Limnoria lignorum in Norway, including Platycola circularis Dons, 1941. My samples of wood borers on Murmansk coast of Barents sea, in White and Black seas and in NW Pacific from Vladivostok to Bering island had only Lagenophrys on pleopods. L. circularis (Dons, 1941) comb. nov. is redescribed using samples made on Murmansk coast not far from its type locality (Trondheimsfjord). Previous descriptions of this species under 3 different names are analysed.

New findings of Eurycercus Baird, 1843 (Cladocera: Anomopoda) in the Eastern Palaearctic.

Information on the cladocerans of Eastern Palaerctic is limited, and remote islands of Arctic and Subarctic in this region are among inadequately studied territories, i.e. due to a very limited access to them. "Nearctic" Eurycercus longirostris is reported here for the first time from Bering Island and Wrangel Island. Also E. macracanthus is found to be common in Kamchatka Peninsula, while previously only a single population was known. We concluded that the Beringian land bridge played, together with glaciation in North America, important role in the evolutionary history of Eurycercus (Eurycercus), as it was earlier demonstrated for other cladocerans and other animals.

A pedogeographical view of volcanic soils under cold humid conditions: the Commander Islands

We studied two representative profiles at the Bering Island, the Commander Archipelago in the north of the Pacific Ocean. The soils developed in the material of predominantly volcanic origin under cold humid marine climate. One of the soils was classified as an Andosol, and the other as an Albic Podzol. The two soils showed certain similarity in the morphology and properties, thus supporting the hypothesis of their common pedogenetic origin. The study of the composition of a coating of a sand grain indicated complex path of the genesis of the soils: initially the coatings have been formed by allophanes with Fe–humus complexes, then by allophanes with humus, and then by Fe–humus and Al–humus components. The analysis of the total elemental composition, the distribution of the size fractions, and the previously reported data on the mineralogical composition of the soils allowed suggesting a significant contribution of the external volcanic ash from the Kamchatka Peninsula in the genesis of the soils of the Commander Islands. Most probably the whitish layer includes acid volcanic glass transported by the wind. The soils of the (sub)mountainous areas lack whitish layers because of erosion. However, the soils under study do not represent mere mixtures of different ash layers: the newly deposited material was evidently incorporated in the soil profile. We conclude that volcanic soils are specific natural bodies, where sedimentary processes should be taken into account along with the pedogenesis.

The morphological characteristics and feeding of Nine-spined stickleback (Pungitius pungitius Linnaeus, 1758) in the basin of the Cheboksary reservoir

A total of 21 invasive species are recorded in ichthyofauna of the Cheboksary reservoir and water bodies of its basin. Nine-spined stickleback Pungitius pungitius (L., 1758) is one of naturalized species which is spreading in the territory of the Middle and Upper Volga. In our opinion, nine-spined stickleback is an undesirable invader. That is why the morphological characteristics and intraspecific phenotypic variability of the species P. pungitius in the basin of the Cheboksary Reservoir are of interest from the point of view of population ecology. P. pungitius naturalized successfully in the Ushakovka River, Nizhny Novgorod oblast. In 2011–2012, nine-spined stickleback was recorded in the Sundyr and Malaya Yunga rivers in the Republic of Mari El. When studying the morphometry of stickleback, measurements of 33 characters were made in mature and immature speciments. The feeding patterns of stickleback were also studied. A comparative analysis was conducted of the complex of morphological characters (30) of P. punginius from the local populations in the basin of the Cheboksary reservoir and the “native” population (Lakes Sarannoye and Gavanskoye of Bering Island (Commander Islands)).