Affiliation:
1. Baikal Museum, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences
2. Irkutsk Branch, Moscow Technical University of Civil Aviation
Abstract
For the first time, a detailed description of the coastline of the Ushkan’y Islands, Lake Baikal is given in order to assess the use of the shore by the Baikal seal (Pusa sibirica Gm.) as haulouts, and the role these haulouts play in the annual cycle of seals. To do this, video material obtained using the DJI UAV Mavic 2 Zoom (take-off weight 905 g) and Air 2 S (take-off weight 595 g), as well as long-term field observations were used. A complete survey of the coastline of all four islands was carried out on May 29th and 30th, 2022 (at a water level of 456.40 m a.s.l.) and on August 12th and 24th (water level 456.79 and 456.83 m, respectively). Based on lithological characteristics, about 30% coastline on the Bolshoy Island, the largest one, is shown to be suitable for use by seals, but currently this is not the case. Among the three smaller islands, the most favorite place for the formation of seal haulouts is the Kruglyi Island, based on the total number of animals recorded on the island and in coastal waters, followed by the Tonkiy Island and then the Dolgiy Island, the latter supporting a stationary video system transmitting information online. On all islands, coordinates of specific haulout/rookery locations have been determined. Currently, about 35% length of the coastline of the three smaller Ushkan’y Islands are being used by seals for haulouts to one degree or another. Under current climatic conditions, the rookeries on the smaller Ushkan’y Islands seem to play extremely important roles for a significant part of the population (several thousand individuals visit them every season), since most other rookeries and locations that seals could use as such are highly susceptible to anthropogenic impacts.
Publisher
The Russian Academy of Sciences
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