Peculiarities of the Nature Reserve
Biological and Landscape Diversity
Wrangel and Herald islands possess extremely high species diversity of flora and fauna for Arctic region. Their biodiversity, i.e. the number of species of plants, insects and birds as well as plant complexes diversity is unique and has no equal in the Arctic and supersedes all Canadian Arctic Islands.
At the same time these islands represent the greatest refugium of Pleistocene elements of flora and fauna that were widely spread across the territories of ancient Beringia during the period of drain of Arctic continental shelf area and could migrate along the Bering land bridge from Asia to America and vice versa.
For contemporary flora and fauna of the island it is typical to contain a blending of purely Arctic and relatively Southern, Asian and American taxons. A high proportion of Central-Asian forms may be observed among them.
The uniqueness of the island may be explained by the presence of relict vegetation communities that dominated in the North of Bering land during the Pleistocene. In some places these vegetation communities prevail which makes the island landscape look similar to the Pleistocene period.
Nearly all types of Arctic landscapes are represented on the island except for only the glaciers. Landscape and geomorphological variety combined with clear-cut mountain relief of the Herald island and of the greater part of Wrangel island contribute to extremely high microclimatic and biotopical diversity.
Species Composition of Flora and Fauna
One of the features that vividly characterizes the flora and fauna of the island is endemism. About 40 endemic species and subspecies have been identified – vascular plants, insects, birds and mammals (lemmings) are among them. Some of these species are relict and belong to the rarest in the world. Apart of endemism on the species taxonomy level, unique endemic vegetation communities and soils are represented in the nature reserve.
Besides the nature reserve may be pleno jure called the museum-laboratory of Arctic biota evolution, as the islands are the biggest refugium of Pleistocene forms of flora and fauna in the world. Along the whole Cenozoic period the islands had not been inundated and had not been covered with glaciers. Contemporary natural complexes represent the result of continuous evolution of flora and fauna since the late Mesozoic time.
Flora of the Nature Reserve
Flora of Wrangel Island has no equal in the Arctic for its richness and level of endemism. By the present time 417 species and subspecies of vascular plants have been identified. It is more than on all Canadian Arctic Islands and 2-2,5 times more than on the other Arctic tundra territories of similar size. Among these plants 23 taxons are endemic. Concerning endemic species Wrangel island has no equal including Greenland. A number of endemic plants (Oxytropis ushakovii, Papaver multiradiatum, Papaver chionophilum) are quite common on the island. The number of known mosses (331) and lichens (310) also leaves all the other Arctic tundra territories behind.
Fauna of the Nature Reserve
Fauna of terrestrial invertebrates has not been studied in full. However it is already clear that it has the same peculiarities as vascular plants flora. It possesses high species diversity, and relatively Southern groups, not common for the Arctic tundra, may be observed within it. Among the findings on Wrangel island there are: 31 species of spiders, 58 species of beetles, not less than 42 species of butterflies. This exceeds considerably the richness of similar groups in other regions of Arctic tundra subzone, including continental areas. The highest diversity may be observed among leaf beetles (7 species) and weevils (11 species). Fauna of the island also possesses a high level of endemism.
Avifauna of the island is also extremely rich. 169 bird species have been identified by now on the dry land and offshore zone of the nature reserve. The majority of these birds are vagrant. Nesting has been registered for 62 species, 44 of them nest regularly on the island, including 8 sea bird species. This amount is considered substantial for an Arctic island. The core of birds’ population is represented by tundra species, the majority of them have circumpolar habitat and are the background forms for the Arctic coastal tundra. This includes Lapland Longspur (Calcareus lapponicus), Snow-Bunting (Plectophenax nivalis), Black-Bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola), Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres), Robin Sandpiper (Calidris canutus) and other species. Therewith, some cases of nesting of species uncharacteristic for the Arctic have been registered: Ruff (Philomachus pugnax), Rufous-Necked Sandpiper (Calidris ruficollis), Horned Puffin and Tufted Puffin (Fratercula corniculata, Lunda cirrhata), Arctic Warbler (Phylloscopos borealis) – Wrangel island is the Northernmost point of nesting for them. Horned Puffin has been nesting in seabird colonies and its population is growing.
One of the greatest ornithological objects of interest on the island is Snow Geese’ (Chen caerulescens) autonomous brooding colony, it is the only one remaining in Asia. Pacific Brant Geese (Branta nigricans) nest insignificantly on the island, whilst thousands of nonbreeding Brant Geese come to the island for molting from continental zones of Chukotka and Alaska. Eider Duck and King Eider (Somateria mollissima, S. spectabilis) are quite common on the island, there is also a small number of Steller's Eider (Polysticta stelleri).
On the coastal cliffs of Wrangel and Herald islands the biggest seabirds’ colonies in Chukchee Sea are situated, their population reaches 250-300 thousand of nesting birds. The core of rookery includes Brunnich's Guillemot (Uria lomvia), Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle), Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla).
Among other protected birds on the island there are Gerfalcon and Peregrin Falcon (Falco rusticollus, F. peregrinus) in small numbers, as well as Buff-Breasted Sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis) for whom the island is one of several places to nest in Asia. Sabine's gull (Xema sabini) is quite common on small valleys of the island abounding with lakes. In autumn a clear-cut flyover and temporary concentration of Ross's Gull (Rhodostethia rosea) and Ivory Gull (Pagophila eburnea) may be observed. At times in September – October nomadic migration of the bigger part of the world population of the Ross's Gulls takes place along the Southern shore of Wrangel island.
Terrestrial mammals’ fauna is fewer in number in comparison with insects and birds. Nevertheless it is unique in terms of population density, population dynamics and specific features. There are 9 species of terrestrial animals. Polar bear, Arctic fox, wolverine, Siberian lemming, Wrangel lemming, reindeer, musk oxen dwell permanently on the island, red fox appears from time to time.
Wrangel and Herald islands are known to be the biggest region of Polar bear (Ursus maritimus). birth lairs’ concentration in the world. From 300 to 500 female bears hibernate in lairs on the island annually. About 100 birth lairs are located on the small Herald island. During the whole year a big number of bears may be observed on the ices of the islands’ offshore zone. This area is abundant with web-footed mammals that are the main prey for Polar bears. In autumn, after the ice having melted, the bears come to the seashore in great numbers. These congregations of animals different in sex and age are usually concentrated around whales’ corpses thrown to the coast by the water. Arctic islands play a clue part in lifecycle of Polar bears as this is a place with good hunting and reproduction conditions for the whole population of this specie in Chukotka-Alaska region.
Background species in tundra ecosystems of the island are 3 regular aboriginal species of animals - Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) and two species of lemmings. These lemming species are endemic for Wrangel island – Wrangel lemming (Dicrostonyx vinogradovi Ognev) and Siberian lemming (Lemmus sibiricus portenkoi Tch.) – and differ from continental populations in morphological and genetic characteristics. There are no lemmings on Herald island, but this place has many Arctic foxes who feed on rookery population.
A small amount of wolverines (Gulo gulo). live on the island and breed here. In 2000 wolves. inhabited the island. Due to this fact the island became a unique model for a long-term study of wolf-hoofed mammals’ relationships in Arctic island ecosystem.
There are two species of hoofed animals on the island – reindeer and musk oxen. Reindeer were introduced to the island in the end of 40s – beginning of 50s, at that time domestic animals were brought from Chukotka seashore. The reindeer took on well and are now a population ran wild, unique in its history and biological properties. The population reached 9-10 thousand of animals at some point.
Themusk ox was in introduced in 1975, a year before the nature reserved officially began to exist. Adaptation period was rather difficult and lasted for several years. Nevertheless the survival of the initial herd was beyond doubt and their population started to grow. At present their population is around 800-900 animals, according to the statute of 2007 there might be up to 1000 animals. According to paleontological data hoofed animals inhabited the island during the late Pleistocene period, whilst reindeer lived here long after – 2-3 thousand years ago.
Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus)is the most numerous web-footed seasonal inhabitant of the island offshore zone. This happens because this area is an important place of walrus’s feeding period. From July till the end of September – beginning of October a bigger part of females and youngsters of the whole population concentrate near the islands. They stay near the edge of the ice and come on the ice to rest. When the ice melts they gather at the shallow areas. These rookeries are the biggest in the Chukchee Sea. There were about 70-80 thousand animals or 130 thousand including those swimming in the sea. Walruses winter at the Bering Sea.
Jar seal (Phoca hispida) and bearded seal (Eregnatus barbatus). are quite common at the island during the whole year. Jar seal is the main prey for Polar bears.
During summer and winter period Wrangel and Herald islands’ offshore zone is a feeding and migration area for cetaceas. Pacific gray whale (Eschrichtius gibbosus). is the most numerous and the number has been growing recently. Annually autumn migration of white whales takes place near the island. Satellite tracing showed that white whales gather at the delta of the Mackenzie to give birth. Apart of these cetaceas common for the island, individual cases of appearance of Greenland right whale (Balaena mysticetus), hump-backed whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) and finwhale (Balaenoptera physalus). have been registered. It may be stated that we can expect greater cetaceas activity near Wrangel island due to the reduction of ice coverage in Arctic seas.
Paleontology of Wrangel Island
Wrangle island is an extremely interesting place in terms of paleontology. It is abundant with the remains of Pleistocene and Holocene mammals – Woolly Mammoth (Mammuth primigenius), Primeval Bison (Bison priscus), Feral Horse (Equus caballus) and other species. Bones and horn of the Woolly Rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiguitatis) that previously had not been registered further east than the West of Chukotka. The most interesting finding is the dwarf mammoth, which is described as a new and unknown subspecies (Mammuth primigenius wrangelensis). Its remains were dated to the period 7 – 3,6 (!) thousand years ago, which is the Holocene period and 6 thousand years later the accepted date of the species’ disappearance. The mammoth population continued to live on the island long after its separation from the continent.
What is the most exciting about the nature reserve
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The islands and their offshore zone is the clue area for the life cycle provision of a range of rare and specially protected animals of the Arctic. This territory is also a reproductive refugium for a lot of species that play a great part in ecosystems maintenance and life support for the indigenous groups of Chukotka and the Bering Sea region.
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This is the place where the greatest amount of Polar bears’ birth lairs are concentrated. The density of the birth lairs on Herald Island is the biggest – up to 12 lairs on square meter.
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The offshore zone of the island is the place of fattering for the bigger part of the Pacific Walrus population. The spits of the island are used for Walruses’ rookeries.
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The biggest in the Eastern Arctic sea bird colonies are situated on the islands. The nature reserve is a nestling place for the Horned Puffin and Tufted Puffin.
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This is the place where the most stable and concentrated reproductive settlements of the Arctic fox and Snowy owls are situated.
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The only one in Asia breeding colony of the White Geese is situated here. It is special as it is formed by the geese from two populations that winter in different regions of the North America – California and British Columbia.
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Wrangel Island is one of the few regions of concentration of the Pacific Brant Geese and nestling of Sabine’s Gull; it is also the most Northern region of mass gathering of Brant Gesse for the mew.
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The island’s dry-land is the refugium for a diverse Arctic flora including Pleistocene (mammoth) tundra steppe.
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The islands with their offshore zone the the region of concentration of the Ross’s Gull, Ivory Gull and Sabine’s Gull at the flyover.
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Wrangle island is the inhabitation of island population of musk oxen and reindeer.
Key Areas of the Nature Reserve Requiring Special Protection – Quite Zones:
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Lower course of the river Tundrovaya: concentration of Molting White Geese flocks with chicks, nestling of Sabine’s Gull; area with high density of Arctic foxes’ holes.
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Chain of lakes in Academia Tundra valley in the lower course of the rivers Neizvestnaya (Unknown), Pestsovaya (Arctic Fox), Krasny Flag (Red Flag), Hydrographers’: concentration of Molting White Geese flocks with chicks, main places of nestling for Sabine’s Gull.
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Upper course of the river Tundrovaya: main autonomous nestling colony of White Geese; area with high density of Snowy owls’ nests and Arctic foxes’ reproductive burrows.
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Cape Warring region: major area of Polar female bears hibernation, high density of birth lairs; in summer the area of the most densely nestling of Semipalmated Plover and Sandpiper: habitation of the Arctic Falcon; place of rock crystal and calcite outburst.
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Dream-Head massif: area of Polar female bears hibernation, high density of birth lairs.
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Western Table land, bottomland of the stream Thomas and Morzhovy (Walrus): one of the main areas of Polar female bears hibernation, high density of birth lairs.
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Herald Island: highest concentration and density of Polar bears’ birth lairs; the biggest sea birds’ colonies; in autumn – Walruses’ rookery on the spit.
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Wrangel Island Western coast: big sea birds’ colonies on the cliffs; nestling of Baird’s Sandpiper in the mountains.
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Kit (Whale) mountain area: nestling of Baird’s Sandpiper and Buff-Breasted Sandpiper, on the lakes – concentration of Molting Brant Geese and Sabine’s Gull.
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Bottomland of the river Gusinaya (Goose): relict tundra steppe communities, ample osiery, nestling of Baird’s Sandpiper; Wolverine’s inhabitation.
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Middle reach of the river Mamontovaya (Mammoth): abundant with cryophyte-steppe and tundra-steppe vegetation communities; relict communities of Arctic halophyte; numerous small colonies of White Geese and Brant Geese near the White Owls’ nests; high density of Buff-Breasted Sandpiper’s and Baird’s Sandpiper’s nests.
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Headstream of the river Neizvestnaya (Unknown): micropopulation of relict, endemic and rare plant species and their communities; tundra-steppe vegetation communities.
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Bottomland of the river Mamontovaya (Mammoth) and Jack London Lake: the biggest concentration of Molting Brant Geese; concentration of Tattlers at the autumn flyover; big colony of Sabine’s Gull.
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Somnitelnaya (Doubtful) Bay: cryophyte-steppe and tundra-steppe vegetation communities; rare and endemic plant species; Buff-Breasted Sandpiper’s nests; area of autumn concentration of musk oxen and reindeer.
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Somnitelnaya (Doubtful) Strip: traditional place for Walruses’ rookery; beloved place for Polar bears in autumn; concentration of Ivory and Ross’s Gulls during the autumn migration; beluga shoals pass here during the migration.
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Cape Blossom: traditional place for Walruses’ rookery; area for autumn congregation of Polar Bears; in spring it is the most visited place by female bears and cubs on their way to the ice; key place of the flyout of White Geese and Snowy Owls from the island during the autumn migration; concentration of Ivory and Ross’s Gulls at the flyover; area of Pacific Gray Whale’s feeding and beluga shoals at migration.
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Krasin Gulf: concentration of Pacific Gray Whales during the feeding; in autumn and spring – concentration of migrating water fowl birds.
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Coastal an offshore zone of the islands: optimal inhabitation of sea mammals, seabirds, Arctic fishes and invertebrates; ice cover – hunting place for Polar bears and Arctic foxes; Ringed seals molting place.