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Summary

Five background studies carried out in the Disko and Nuussuaq area of West Greenland in 2003 are reported.

1. Moulting and breeding Greenland white-fronted geese and Canada geese were surveyed from helicopter on 15 and 18 July. The geese were mainly found in the inner part of the Aaffarsuaq Valley on Nuussuaq and in the Nordfjord area on Disko, a distribution similar to previous counts in the region. However the two species had changed roles. Now Canada geese are more numerous than the Greenland white-fronted geese in this region of Greenland.

2. The vegetation on Nuussuaq peninsula was mapped using remote sensing. The vegetation maps show that the densest vegetation is found in the valley floors, along the coast and on the lower parts of the mountain slopes. Particularly in the extensive valley Aaffarsuaq and on the gentle slopes on the western part of the peninsula there are large areas with relatively lush and more or less moist vegetation types, which are highly sensitive to ground based activities such as driving with heavy equipment.

3. A survey of anadromous Arctic char in the rivers of northwest Disko. Local information obtained in 2002 mentioned only one river with anadromeous Arctic char in that region. The other rivers were not indicated as holding Arctic char. However, this could be explained by the fact that rivers are situated in a remote and rarely visited area. To verify this distribution of anadromous Arctic char the rivers were surveyed in September 2003, and this survey confirmed the local information.

4. Satellite tracking of common and king eiders. Here is presented a field report on the work. Conclusions must await analyses of the full data set, as the satellite transmitters are programmed to transmit through most of 2004. In the context of background information, it is expected that the birds will give information on habitat use and movements between habitats in the Disko and Nuusssuaq region. In total 16 king eiders and 7 common eiders were equipped with transmitters in September 2003 in the Mellemfjord and Nordfjord area of Disko. Some preliminary maps showing the movements of selected birds until December 2003 are presented in Figures 18-25.

5. Caribou occurrence in Nuussuaq Peninsula. The Greenland Institute of Natural Resources performed a survey of caribou in Nuussuaq in April 2002. Two different kinds of caribou occur in the region: wild caribou and introduced feral reindeer. A minimum of 1,164 caribou/reindeer was observed. This is much more than a previous estimate of the population (1995: 400 animals), and most animals were found in the middle and eastern parts of the peninsula.

Full report in pdf. format (4560 KB)
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Helle Thomsen

01.11.2007


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