Lena River Delta - A Global Ecoregion
Unusual arctic delta; important for nesting and migrating birds
Snapshot: Ecoregion 160
Size:
30,000 sq. km (12,000 sq. miles)
Habitat type:
Large River Deltas
Geographic Location:
Northern Asia: northeastern Russia
Conservation Status:
Relatively Stable/Intact
Quiz Time!
Is it true that Peregrine falcon populations have suffered from toxic pollution?
Answer:
The peregrine falcon is only one species known to suffer from chemicals: pesticides caused egg-shell thinning in falcon clutches and led to increased nestling mortality to such an extent that the falcon population declined significantly over several decades of the 20th century.
About the Area
Siberia's Lena River is one of the longest rivers in the world. It rises west of Lake Baikal - a small mountain lake in southern Russia, and eventually flows north for 2,800 miles (4,400 km) before emptying into the Laptev Sea, an arm of the Arctic Ocean.
Just before it does that, the Lena splits into several small rivers that flow through a flat plain to create the delta that provides habitat for abundant wildlife.Local Species
This arctic ecoregion experiences seven months of winter before the snow-covered tundra transforms into fertile wetlands.
Swans, divers, geese, ducks, plovers, sandpipers, snipes, phalaropes, terns, skuas, birds of prey, passerines and gulls are only some of the migratory birds that breed in the productive wetland that also supports abundant populations of fish and five marine mammals.
Some scientists think that fish of the genus Coregonus, called ciscos, originated here. Spawning fish reported from the delta include the Arctic lamprey (Lethenteron japonicum), Burbot (Lota lota), and Arctic cisco (Coregonus autumnalis). Several species of Ciscos (Coregonus spp.) are also found in the delta, including C. tugun, C. sardinella, C. peled, C. muskun, and C. nasus.
A few of the many birds that visit or breed in the delta are Black brant (Branta bernicla), Common (Somateria mollissima) and Steller's (Polysticta stelleri) eiders, Sabine's (Xema sabini) and Ross's (Rhodostethia rosea) gulls, and Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus).
Threats
The Lena Delta Reserve was expanded in 1995, making it the largest protected area in Russia (61,000 km2). However, overfishing, particularly of Cisco populations is a concern. Outside of the reserve, mining, forestry, grazing, expanding agricultural activities, water diversion for irrigation, and pollution from fertilizers and pesticides may threaten the water quality and quantity that reaches the delta.
Resources
• NationalGeographic.com
