MEDDELELSER NR. 126 RESlTLTS FROM SCIENTIFIC CRUISES TO FRANZ JOSEF LAND EDITORS: IAN GJERTZ AND BERIT MØRKVED NORSK POLARINSTITUTT OSLO 1993 ISBN 82-7666-063-0 Printed December 1993 GCS, Oslo Produced at Norsk Polarinstitutt, Svalbard Cover photo by lan Gjertz: RIV POMOR at Hooker Island, Franz Josef Land INTRODUCTION In 1992 the Norwegian Polar Institute published its first report, (Environmental studies from Franz Josef Land, with emphasis on Tikhaia Bay, Hooker Island, Norsk Polarinstitutt Meddelelser 120), from the joint Russian-Norwegian­ Polish cooperation in Franz Josef Land. This cooperation has continued and more results are presented in trlis issue. The cooperative parties are Murmansk Marine Biological Institute (Russia), Institute of Oceanology (Gdansk, Poland) and the Norwegian Polar Institute (Oslo). Many people have so far taken part in this cooperation, but two persons deseNe special mention. If it had not been for the efforts of Professor Gennady Matishov (Murmansk) and dr. Jan Marcin Weslawski (Gdansk) it is doubtfull if this cooperation had existed. The topics presented in this issue are: --Walrus studies in the Franz Josef Land 1992...................................... 1-11 --Ornithological notes from Franz Josef Land 1991 and 1992 ..........13-20 --Snailfishes from Franz Josef Land and Svalbard . ...... ............ .........13-20 Longyearbyen 1 993-11 -25 lan Gjertz & Berit Mørkved Walrus studies in the Franz Josef Land archipelago during August 1992 Lars Øyvind Knutsen Norwegian Polar Institute P.O. Box 5072 Majorstuen N-0301 Oslo, Norway Introduction This report gi ves results from the 1992 joint Russian-Norwegian­ The Norwegian Polar Institute ha s Polish expedition to Fanz Josef carried out walrus studies in the Land, where biologists from the Svalbard archipelago since 1989. Norwegian Polar Institute These studies show that some male deployed 5 satellite transmitters on walruses migrate between walruses, and surveyed walruses Svalbard and Franz Josef Land in the archipelago. (Gjertz & Wiig 1993). There are indications that the two areas are Material and methods populated by a common population of walruses, and that In the period between 14. August geographical segregation occurs and 5. September the southern and between the sexes (Gjertz & Wiig eastern parts of the Franz Josef 1993). This is based on the fact that Land archipelago were surveyed. mostly males are observed within This was mainly conducted from Svalbard. Females and calves have, the Russian vessel "Pornor"and however, been observed in larger partly from Zodiacs. numbers around Kvitøya in the northeastern part of Svalbard The survey area is indicated in (Gjertz & Wiig 1993.). On the other Figure 1 and Figures 2A & 2B. As hand, the literature indicates that Pomor is not registered for going in observations of females with calves ice, we were restricted to op en are common in the Franz Josef water and loose drift ice. Due to La nd archipelago (Gjertz et al. few qualified observers and long 1992). periods with hard work from Zodiacs, transit between working Since the beginning of the 1930's, areas was not always utilized for Franz Josef Land has, for military systematical observations. reasons, been more or less c10sed to Observations were intensified only foreigners. This together with in potential walrus feeding areas , adverse ice conditions during most with depths less than 100 meters, of the year, explains why we know where we hoped to find walruses very little about walruses in the that could be immobilized when Franz Josef Land archipelago. hauled-out. For immobilization of walruses, we renareotication from potential were especially searehing for unmetabolized depots of Etorphine terrestrial haul-out sites. All HCI, before leaving the animal. potential terrestrial haul out sites mentioned in the literature (Gjertz Time of first effect, loss of breath et al. 1992) and which could be (apnea) and safe immobilization, as reaehed with Pomor or by Zodiacs weU as times of injection of were therefore investigated. Figure Diprenorphine HCI and times of 2A & 2B shows loeali ti es that were first breath and the regaining of investigated. mobility, were recorded. In addition indicators of physiological When walruses were observed in condition , such as breathing rate, the water, or if a hauled-out heart-beat rat e and response to walruses had tusks too small for pain, were recorded during attachment of a satellite transmitter immobilization. Due to or were otherwise unsuitable for malfunction of the thermometer, immobilization, we tryed to eollect rectal temperatures were not a skin biopsy for analyses of recorded. environment al pollutants and DNA analyses. This was done Handling of the immobilized using a cross-bow with special animal was given the following arrows attaehed to a line so they priority: A file was used to make could be reeled in. The samples small grooves in the tusks where were wrapped in aluminium foil the steel band (Band-it, Houdaille, and put in a sealed container, and Denver) for attachment of the frozen within a few hours. transmitter should fit . The satellite transmitter was attached. Flipper For immobilization of walruses we tags were attached to both hind used the method described by Born flippers. Standard body length and & Knutsen (1990) and Griffiths et axillary gi rt h were measured. If the al. (1993), using the agonist animal was laying on its side or on Et horphine HCI (9.8 mg/ml) and the belly, standard 1ength wa s the antagonist Diprenorphine HCI estimated. If possib1e, axillary girth (12 mg/ml). The agonist wa s was measured using a strong nylon injected intramuscularly from a string placed round the animal. C02 powered dart gun (Dan­ Length (a10ng frontal curvature) inject), at distanees between 15 to and circumference of the tusks at 35 meters. A second gun loaded gum line were a1so measured. with antagonist was kept read y if the animal escaped into water. Results Normally the antagonist was injeeted immediately after Immobilization approaching the animal, in order to reduce the apneautic period. This A total of adult wa lruses (No's 2, injection was preferably done 5 3, 4, 7 and 8) were successfully sublingually. A small dose of immobilized during this study antidote was injected (Tables 1 and 2). Ea ch of the subcutanously, in order to prevent animals received a satellite 2 transmitter. Three other adult to inject anti do te was done by a females, all accompanied by calves, hand held syringe. However, due were also immobilized, but woke to difficulties in injecting the drug up before transmitters could be into its shaking musdes and the attached. These animals received difficult position of the animal, similar doses of anesthetie relative only an unknown amount of drug to animals that were successfully was injected. Now the animal was immobilized (Tab. 2). The one pulled by its back flippers to a female that was successfully dose by ice floe, its tusks were immobilized (No. 7), differed from lifted up onto the ice, and the the other females in that she wa s animal sublingually received a immobilized immediately after proper dose of antidote . After 6 hauling, and in that she was not minutes the animal opened its eyes accompanied by calves or other and started to breath regularly. The animals. accompanying young had all the time been barking and tryed to Of the total 8 animals captured, push its mother into the sea. After only one was hauled-out on land another 4 minutes, the two went when immobilized, the rest of the in to the water and dove animals were hauled-out on ice powerfully. Thee minutes later floes. they came up some 50 meters away and the female hauled out on to a All animals immobilized in this ice floe. She was then breathing study made satisfactory recoveries deeply with no irregularities. After and no irregular symptoms were another 10 minutes she took off observed in the period after again, swimming and diving , and regaining mobility. appeared healthy for the next two hours while we were able to Animal No. l, an adult female observe them . accompanied by a 2 year old calf, appeared caIrn and reacted little to Animal No. 2, a large adult male, our presenee before hauled out on a ice fioe, wa s shot immobilization. A dart with salt from a distance of about 30 meters. water did not provoke the animals However, only 4 cm of the dart into the water. However, when the needle was inserted, and the drug dart with anaesthetic was fired, had most likely been injected into they immediately escap ed into fatty tissue. The animal achieved water when hit. A dart with satisfactory anesthesia after about antidote was fired immediately 28 minutes, but woke up after after, but did not hit the animal. another 8 minutes. Due to risks of The animals dove and surfaced 100 anesthetic depots and meter away after about 3 minutes. renarcotication, a large amount of Then the animal was a antidote was given, some of it in characteristic state of tonus in its fatty tissue in order to slow down back, its head wa s submerged, it the absorption. was not breathing and hence strongl y affected by the drug (Born Animals No. 3, 4,6 & 8 all males & Knutsen 1990). A second attempt apart from #6 an adult female, 3 were immobilized without any 43 were hauled-out on land irregularities and recovered (Appolonoff Island). normally. In a total of 359 observations where Animals No. 5 & 7 adult females age and sex could be estimated, 13 accompanied by calves, and part of % (n=47) were calves of the year or a social group of walruses, both 1 year old (no visible tusks), 16 % woke up and went into water (n=56) were juvenile (2,5 - 7,5 cm during assumed deep tusks), 33 % (n= 119) were imm obilization.