BIOLOGIYA MORYA, 2014, Vol. 40, No. 5, pp. 399-410

The current state of populations of the common tern Sterna hirundo (Linnaeus, 1758) and the Kamchatka tern S. camtschatica (Pallas, 1811) in northern Sakhalin

© 2014 I. M. Tiunov¹, A. Yu. Blokhin²

¹Institute of Biology and Soil Science, Far East Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok 690022;
²Ecological Company of Sakhalin, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk 693007

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This paper presents data on the numbers of nesting common and Kamchatka tern populations on the northeastern coast of Sakhalin Island over a more than 20 year period. Distribution maps of the main tern colonies (Chaika, Lyarvo, Wrangel islands, and an unnamed island situated in Chaivo Bay) are given. Taking into account the current data concerning southern Sakhalin colonies, the total number of terns in Sakhalin Island is about 9000 pairs for Kamchatka tern and up to 16000 pairs for common tern. The main biotic and abiotic factors that determine the population dynamics and distribution of nesting terns in northern Sakhalin Island are enumerated.

Key words: Sakhalin, common tern, Kamchatka tern, population size.