Meinypil’gyno Community Based Biological Station

Meinypil’gyno Biological Station is located at Meinypil’gyno settlement, South Chukotka (62°32’ N, 177°03’ E), 250 km south of Anadyr City at the Bering Sea coast. It is located on a 40 km long lagoon spit next to moraine hills (up to 100 m a.s.l.) and Koryak Mountains (up to c. 1000 m a.s.l.) surrounded by brackish water channels connecting salty Lake Pekulney and freshwater Lake Vaamochka to the sea.

The station is hiring living and office space from local villagers for the field work period and only owns permanent storage space for equipment and supplies. Up to 5 cottages each 50-100 m2 are rented every summer. Work is organised by a station managers from the local community, and mechanics and cooks are also hired locally. Up to 15 visitors can work at the station at the same time.

The weather is wet, windy, and foggy in summer, with lots of snowstorms in winter. The area has a very high diversity of ecosystems wihtin reachable distance from the station. Coastal areas are occupied by high variety of different types of lowland tundra, including typical Chukotka tussocks, rather high-arctic looking moss-sedge-lichen tundra on moraine hills, and dry crowberry tundra on spits. Inland areas have a variety of alpine vegetation types as well as hypo-arctic landscapes including willow and alder bushes. Further inland Beringian type pine bush forest-tundra dominates. Wetlands include different types of lakes, bogs, fresh-water deltas, and brackish lagoons. Permafrost is sporadic in part of area. The biggest Koryak Mountains Glacier, now shrinking in size, is located in 40 km west of the station. There are numerous geological features in the area and the only known paleontological site for dinosaurs is only 30 km to the north. The area supports a high diversity of bird species, including the critically endangered spoon-billed sandpiper and the largest sea bird colony of Southern Chukotka. Nearby lakes are important red salmon spawning areas attracting high numbers of brown bears. Wolfs, Wolverine, and Mountain Sheep are not uncommon. Coastal waters support populations of gray whales, seals, and occasionally beluga whales. A walrus haul-out site is located 40 km away.

The Meinypil’gyno settlement has a mixed Chukchi-Russian population of about 500 inhabitants. It was established 90 years ago in the area formerly used as summer camps by Chukchi reindeer herders. In earlier times, the coastal area was populated by the Kerek ethnic group and an unexplored archaeological site (Kerek city) is located just 20 km from the station. Main traditional activity is fishing and reintroduction of reindeer husbandry is discussed. The station has strong ties to the local community though involvement in monitoring and outreach activities (e.g. school courses and exhibitions).

Station is accessible by regular helicopter flights twice a month and in summer nearly every week; 1.5 hour flight by Mi-8 from Anadyr. Irregular cargo ships arrive from Beringovsky from July and supplies of goods arrive by bigger ocean ships in autumn. In winter, the station may be accessible by road, depending on weather conditions. Transport at the station consists of big-foot vehicle “Kerzhak” (carry up to 2 tons), 3 quad-bikes, one inflatable rubber motor boat, and a bicycle.