Breeding habitat and lair structure of the ringed seal (Phoca hispida ladogensis) in northern Lake Ladoga in Russia

Abstract

The breeding habitat and lair structures of the ringed seal (Phoca hispida ladogensis) were studied by snowmobile expeditions in northern Lake Ladoga, Russia, during 1996 to 1999. Mostly flat ice and no large pack ice existed in northern Lake Ladoga during this study. All birth lairs and 88% of haul-out lairs were located in snowdrifts in the shorelines of islands or islets and 12% of the haul-out lairs occurred in pressured ice ridges. Some large haul-out lairs had been used communally by the seals. A total of 15% of the lairs observed had been attacked or marked by red fox (Vulpes vulpes), wolf (Canis lupus) or unidentified canines. The colour of the lanugo fur of the Ladoga ringed seal pup appeared to be dark grey. We conclude that the northern part of Lake Ladoga is an active breeding area for the ringed seal, which attests conservation needs for this area.