Climate change has a profound impact on Arctic ecosystems. There is an increase in average air temperature, vegetation period, and consequently, changes in vegetation cover. One of the markers and important resources of the tundra is shrubby vegetation, particularly willow vegetation. Willow serves as a significant food source for Arctic fauna as well as a shelter.

As an intern and subsequently a staff member of the Arctic Ecosystem Laboratory, I studied shrub expansion in the southern tundra of the Yamal Peninsula. I utilized remote sensing data to investigate the dynamics of shrub cover. For data, I employed various satellite images, including high-resolution ones, drone imagery, and field measurements were conducted according to a protocol developed jointly with specialists to verify the data.

The collected data revealed an increase in shrub cover. These materials were incorporated into my thesis and also formed the basis of an article that we are preparing jointly with my colleagues from the laboratory.

In addition to remote sensing, one of the components of the shrub study was the use of dendrochronological methods, through which it was possible to trace the connection between shrub growth and climatic changes.

One of the main projects of the laboratory, in which I directly participated, was the study of the ecology of semi-domesticated reindeer on the Yamal Peninsula under conditions of anthropogenic influence, increasing the number of reindeer in the herds of local herders, and active climate change.

The project idea was to procure GPS collars to put on reindeer from two herds with different grazing locations and study their movement patterns on pastures and, based on this, their dietary preferences, as well as the degree of influence of herders on their herds. This multidisciplinary project was supported by the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug government and the Russian Science Foundation grant, through which data was collected, and one article has already been published. In addition to GPS positions, the collars also recorded the activity of reindeer using accelerometers, and two collars contained cameras recording videos.

With the grant support, landscape photography and botanical measurements were also conducted, which will also be correlated with reindeer tracks on different seasonal pastures

 
The main activity of the laboratory where I worked was related to the zoology of the Yamal Peninsula. In addition to reindeer, the main objects of study, which were investigated from the perspective of spatial ecology, were foxes, falcons, and subsequently walruses. Thanks to the study of foxes, an article was written. 

 The work with remote sensing data (RSD) is one of the main tasks of my scientific activity. It includes processing multispectral images and drone data used for image classification, as well as, for example, for building 3D models using photogrammetric techniques. 

 Fieldwork was conducted according to relevant international protocols. Alongside colleagues, I was involved in monitoring waterfowl, studying fox burrows in the summer, and researching birds of prey. For several years in a row, I conducted measurements of shrubs in designated areas, and there was also a weather station located at the field station, which provided our research with locally precise data. 

The study of shrubs in the tundra included the collection of cores and their dendrochronological analysis together with the dendrochronology laboratory.

A month-long statistical course by professor of Statistical Ecology at the Institute of Arctic and Marine Biology of UiT The Arctic University of Norway,  Tromsø, 2020

The Winter limnological practice school (course) were held at the Lammi Biological Station of the University of Helsinki, 2019

Theoretical and practical lessons of using GNSS by UGT -Holding LLC, Saint Petersburg, 2019

Geocryological field school together with

Moscow State University, NTNU (Russian-Norwegian Research-based education in Cold Regions) and Gazprom, Russia, 2019.

Studied and analyzed a coastline and Siberian tundra lanscapes change using GNSS receivers, LiDAR, and the georadar. 

Professional retraining in language interpretation and translation (English language)

Kuban State University, Russia, 2015-2018