Lichens of pristine and disturbed oligotrophic bogs of the Samotlor oil field

Abstract

Decades of active development of the natural resources of the Middle Ob region of Western Siberia have significantly changed the natural landscapes at the most large oil fields, which has affected the composition of the flora of this area. This process was especially reflected in large areas of oligotrophic bogs, the vegetation of which is a sensitive indicator of environmental disturbance. For the first time, a list of epigeic and epiphytic lichens collected on the territory of the Samotlor oil field on native oligotrophic bogs and in secondary anthropogenically modified landscapes that have originated from them is given. A total of 80 species of lichens have been registered. Epigean lichens are mainly represented by species of genus Cladonia, which, in addition to native sites, are also found in technogenically transformed habitats. Species capable of developing in oil-contaminated areas have been identified. The average period of the initial colonization of oil and salt-contaminated oligotrophic peat soils by lichens ranges from 6–7 to 12–15 years. Among epiphytic lichens, there is a spread of some species to an atypical substrate for them, which may indicate both air pollution by products of combustion of gas flares and an increase in the general dust content of the atmosphere of oil fields.