Murmansk Province Research Articles

A revision of the genus Sphagnum (Sphagnaceae, Bryophyta) subgenus Сuspidata in Murmansk Province)

The genus Sphagnum taxonomically difficult subgenus Cuspidata is revised for the first time from KPABG herbarium collected in Murmansk Province. Subgenus Cuspidata includes 12 species. Data on distribution and ecology are provided.

New and rare vascular plants for Murmansk province. 5

New and rare vascular plants for Murmansk province. 5

Features of seasonal development of black currant (<i> Ribes nigrum</i> L.) in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation

Black currant is the most valuable berry crop of the Murmansk Province in terms of both biological properties and adaptive qualities necessary for growing in difficult agroclimatic conditions of the North. Every year, a search is carried out for varieties and forms with the best indicators of winter hardiness, yield, disease resistance and environmental friendliness, in order to identify accessions with the most valuable biological and economic traits. The objects of the present study were 24 cultivars of black currant of different ecological and geographical origin obtained in 2015 from the collection of the N. I. Vavilov All-Russian Research Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR). Studies of the black currant collection were carried out in 2017-2021 at the Polar Experiment Station, a branch of VIR. The care of plants was provided according to the agricultural practices developed for growing berry crops in the Polar Region. The results of five-year phenological observations and assessment of winter hardiness in the studied cultivars showed that the onset of vegetation in all accessions occurred annually in the second decade of May, the onset of flowering in the second decade of June, the onset of maturation in the third decade of July, and the growth of shoots ended in the first decade of September. The studied cultivars were combined into groups according to winter hardiness (highly winter-hardy and winter-hardy), as well as the onset of phenophases (early, medium, late), and of ripening dates (early, mid, and late-ripening). Early vegetation was noted in cultivars ‘Pigmei’, ‘Izyumnaya’, ‘Rita’, ‘Volshebnica’, ‘Vasilisa’, ‘Almiai’, ‘Kriviai’, ‘Mila’, ‘Poklon Borisovoi’. Early ripening of the crop was observed in the cultivars ‘Severnoe Siyanie’ (C), ‘Mila’, ‘Izyumnaya’, ‘Rita’, ‘Kriviai’. The late maturing cultivars are ‘Slavyanka’, ‘Kipiana’, ‘Gratsiya’, ‘Chudnoe Mgnovenie’. The most numerous group is that of mid-ripening cultivars (64 %), followed by the group of early maturing (20 %), and late maturing ones (16 %). All the studied cultivars showed high adaptability to the conditions of the Murmansk Province. They had time enough to form the yield, complete the fruiting and growth of shoots before the onset of frosts. Due to the results of five years of research, they can be recommended for cultivation in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation.

Comparative analysis of fodder legumes in Murmansk Province

Background. Dairy farming is one of the main segments in the agricultural sector of Murmansk Province. Expanding the range of cultivated legume fodder crops and their cultivars is one of the ways to comprehensively solve the problem of feed in the Kola Peninsula. Introduction of perennial legumes into the feed production practice will reduce the production cost of feeds and improve their quality.Materials and methods. Fodder galega, variable and yellow alfalfa (2005–2009), bird’s-foot trefoil (2006–2007), and sweet clover (2007–2008) were studied at the Polar Experiment Station of VIR. Weather conditions during the years of study differed in temperature and water regimes. Observations and records were made according to VIR’s guidelines. Statistical data processing included the calculation of the main variation parameters and the construction of a generalized linear model of the variance structure.Results. The data are presented on the study of the collection of four perennial fodder legumes in Murmansk Province, Russia, in 2005–2009. Alfalfa surpassed fodder galega, sweet clover and bird’s-foot trefoil in winter hardiness, height and bushiness, showed medium leafiness, and (for the entire study cycle) had low air-dry mass yield. Biennial bicarpic sweet clover stood out for its air-dry mass yield on average per year, had medium height and foliage, but low winter hardiness and bushiness. Bird’sfoot trefoil was significantly inferior to the rest of the studied crops in all agronomic characteristics. Galega had the highest leafiness; in winter hardiness, bushiness and plant height it was slightly inferior to alfalfa, and in yield to white clover. Seeds under the conditions of Murmansk Province can be obtained only from galega accessions.Conclusion. According to a set of agronomic characters, the most promising crop is fodder galega, especially its adapted naturalized accessions selected in 1991–1993.

Evaluation of improved potato cultivars according to their agronomic traits under the conditions of Murmansk Province

Background. The main objective of the Polar Experiment Station is to maintain and preserve the global potato collection of VIR. The collection is replenished with new improved potato cultivars. Their main agronomic traits are studied: earliness, productivity, starch content in tubers, resistance to viruses and fungi, etc. After three years of evaluation, cultivars are transferred to the maintenance collection.Materials and methods. Thirteen new potato accessions the from VIR collection were studied in 2018–2020 for valuable agronomic traits under the extreme conditions of Murmansk Province using VIR’s guidelines.Results and conclusions. The study made it possible to characterize this set of accessions according to their phenological parameters, earliness, productivity, and disease resistance. Accessions that exceeded the reference (‘Khibinskiy ranniy’, k-6928) in a number of indicators were identified. Three accessions demonstrated the best productivity across the years of the study: k-25327 (local from Georgia), k-25330 (‘KazSIP’) and k-25314 (‘Arizona’). Accession k-25311 (‘Gornyak’) was selected for earliness, productivity, and marketability of tubers; k-25302 (‘Babayev’) was identified for its productivity and high marketability of tubers; k-25302 (Arrow’) showed high productivity, high marketability of tubers, and large tuber size. The accessions selected for their starch content were k-25330 (‘KazSIP’) and k-25327 (local from Georgia). Six potato accessions were not affected by fungal diseases: k-25258 (‘Sunkar’), k-25302 (‘Babayev’), k-25311 (‘Gornyak’), k-25314 (‘Arizona’), k-25339 (‘Bravo’) and k-25317 (‘B-O-E’). Symptoms of viral diseases were not found in k-25311 (‘Gornyak’), k-25321 (‘Labadia’), k-25327 (local from Georgia), k-25336 (‘Ametist’) and k-25318 (‘Cogu Valley’). The results of the study made it possible to recommend them for new potato breeding programs in Murmansk Province.

Род Schistidium в гербариях KPABG и INEP (Мурманская область)

The genus Schistidium is revised in view of modern concept for the first time. Species from KPABG and INEP herbaria collected in Murmansk Province were revised. Schistidium genus is one of largest genera in the region and contains 29 species and 3 varieties (points of occurrence for 3 species based on literature data only), from which 13 — are rare for Murmansk Province, Schistidium crenatum H. H. Blom — species from Red Data Book of the Murmansk Region (2014). Paper contains data on distribution and ecology for 26 species and 3 varieties from KPABG and INEP collections.

A review of grass flies (Diptera, Chloropidae) of Karelia and Murmansk Province of Russia

One hundred and sixteen species of Chloropidae (Diptera) are recorded in Russian Karelia and Murmansk Province: 112 in Karelia and 44 in Murmansk Province. Twenty-two and seven species are new for Karelia and Murmansk Province, respectively. Calamoncosis oscinella is for the first time reported from Russia and Elachiptera breviscutellata - from European Russia. Pseudogaurax venustus is reinstated as Gaurax venustus. Taxonomic notes are provided on Eribolus nana, Polyodaspis ruficornis, Oscinella vindicata and Cetema simile. The distribution and biological data are given for every species. Point maps are provided for species with at least one exactly known location. The zoogeographical structure of Chloropidae fauna on the examined territories is briefly discussed and compared with other north-European countries.

Polar Experiment Station of VIR: the northernmost outpost of potato research

The establishment and progress of potato cultivation in the Kola Peninsula are closely associated with the Polar Experiment Station of the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR). The data are presented on the development of early-ripening and high-yielding potato cultivars based on the source material from the VIR collection: ‘Imandra’, ‘Sestra Imandry’, ‘Murmansky’, ‘Snezhinka No. 3’, ‘Khibinsky ranny’, etc. Prominent breeders and scientists, who worked at different times at the Polar Station, contributed to the release of unique early-ripening potato cultivars: J. H. Eichfeld, M. N. Veselovskaya, I. A. Veselovsky, F. I. Manykov, M. A. Vavilova, N. N. Ivanova, L. A. Dremlyug, A. M. Kozeletskaya, S. A. Anikina, G. D. Melnichuk, etc. Some of the cultivars developed from 1937 to 1968 are still used in large-scale potato production in Murmansk Province. Every year the cultivar and species diversity of potatoes is planted in the fields of the Arctic North. Today, the extensive material from the potato collection makes it possible to study the impact of environmental factors, identify sources of earliness and productivity, and conduct breeding activities aimed at the release of early cultivars.

CHARACTERIZATION OF POTATO ACCESSIONS ACCORDING TO THEIR BIOLOGICAL AND ECONOMICALLY USEFUL TRAITS IN THE ENVIRONMENTS OF MURMANSK PROVINCE

Background. Studying new potato cultivars in extreme environments of the North as well as identification and development of source materials for breeding are vital challenges faced by for potato breeders. The article presents the results of a study that involved potato cultivars from the VIR global collection grown under the extreme climate conditions of Murmansk Province. Materials and methods. The study was conducted at the Polar Experiment Station of VIR in 2016‒2018, when 40 potato accessions, which had originated from 9 different countries and had been supplied by VIR, were analyzed. The research was based on the guidelines developed at VIR. The obtained data were compared with the standard reference (st) cv. ‘Khibinsky ranny’ (k-6928). Results. In the process of long-term research, cv. ‘Muromets’ (k-25268) was identified for early yield formation (128% vs st). Cvs. ‘Mestny’ (k-25286) from Ukraine and ‘Madeleine’ (k-25322) were outstanding for their earliness combined with productivity (115–140%). Cv. ‘Express’ (k-25262) was selected for its earliness (113%), productivity (128%), and high marketability (92%). Cvs. Aktyubinsky-2’ (k-25300), ‘Ushkonyr’ (k-25309), ‘Berkut’ (k-25250), ‘Gala’ (k-25270) and ‘Colleen’ (k-25224) demonstrated high productivity (106–131%). Cv. ‘Pamyati Kanaeva’ (k-25305) had the highest yield of 1154.0 g/bush (155%). The highest starch content of 14.4% was shown respectively by cvs. ‘Aytmurat’ (k-25448) and ‘Mestny No. 2’ from India. Twelve cultivars out of 40 appeared to be the most adaptable to the local growing conditions: ‘Muromets’, ‘Express’, ‘Pamyati Kanaeva’, ‘Volynskaya mestnaya’ (k25274), ‘Dovgenka’ (k-25275), ‘Sorokadenka’ (k-25293), ‘Gala’ (k-25270), ‘Reggi’ (k-25313), ‘Izmir’, form 2 (k-25272, Turkey), ‘Daphne’ (k-25296), and two local cultivars from Ukraine (k-25286 and k-25282). Conclusions. This study proved useful as it helped to analyze adaptive properties of potato cultivars and describe the studied material in the context of their basic biological and economic traits.

BUILDING UP THE COLLECTION HOLDINGS OF PERENNIAL ORNAMENTAL PLANTS FROM THE FAMILY ROSACEAE AT THE POLAR EXPERIMENT STATION OF VIR

The article discusses the prospects of building up a collection of ornamental plants belonging to the rose family (Rosaceae Juss.) from local cultivated and wild plant forms in order to expand the zonal assortment of ornamentals for urban landscape gardening in Murmansk Province. Since 2017, the Polar Experiment Station of the Vavilov Institute (VIR) has been engaged in systematic research activities aimed at introduction of ornamental perennial ornamental herbs and shrubs. A promising collection stock has been formed of ornamental plants, currently totaling 198 accessions (160 species) from 40 plant families, including 132 accessions of perennial herbaceous plants (77 genera), 58 of ornamental shrubs (10 genera), and 8 of woody plants (4 genera). Representatives of the family Rosaceae make up 25% of the total number of accessions. The Polar Experiment Station maintains wild and cultivated perennial plants of the genera Geum L., Filipendula L., Potentilla L., Sanguisorba L., Alchimilla L., Dryas L., Spiraea L., Rosa L., Sorbus L., Dasifora Rafin., etc., having ornamental qualities, characterized by high winter hardiness, and not requiring high expenditures for their maintenance. Further expansion of the Rosaceae collection is going to be based on the introduction of ornamentals from the rose family identified in the local vegetation of the Kola Peninsula as well as through the acquisition of accessions from botanical gardens and nurseries located in the areas with climate conditions close to those of the Polar Experiment Station of VIR.

The aphid fauna (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha, Aphidomorpha) of Murmansk province (Russia), with description of Aphis khrulevi sp. nov. and Dysaphis karyakini sp. nov. and males of Chaitophorus nigricantis Pintera, 1987

An updated aphid (Hemiptera, Aphidomorpha) check-list of Murmansk province (European Russia) is presented, it includes 162 species. Chaitophorus nigricantis Pintera, 1987, Schizaphis nigerrima (Hille Ris Lambers), Hyperomyzus (Neonasonovia) zirnitsi Hille Ris Lambers, Nasonovia (Kakimia) vannesii Stenseth, Plocamaphis flocculosa goernitzi Börner and Schizaphis graminum gigjai Stroyan are recorded for the first time from Russia. Both apterous and alate males of Chaitophorus nigricantis nigricantis Pintera are described. Two new aphid species are described: Aphis khrulevi sp. nov. from fundatrices and apterous viviparous females, living on Veronica longifolia and Dysaphis karyakini sp. nov. from apterous and alate viviparous females, oviparous females and males, living on Cenolophium denudatum. Comments about the distribution and biology of aphids in this Northern part of Europe, and on the completeness of the list are given.

TO THE FAUNA OF THE ICHNEUMONINAE (HYMENOPTERA, ICHNEUMONIDAE) OF NORTHWESTERN RUSSIA

In this faunistic survey, findings of 108 Ichneumoninae species, excluding tribe Phaeogenini, are reported from different areas of the North-Western Russia, namely Republic Karelia, Murmansk and Arkhangelsk Provinces. Among them, 5 species are reported for the territory of Russia for the first time, 48 species are new for the fauna of Republic Karelia, 12 species new for Murmansk Province, 7 species new for Arkhangelsk Province. Also the hitherto unknown male of Stenobarichneumon tegelensis (Heinrich, 1951) is described from Karelia. Ichneumon sedulus Gravenhorst, 1820 is a new synonym of Barichneumon sexalbatus (Gravenhorst, 1820) syn. nov. Barichneumon sedulus auct. nec Gravenhorst is re-named Barichneumon vicarius (Wesmael, 1845) here.

Bacterial complexes of Khibiny Mountains lichens revealed in Cladonia uncialis, C. portentosa, Alectoria ochroleuca, and Nephroma arcticum

Fluorescence in situ hybridization was used to investigate microbial communities of four lichen species collected in the Murmansk province. The maximal bacterial abundance was shown to depend on both the lichen species and the part of the thallus. Predominant groups of bacteria were revealed: Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria. Criteria for assessment the facultative and obligatory presence of bacteria in lichen microbial communities were established, and approaches to classification of the lichen microbial communities were proposed based on the interdependence of various bacterial groups.

Mosses of surroundings of Alakurttii settlement and Kutsa Nature Reserve (Murmansk Province, North-West Russia)

Mosses of surroundings of Alakurttii settlement and Kutsa Nature Reserve (Murmansk Province, North-West Russia)

The role of European smelt Osmerus eperlanus in fish fauna structure of the Imandra Lake Basin (Murmansk Province)

The current trends of the fish community transformation processes in the Imandra Lake Basin (Murmansk Province) under processes of climate and hydrological regime changes, intensification of water eutrophication and pollution were studied. The continuing anthropogenic pollution load on the lake together with the uncontrolled fishery and the lack of favorable conditions for fish reproduction led to a decrease of quantity and share of long-cycle stenobiont fall-spawning salmonid and coregonid species in fish fauna structure. At the same time the amount of eurybiont spring-spawning low commercial value species, such as a European smelt Osmerus eperlanus (Linnaeus) was seriously increased. It was found that the smelt population growth is accompanied by an increase in its size and weight parameters. The highest size values of this species now are comparable to smelt of the Onega and Ladoga lakes. It was also mentioned that smelt demonstrates quite an intense self-dispersion within the Imandra Lake Basin. Smelt expands rapidly within the subordinate lake and river system of Bolshaya Imandra Lake. One of the most interesting phenomena now is a process of fish self-dispersion along the Bolshaya Belaya River. It was found that the smelt shows a very active expansion of habitat, despite of the intense impact of apatite-nepheline production and strong eutrophication of water. It is shown that European smelt have good opportunity to naturalize and form an isolated self-reproducing population in a typical mountain reservoir – Bolshoi Voodyavr Lake, influenced by intensive mining industry. The observed expansive strategy of low commercial value species could be consider as invasion of alien species, reducing resistance and resource potential of the freshwater ecosystems of the North.

КАЧЕСТВО УРОЖАЯ СЕЛЬСКОХОЗЯЙСТВЕННЫХ КУЛЬТУР НА ЕВРОПЕЙСКОЙ ТЕРРИТОРИИ РФ В УСЛОВИЯХ ИЗМЕНЕНИЯ КЛИМАТА

The positive trend of starch content in potato tubers under the conditions of Murmansk Province and sugar content in grapes under the conditions of Rostov Province is shown for the period of the 1990s. Weather dependence of protein content in wheat was investigated in the experiments of 1963-1993 at four experimental stations of the Vavilov Institute. Direct dependence of the studied quality indicators on the sum of temperatures above 15°C and inverse dependence on the sum of rainfall for this period have been identified.

Ecological and coenological analysis of liverworts in the forests of the lapland state nature biosphere reserve (Murmansk Province)

We have performed an inventory and ecological-coenological analysis of liverwort flora in the forest ecosystems of the Lapland State Nature Biosphere Reserve. We have recorded 98 species, which account for approximately 60% of the total number of liverwort species in the reserve. By means of the cluster analysis, we determined six groups of liverworts related to vegetation types and investigated their species composition. The lowest number of liverworts was found in pine forests on well-drained soils with low fertility (15 species); the richest flora of liverworts was in spruce and birch-spruce floodplain forests (88 species).

Spider (Arachnida, Aranei) assemblages of some habitats from the Kola Gulf coast: Phenological aspect

Spiders were collected by pitfall traps in three habitats at the Kola Gulf west coast (Murmansk Province) during the snowless period of 2010. A total of 88 spider species were found, 8 of which were new for the Kola Peninsula. The assemblages of the birch forest and the road embankment were the most similar in their species composition but different in the sets of dominant species and the seasonal dominance structure; the assemblage of the maritime meadow was distinguished by the highest capture rates. The species number and abundance of spiders in the assemblages decreased from spring to autumn; the species evenness also decreased while the fraction of the dominants (especially some of them) increased. The most abundant species in all the habitats studied were found to have different periods of maximum activity.

Sm-Nd AND U-Pb ISOTOPIC STUDY OF THE NYASYUKKA DIKE COMPLEX, KOLA PENINSULA, RUSSIA

The Nyasyukka dike complex forms a NW-trending dike swarm in the Archean bedrock of the Murmansk Province adjacent to the Pechenga Complex. The dikes are mostly composed of two rock types, kaersutite-bearing peridotites and olivine gabbros. Also a rounded pyroxenite stock has been found in the area. The dikes were generated from ferropicritic parental magma which was similar to Pechenga ferropicrites though having a somewhat higher silica activity. A peridotite sample yielded an internal Sm-Nd isochron with an age of 1956 ± 19 Ma (MSWD = 0.7) and an initial 6 Nd value of +1.4 ± 0.4. This is consistent with the baddeleyite age of 1941 ± 3 Ma, showing that the Nyasyukka dikes are ca. 40 Ma younger than the Pechenga ferropicrites. The pyroxenite stock shows geochemical and Nd isotopic evidence for significant crustal contamination. We also present isotopic and geochemical data for olivine gabbro-norite from the Tuloma River area, supporting the earlier view that there exist dikes of the Nyasyukka type in this area.

Checklist of liverworts of the Lapland State Nature Biosphere Reserve (Murmansk Province, Russia)

This new list of hepatics for the Lapland State Nature Biosphere Reserve (LSNBR), one of the largest reserves in European Russia, consists of 173 species. Here are summarized all available data on the diversity of liverworts of LSNBR, including approximately 2500 specimens collected by the author. The liverwort flora is the richest amongst those of large State Nature Reserves of the European part of Russia. Eight taxa of liverworts are known in Murmansk Province from the LSNBR only: Frullania tamarisci, Lejeunea cavifolia, Lophoziopsis excisa var. elegans, Mannia triandra, Reboulia hemisphaerica, Oleolophozia perssonii, Nowellia curvifolia, Scapania calcicola. The liverwort diversity varies slightly between different LSNBR Mountains: in Salnye Tundry Mts there were recorded 139 species, in Chuna-tundra Mts – 133, in Monche-tundra Mts – 124, in Nyavka-tundra – 112. The territory gives a good representation for protection and sustainable development of rare hepatic species – fifteen species are red-listed in Europe, four liverworts are included in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation and thirty one taxa are protected in Murmansk Province.