Northwestern European Russia Research Articles

Лихенобиота заказника «Лисинский» (Ленинградская область)

The revealed lichen diversity of the Lisinsky Protected Area counts 296 species, including 262 lichens, 20 lichenicolous fungi, and 14 non-lichenized saprobic fungi. The species Normandina chlorococca is reported for the first time for Russia, Gyalidea minuta, Lecanora substerilis, Lecidea betulicola, Vezdaea stipitata are new to the North-Western European Russia, and Fellhanera bouteillei is new to the Leningrad Region. The territory is represented by a significant diversity of lichens and related fungi, including 28 protected species, indicator species and habitat specialists of biologically valuable forests. The communities formed by old-growth spruces and aspens are of greatest value for the conservation of lichen biota, as far as in such biotopes the species associated with biologically valuable forests are most often found in complexes.

Additions to the flora of Northwestern European Russia

The article presents new data on vascular flora of the North-West of the European part of Russia. The data are based on our field surveys in 2021–2023, revision of herbarium collections and searching data in open sources. In the Leningrad Region, we recorded four alien species new to the Northwestern European Russia, namely Linum nervosum Waldst. et Kit., Phytolacca acinosa Roxb., Dipsacus laciniatus L., and Viscum album L., and one species new to St. Petersburg (Rhynchospora fusca (L.) W.T. Aiton), a nationally rare and protected native. The results of the study show, on the one hand, the need for further research in the region, and on the other hand, the ongoing spread of alien plant species across European Russia.

Дополнительные сведения о лихенобиоте Новгородской области (Россия)

The list of lichens and allied fungi of the Novgorod Region is supplemented with 24 species. Fuscidea lightfootii and Taeniolella phaeophysciae are new to the North-Western European Russia. Altogether 395 species of lichens and allied fungi are currently known for the Novgorod Region. Arthonia vinosa, Chaenotheca gracilenta, Parmeliella triptophylla, and Sclerophora coniophaea are recommended for inclusion in the Red Data Book of the Novgorod Region.

Первое исследование видового разнообразия лишайников острова Сескар (Финский залив, Ленинградская область)

The revealed lichen diversity of Seskar Island has a total of 292 species, including 263 lichenized, 20 lichenicolous, and nine non-lichenized saprobic fungi. Stigmidium microcarpum is new to European Russia, Caloplaca alcarum, Cryptodiscus muriformis, C. pini, and C. tabularum are new to North-Western European Russia; Lecidella subviridis and Pyrenidium actinellum are new to the Leningrad Region. The most interesting result of the investigation is the discovery of the single modern population of the red-listed Flavocetraria nivalis in the Leningrad Region. The lichen biota of Seskar Island is moderately rich compared to other islands of the Gulf of Finland.

An age and accumulation patterns of laminated sediments of Lake Kasplya (Smolensk region)

Presented study aims to investigate paleolimnological conditions of Lake Kasplya in northwestern European Russia. An annually-laminated deposits were analyzed with 14C dating, thin section study and varve counting using a semi-automated method. An annual structure is expressed in one or two pairs of layers per year (light – diatomite and calcite, dark – organomineral detritus with pyrite concretions). Differences in the structure of Early Holocene and Middle Holocene varves indicate changing paleolimnological conditions of the water body, while the disappearance of varves around 6.7 thousand years ago suggests the cessation of stable lake stratification. Due to the peculiarities of sediment structure, the obtained varve chronology is older compared to the radiocarbon sedimentation model (3,5 thousand years versus 2,5 thousand years).

VASCULAR FLORA OF TOSNENSKY DISTRICT (LENINGRAD REGION, EUROPEAN RUSSIA): COMPOSITION, STRUCTURE AND DYNAMICS

The article presents the first comprehensive assessment of the vascular flora of Tosnensky district (Leningrad region, Northwestern European Russia). In this study, we made the first checklist of vascular plants for this area based on our field observations in 2016–2022, the literature, online sources and herbarium collections. The flora of Tosnensky district consists of 874 species, of which 706 are native, 36 are archaeophytes, 131 are neophytes, and one species has an uncertain status. The list contains information on 43 species new to the district and on one species (Euphrasia micrantha Rchb) new to the flora of Leningrad region. Results show that by the number of native species, Asteraceae, Cyperaceae, Poaceae are leading families; Brassicaceae is the largest in terms of the number of alien species. The native flora is dominated by forest-inhabiting species (55.3% of all species); the largest number of alien species is found on roadsides (42.7%). Most of the native species have a Eurasian range (30.5%), and 20.8% of all alien plants originate from North America. Perennial herbs dominate among both native and alien species (72.9% and 54.2%, respectively). In alien flora of Tosnensky district, there are 59 casual and 55 naturalized non-invasive species, while 14 species have been assigned as invasive. In addition, we provide information on the habitats of 42 species protected in Leningrad region, including three species that are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation, namely Isoetes echinospora Durieu, Dactylorhiza baltica (Klinge) Nevski and Lobelia dortmanna L. The flora of Tosnensky district is well listed compared to floras of neighboring territories, however our findings indicate a relatively low proportion of neophytes (15% of all species). This feature can be explained by the low level of development of the transport network that reduces the likelihood of the introduction and spread of neophytes.

Fleas (Siphonaptera) of Small Mammals in the Cape Kartesh Area (the White Sea) and Distribution of These Species in Northwestern European Russia

Fleas (Siphonaptera) of Small Mammals in the Cape Kartesh Area (the White Sea) and Distribution of These Species in Northwestern European Russia

Лишайники возвращаются? Памятник природы Стрельнинский берег (Санкт-Петербург, Россия)

The total revealed lichen diversity of Strelninsky Bereg Protected Area includes 130 species, 123 of them are lichenized, four are lichenicolous, and three are non-lichenized saprobic fungi. The lichen biota of Strelninsky Bereg is quite rich, despite extremely small size of the area. The lichen Lecania olivacella is new to Russia. Bacidina pycnidiata, Fellhanera bouteillei, and Lecidella subviridis are new to North-Western European Russia. Nine lichen species reported from Strelninsky Bereg are red-listed in St. Petersburg. The reappearance of Leptogium saturninum, which was not recorded in St. Petersburg more than last 90 years, could reflect a decline of atmospheric pollution in the city suburbs. Successful occasional reintroduction of foliose lichens Flavoparmelia caperata, Hypotrachyna revoluta, and Punctelia jeckeri could be possible as a result of modern climate change in the region of St. Petersburg and in the World.

Floodplain soils on the soil map of the Russian Federation, scale 1 : 2.5 M, 1988, in the Russian soil classification, 2004

The largest area of taiga gley-differentiated soils on the Soil map of Russian Federation, scale 1:2.5 M, is located in the north of West Siberia. Small areas are dispersed over the northwestern European Russia, Eastern Siberia and the North-East. Interpretation of taiga gley-differentiated soils in terms of Russian soil classification system (2004) is rather ambiguous owing to high diversity of ecological conditions where these soils occur, аs well as variability of soil morphological, chemical, and physicochemical properties in diverse mapping units. Comparing properties of taiga gley-differentiated soils described in the Program of the map (1972) and in regional publications with the diagnostic criteria for soil types in some orders of the Russian classification system made it possible to find adequate names and taxonomic position for these soils. Thus, taiga gley-differentiated soils in the middle and northern taiga of Western Siberia proved to be allocated to several orders: weakly differentiated and gleyed soils with a brown profile were referred to the order of organo-accumulative soils as shallow-peat gleyic soils; their more hydromorphic variants – taiga gley-differentiated shallow-peat soils were defined in the order of gleyzems, as peat gleyzems, soil with morphologically differentiated profile having a particular cryogenic structure were qualified for svetlozems and iron-illuvial gleyic svetlozems in the order of cryometamorpic soils, and for eluvial-metamorphic soils of the same order in case of cryogenic structure was absent. Taiga gley-differentiated soils in their northwestern area are confined to varved clays and correspond to (soddy-)eluvial-metamorphic gleyic soils.

Reconstruction of Holocene environmental conditions based on the complex studies of Lake Shnitkino sediments (Tver Region, Russia)

Abstract. The presented study aims to investigate the paleoenvironmental conditions of Lake Shnitkino in Tver Region (northwestern European Russia). Two sediment cores from the lake bottom were obtained and analyzed using lithological and paleobotanic methods. The Holocene landscape and climatic characteristics of the lake basin are reconstructed. Four stages of lake evolution were inferred: 1) Younger Dryas/Preboreal transition, 2) Boreal, 3) Middle-Late Holocene, and 4) Recent time.

Современная и историческая лихенобиота Карельского перешейка: пример предлагаемой особо охраняемой природной территории Моторное-Заостровье (Ленинградская область, Россия)

The revealed lichen diversity of the proposed protected area Motornoe-Zaostrovje counts 452 species, including 400 lichens, 34 lichenicolous fungi, four facultatively lichenicolous fungi, and 14 non-lichenized saprobic fungi. Micarea synotheoides and Tremella hypocenomycis are new to Russia; Rhizocarpon sublavatum is new to European Russia; Absconditella celata, Biatora albidula, Cyphobasidium hypogymniicola, Karschia talcophila, Micarea melanobola, Pyrenula laevigata, Sclerococcum microsporum, Sphinctrina anglica, and Trapeliopsis glaucolepidea are new to North-Western European Russia; Arthrorhaphis alpina, Lecaimmeria cupreoatra, Micarea nowakii, Protothelenella petri, Pycnora xanthococca, and Sagedia simoënsis are new to the Leningrad Region. Of particular interest are lichens of old-growth spruce forest in the Rytovka stream valley in its middle course. The lichen biota of Motornoe-Zaostrovje is one of the richest lichen biotas known in the Leningrad Region. It comprises 32 red-listed species, 20 habitat specialists (i. e., species restricted to biologically valuable forests) and 24 indicator species, and deserves protection on the regional level.

Примечательное разнообразие лишайников старого усадебного парка Осиновая Роща (Санкт-Петербург, Россия)

The revealed lichen diversity of the historical territory Osinovaya Roscha has a total of 230 species, including 206 lichenized, 17 lichenicolous, and seven non-lichenized saprobic fungi. Epithamnolia xanthoriae is new to North-Western European Russia; Arthonia vinosa, Caloplaca ahtii, Cladonia merochlorophaea, Hawksworthiana peltigericola, Lecania erysibe, Rinodina pityrea, Roselliniella cladoniae, Taeniolina scripta, and Trichonectria rubefaciens are new to St. Petersburg. In total, eight lichen species reported from Osinovaya Roscha are red-listed in St. Petersburg. In spite of small size of this area, the lichen diversity of Osinovaya Roscha is high compared to other territories in the city, and is worthy of protection.

The lichens of Pukhtolova Gora (St. Petersburg, Russia)

The lichen diversity of the proposed protected area Pukhtolova Gora counts 252 species, including 232 lichenized, 12 lichenicolous, and 8 non-lichenized saprobic fungi. Micarea laeta, M. pusilla, and Pyrenidium actinellum s. lat. are new to North-Western European Russia; Parmelia serrana, Rhizocarpon cinereovirens, and Stereocaulon taeniarum are new to St. Petersburg. Altogether 13 species recorded in the study area are red-listed in St. Petersburg, with two of them known only from historical collections. Pukhtolova Gora is an area with a high conservation value; the lichen biota of this area is one of the richest within the city limits due to the well-preserved forest habitats.

Chlorostroma vestlandicum (Xylariales): first records of the rare ascomycete in Russia

In this paper, for the first time in Russia we report on four new occurrences of the rare xylarialean ascomycete Chlorostroma vestlandicumrevealed in the course of mycological surveys of the Northwestern European Russia. Description and colour illustrations of the material studied are provided. Dutch Elm Disease as the major possible threat for the species is discussed. The species is recommended for inclusion in the next editions of the regional Red Data Books of Leningrad, Novgorod, and Pskov Regions.

The effect of tree mortality on CO2 fluxes in an old-growth spruce forest

Long-term (2009–2019) field studies of the CO2 fluxes over the Valday upland in north-western European Russia were performed in an old-growth spruce-dominated forest subject to the combined effects of climate change, bark beetle attacks and windfall events. The annual carbon uptake within the study area decreased from − 300 g C m−2 yr−1 in 2010–2011 to − 95 g C m−2 yr−1 in 2018 as a result of progressive tree mortality. However, mortality did not cause a significant reduction in specific ecosystem respiration. The respiration of the damaged forest was formed by efflux from soil (64.8%), living vegetation (15.5%), hotspots under dry standing trees (12.1%) and decomposition of woody debris (7.6%). High correlations between net ecosystem exchange and dry standing spruce stocks and average soil CO2 efflux were found. The decrease in the carbon sink was followed by a decline in evapotranspiration from 0.0142 ± 0.0003 g H2O m−2 s−1 for May–October 2010 to 0.0116 ± 0.0002 g H2O m−2 s−1 in 2018. We assumed that the decrease in carbon uptake was due to both the reduction in primary tree production and the decrease in the area of the unaffected stands. Our estimates show that an increase in tree mortality up to 27% of a stand area could turn an old-growth spruce forest into a net source of CO2. This should be taken into account when considering human-induced and climate-related effects on boreal forests.

The lichens of the northern shore of the Gulf of Finland in the limits of St. Petersburg, Russia – diversity on the edge of the megapolis


 
 
 We present a lichen checklist for the northern shore of the Gulf of Finland in the limits of St. Petersburg, Russia. This area has diverse lichen biota within the city limits, and has been comprehensively studied since 1893, which gives a good base for analysis of historical changes in lichen diversity. The documented lichen biota comprises 469 species (430 lichenized, 24 lichenicolous, 3 facultatively lichenicolous, and 12 non-lichenized saprobic fungi), of them 191 species are known from herbaria and literature for the period before 1991, and 436 species were recorded since 1991 to 2019. Thirty-three taxa were excluded from the lichen list of the study area as erroneous or dubious records. Altogether 48 species are new to St. Petersburg, including: Lecidea malmeana and Micarea czarnotae – new to Russia; Caloplaca lucifuga, Gyalecta nigricans, Micarea soralifera – new to European Russia; Agonimia flabelliformis, Endococcus verrucosus, Lecania turicensis, Micarea fallax, M. tomentosa, Xanthomendoza huculica – new to Northwestern European Russia; Lichenoconium lichenicola, Ramalina europaea, Sarcogyne hypophaea – not known also from the Leningrad Region. The studied lichen biota is moderately rich compared to other city territories. The history of economic development of the region has caused its serious transformation, degradation of natural habitats and therefore partial loss of lichen diversity. At the same time, human-made substrates and anthropogenic plant communities are inhabited by lichens, including species unknown in the natural habitats of the study area. However, 44 species recorded in the study area are red-listed in St. Petersburg, with 13 of them known only from historical collections. Forest communities, as well as historical parks, in NW part of St. Petersburg are important source of biodiversity on regional level nowadays and hopefully in future, and deserve protection.
 
 

Лишайники острова Малый (Peninsaari) в Финском заливе (Ленинградская область)

A lichen checklist for Maly Island (Leningrad Region, Russia) comprises 160 species, including 150 lichens, 9 lichenicolous fungi and 1 non-lichenized saprobic fungus. Lecidella effugiens is new to North-Western European Russia, Diplotomma pharcidium and Taeniolella delicata are new to the Leningrad Region. The lichen biota of Maly Island is relatively poor due to natural and anthropogenic factors: the island is small, sandy, lacking rocky outcrops, with low diversity of plant communities; all its forests are disturbed and young. The most valuable habitats for lichens on Maly Island are seashore communities and open pine stands on sand.

Climate variability of Veliky Novgorod over the last 120 years

Two climatic phases were revealed in dynamics of annual air temperature in Veliky Novgorod during last 120 years: moderate cold (18991970) and warm (19882018). Mean rate of air temperature increasing during the recent warming consisted 0.47 С per 10 years. The highest growth of air temperature was observed in spring and autumn. It was established that this process in other regions of the North-Western federal district of Russian Federation also began in the late 1980s. The highest mean positive anomaly of annual air temperature in 19882018 was observed in Veliky Novgorod and Naryan-Mar (1.3С), while the lowest one in Vologda (0.9 С). It was shown that start of the recent climate warming in the North-Western European Russia coincided with weakening of meridional type of atmospheric circulation and intensification of western transfer of air masses from Northern Atlantic water area.

The lichens of Moshchny Island (Lavansaari) – one of the remote islands in the Gulf of Finland


 
 
 We present a checklist for Moshchny Island (Leningrad Region, Russia). The documented lichen biota comprises 349 species, including 313 lichens, 30 lichenicolous fungi and 6 non-lichenized saprobic fungi. Endococcus exerrans and Lichenopeltella coppinsii are reported for the first time for Russia; Cercidospora stenotropae, Erythricium aurantiacum, Flavoplaca limonia, Lecidea haerjedalica, and Myriospora myochroa for European Russia; Flavoplaca oasis, Intralichen christiansenii, Nesolechia fusca, and Myriolecis zosterae for North-Western European Russia; and Arthrorhaphis aeruginosa, Calogaya pusilla, and Lecidea auriculata subsp. auriculata are new for Leningrad Region. The studied lichen biota is moderately rich and diverse, but a long history of human activity likely caused its transformation, especially the degradation of forest lichen biota. The most valuable habitats for lichens in Moshchny Island are seashore and dune communities which definitely deserve protection.
 
 

New records of lichens and allied fungi from the Leningrad Region, Russia. IX


 
 
 Eight species of lichens and seven lichenicolous fungi are reported for the first time for St. Petersburg, the whole Leningrad Region or its western or eastern parts. The lichen Xylographa septentrionalis is reported for the first time for Russia, Europe and Asia, the lichenicolous fungus Skyttea gregaria is new for Russia, the lichen Xylographa pallens, lichenicolous fungi Didymellopsis collematum and Intralichen lichenicola are new for the North-Western European Russia. The most interesting records are briefly discussed.