BIOGEOCHEMICAL EVALUATION OF THE VEGETATION STATUS OF REINDEER PASTURES OF THE NADYM DISTRICT OF THE YAMAL-NENETS AUTONOMOUS DISTRICT

The chemical elemental composition of the most widespread species of wood (Betula pubescens, Larix sibirica, Pinus sylvestris, Salix lanata), shrubs (Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Ledum palustust sl), herbs (Eriophorum angustifolium, Equisetum arvense) and lichens (Cladonia stellaris, Cladonia stygia). The concentrations of Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Y, V, Na, Mg, Si, P, S, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, S obtained using the method of retgenofluorescence energy dispersion analysis. The features of the local biogeochemical background of plants are revealed and their geochemical specialization is studied. The greatest difference in the level of accumulation between different plant species was found for Ni, Zn, Ca, Mn, S, and Si. The analysis of the accumulation coefficients of chemical elements in plants relative to the local background level is carried out. Statistical significant differences in the elements accumulation by plants in different bioclimatic zones were revealed for Cu, Fe, Co, Cr, As, Mg, V, Y. The studied plants according to environmental safety criteria and the content of normalized micro- and macrocells mainly meet the requirements for fodder plants. The exception is the low content of nutrients Co, Na and K. For the prevention of animal diseases associated with a deficiency of essential elements, it is necessary to optimize the diet of deer by enriching feed with biologically active substances and macro- and microelements.

Vegetation and flora of the river-basin of the Gačnik stream (Vojsko, Spodnja Trebuša) – a contribution for its nature protection evaluation / Rastje in rastlinstvo povodja Gačnika na Vojskem in v Trebuši – prispevek za njegovo naravovarstveno vrednotenje

We have summarized results of our research of vegetation and flora in the river-basin of the Gačnik (Vojsko, Dolenja Trebuša) in western Slovenia. We enumerate most frequent and characteristic plant communities, which belong to seven habitat types of European conservation importance. In their stands grow two Natura 2000 species (Primula carniolica, Cypripedium calceolus) and almost 60 vascular plant species, which are protected and (or) on the red list. Among communities and plants are the most threatened fens and moist grasslands and their characteristic species: Drosera rotundifolia, Dactylorhiza lapponicasubsp. rhaetica, D. traunsteineri, Eleocharis quinqueflora,Eriophorum angustifolium, E. latifolium, Pinguicula vulgaris and Trichophorum alpinum. Key words: vegetation, flora, wetlands, fens, Natura 2000, Slovenia Izvleček V članku smo povzeli rezultate naših raziskav rastja in rastlinstva v povodja Gačnika na Vojskem in v Trebuši v zahodni Sloveniji. Naštevamo najbolj pogoste in najbolj značilne rastlinske združbe, zavarovane in redke rastline in naravovarstveno vredne habitatne tipe. Slednjih je vsaj sedem. V njihovih združbah uspevata dve Natura 2000 vrsti (Primula carniolica, Cypripedium calceolus) in skoraj 60 zavarovanih in (ali) redkih cevnic (rdeči seznam). Med združbami so najbolj ogrožena mokrišča (nizka barja in mokrotni travniki) in njihove značilne vrste: Drosera rotundifolia, Dactylorhiza lapponicasubsp. rhaetica, D. traunsteineri, Eleocharis quin­queflora,Eriophorum angustifolium, E. latifolium, Pinguicula vulgaris in Trichophorum alpinum. Ključne besede: vegetacija, flora, mokrišča, nizka barja, Natura 2000, Slovenija

Florisztikai adatok Észak-Magyarországról II. Északi-Cserehát és Felső-Bódva-völgy

Összeállításunkban az Északi-Cserehát és a Felső-Bódva-völgy területéről 1995 és 2020 között gyűjtött, korábbi publikációinkból kimaradt adatainkat közöljük, 123 fajra vonatkozóan. Publikáljuk néhány, a területről eddig nem közölt, vagy ritka faj adatát (pl. Artemisia annua, Genista pilosa, Ranunculus flammula, Scorzonera purpurea, Silene noctiflora), illetve kitérünk olyan adathiányos, de gyakoribb fajra is, mint a Carex remota, Cirsium pannonicum, Cyperus fuscus, Melampyrum cristatum. Néhány védett faj (Dactylorhiza incarnata, Eriophorum angustifolium, Lycopodium clavatum) új lelőhelyére is rábukkantunk.

Untargeted Exometabolomics Provides a Powerful Approach to Investigate Biogeochemical Hotspots with Vegetation and Polygon Type in Arctic Tundra Soils

Rising temperatures in the Arctic have led to the thawing of tundra soils, which is rapidly changing terrain, hydrology, and plant and microbial communities, causing hotspots of biogeochemical activity across the landscape. Despite this, little is known about how nutrient-rich low molecular weight dissolved organic matter (LMW DOM) varies within and across tundra ecosystems. Using a high-resolution nano-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) approach, we characterized the composition and availability of LMW DOM from high-centered polygons (HCP) and low-centered polygons (LCP) with Eriophorum angustifolium or Carex aquatilis as the dominant vegetation. Over 3000 unique features (i.e., discrete mass/charge ions) were detected; 521 were identified as differentially abundant between polygonal types and 217 were putatively annotated using high mass accuracy MS data. While polygon type was a strong predictor of LMW DOM composition and availability, vegetation and soil depth were also important drivers. Extensive evidence was found for enhanced microbial processing at the LCP sites, which were dominated by Carex plant species. We detected significant differences between polygon types with varying aboveground landscape features or properties, and hotspots of biogeochemical activity, indicating LMW DOM, as quantified by untargeted exometabolomics, provides a window into the dynamic complex interactions between landscape topography, vegetation, and organic matter cycling in Arctic polygonal tundra soils.

New locations of rare species in the flora of the Kabardino-Balkar Republic

Various types of forest and meadow plant communities of the Kabardino-Balkar Republic (CentralCaucasus) from the steppes to the alpine were examined by the route method during floristic investigations in 2018–2019. New locations of five rare species of vascular plants of the region natural flora were found (Picea orientalis (L.)Peterm., Taxus baccata L., Betula raddeana Trautv., Acer trautvetteri Medw., Eriophorum angustifolium Honck.). Exactlocations for another five rare species within the previously designated areas were also identified (Pojarkovia pojarkovae(Schischk.) Greuter., Scopolia carniolica Jacq., Hypericum nummularioides Trautv., Securigera orientalis(Mill.) Lassen,Galanthus alpinus Sosn.). The article presents the data on the floristic finds, indicating the coordinates of specific locations,species habitat preferences in region, the number of populations, the species distribution in the Caucasus, and informationof inclusion in the Red Books of adjacent regions. The rarest vascular plant species for the native flora of the KabardinoBalkar Republic are Galanthus alpinus, Scopolia carniolica, Pojarkovia pojarkovae. All three species were revealed inmountain territories subject to high recreational (trampling by tourists, picking up flowers) and economic (grazing) loads.All three species were revealed in mountain territories. The findings of isolated populations of Picea orientalis, Taxus baccata, Betula raddeana, Acer trautvetteri provided new information about the distribution and ecology of these rarespecies listed in the latest edition of regional Red Data Book. For these species, the categories of rarity status acceptedin the Red Book of the Kabardino-Balkar Republic are confirmed. Galanthus alpinus, Scopolia carniolica, Pojarkoviapojarkovae, Hypericum nummularioides, Securigera orientalis, Eriophorum angustifolium are proposed for inclusion inthe next edition of the Kabardino-Balkar Red Data Book. The most endangered state was identified for Picea orientalis,for which only two habitats in the region are reliably known and those are subject to intense anthropogenic impact.

Dynamics of vegetation changes in oil and salt-contaminated oligotrophic ridge-hollow mire complexes after reclamation (Middle Pre-Ob region, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug – Yugra)

Oligotrophic ridge-hollow and ridge-hollow-pool complex mires are widely distributed in the central part of West Siberia, including many oil fields of the Middle Pre-Ob region. The article considers the dynamics of re-vegetation of oil and salt-contaminated areas of these mire types subjected to reclamation. Survey materials for 2–3 years and 15 years after reclamation allow to identify the main trends in vegetation restoration in the short and medium term. The reversible oligotrophication of ridges manifests in a relative decrease in the participation of the meso-eutrophic species on contaminated mire sites. In the hollows, however, the similar trend can be traced only in relation to oil-contaminated sites, whereas in the salt-contaminated hollows, the strong eutrophic conditions last. In the medium-term perspective, most typical oligotrophic hollow species, with the exception of Eriophorum russeolum and Oxycoccus palustris, were unable to recover. In the course of dynamic changes in the vegetation, the leading role in recovery successions gradually passes to mesotrophic and eutrophic species possessing massive root systems and aerenchyma – Eriophorum angustifolium, Phragmites australis, Carex rostrata, etc. Restoration of the moss layer is several years behind that of the grass layer, and due to the lack of competition, the participation of liverworts in it is of great importance, especially in salt spills. At the same time, among mosses as in the case of vascular species mesotrophic components are the main dominant ones15 years after reclamation.

Water level, vegetation composition and plant productivity explain greenhouse gas fluxes in temperate cutover fens after inundation

Rewetting of temperate continental cutover peatlands generally implies the creation of flooded areas, which are – dependent on water depth – colonized by helophytes such as Eriophorum angustifolium, Carex spp., Typha latifolia or Phragmites australis. Reeds of Typha and Phragmites are reported to be large sources of methane, but data on net CO2 uptake are contradictory for Typha and rare for Phragmites. This paper describes the effect of vegetation, water level and nutrient conditions on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for representative vegetation types along water level gradients at two rewetted cutover fens (mesotrophic and eutrophic) in Belarus. Greenhouse emissions were measured with manual chambers in weekly to few – weekly intervals over a two years period and interpolated by modelling. All sites had negligible nitrous oxide exchange rates. Most sites were carbon sinks and small GHG sources. Methane emissions were generally associated with net ecosystem CO2 uptake. Small sedges were minor methane emitters and net CO2 sinks, while Phragmites australis sites released large amounts of methane and sequestered very much CO2. Variability of both fluxes increased with site productivity. Floating mats composed of Carex tussocks and Typha latifolia were a source for both methane and CO2. We conclude that shallow, stable flooding is a better measure to arrive at low GHG emissions than deep flooding, and that the risk of high GHG emissions consequent on rewetting is larger for eutrophic than for mesotrophic peatlands.

Akrinatjørn, Mølbursvatn and Mølheyggjarnir – three place-names by Sandur on Sandoy

Three place-names near the village of Sandur are discussed, and suggestions made as to their interpretation. The first element of <em>Akrinatjørn </em>‘Akrinatarn’ is explained as the plant-name <em>akurull </em>(Eriophorum angustifolium). The <em>Mølbur</em>- of <em>Mølbursvatn </em>‘Mølburswater’ is seen as a reflex of *<em>Melberði</em>, compounded of ON <em>melr </em>m. ‘gravel-bank’ and *<em>berði </em>n., a derivative of <em>barð </em>n. ‘edge, rim’; the original name of this lake was thus probably *<em>Melberðisvatn</em>. It is further suggested that the first element of the name <em>Mølheyggjarnir </em>‘the Møl heights’ also comes from an original <em>melr </em>rather than <em>møl </em>f. The confusion of <em>e </em>and <em>ø </em>in <em>Mølbursvatn </em>and <em>Mølheyggjarnir </em>is to be seen in the light of the delabialisation that characterises the dialect of this area.

Methanotrophic and Methanogenic Communities in Swiss Alpine Fens Dominated by Carex rostrata and Eriophorum angustifolium

ABSTRACTVascular plants play a key role in controlling CH4emissions from natural wetlands, because they influence CH4production, oxidation, and transport to the atmosphere. Here we investigated differences in the abundance and composition of methanotrophic and methanogenic communities in three Swiss alpine fens dominated by different vascular plant species under natural conditions. The sampling locations either were situated at geographically distinct sites with different physicochemical properties but the same dominant plant species (Carex rostrata) or were located within the same site, showing comparable physicochemical pore water properties, but had different plant species (C. rostrataorEriophorum angustifolium). All three locations were permanently submerged and showed high levels of CH4emissions (80.3 to 184.4 mg CH4m−2day−1). Soil samples were collected from three different depths with different pore water CH4and O2concentrations and were analyzed forpmoAandmcrAgene and transcript abundance and community composition, as well as soil structure. The dominant plant species appeared to have a significant influence on the composition of the active methanotrophic communities (transcript level), while the methanogenic communities differed significantly only at the gene level. Yet no plant species-specific microbial taxa were discerned. Moreover, for all communities, differences in composition were more pronounced with the site (i.e., with different physicochemical properties) than with the plant species. Moreover, depth significantly influenced the composition of the active methanotrophic communities. Differences in abundance were generally low, and active methanotrophs and methanogens coexisted at all three locations and depths independently of CH4and O2concentrations or plant species.

Primary and secondary succession on wooded peat-bogs

Study of primary and secondary succession on wooded peat- bogs are presented. Research has been done on a complex of mountain peat-bogs in the Bohemian Moravian Highland (Czechoslovakia). Natural succession series began with reed sedge and reed stands and terminated with <i>Viccinio uliginosi-Pinetum</i>, <i>Calamagrostio villosae-Piceatum</i> and <i>Alnion glutinosae</i> uder oligotrophic, oligo-mesotrophic and meso-eutrophic conditions, respectively. In marginal parts of peat-bogs (lagg) sedge fens are followed by birch cart. Open pine stands (<i>Pino rotundatae-Sphagnetum</i>) is submitted to cyclic succesion. The secondary succession may begin with the <i>Sphagnum cuspidatum</i>, <i>Eriophorum angustifolium</i> or <i>Carex rostrata</i>, and <i>Carex rostrata</i> stages, depending on trophic conditions of water. The final stage is usually <i>Vaccinio uliginosi</i>-<i>Pinetum</i> or <i>Pino rotundatae</i>-<i>Spagnetum</i>. Secondary succession pattern is influenced both by eutrophication and peat-land drainage.