Study of flora, vegetation and productivity of Arctic plant communities ...

Study of flora, vegetation and productivity of Arctic plant
communities in Spitsbergen (The Polar-Alpine Botanical
Garden-Institute KSC RAS, Apatity)
Summary: Diversity of mosses, hepatics, lichens, and cyanobacteria has been studied in 9 areas of
Spitsbergen including eastern coast of Grønfjord, Reindalen, Linnedalen, Pyramiden area, Trygghamna
bay, Colesbay, western coast of Bockfjorden, Prins Oscars Land, Nordvika (Murchison-fjord).
Preliminary lists of species were compiled for the most of studied areas. Several species new for
Spitsbergen were recorded and some species are confirmed to occur in the study area. A new ecotopes
for some rare and very rare species for Spitsbergen were discovered. New data on occurrence, ecology
and reproduction for many species was obtained. The study of vegetation includes description of plant
communities in the main types of habitats and distribution of syntaxa. The comparative analysis of DNA
loci of critical and poorly known liverworts is one of the important parts of Spitsbergen researches. The
molecular studies of Spitsbergen liverworts allow specifying the taxonomic status of critical arctic taxa,
evaluating the species limits and sheds light on the origin of regional flora. Ecophysiological researches
include studies of the pigment complexes of vascular plants, mosses and lichens as well as productivity
of plant communities in the vicinities of Barentsburg Town (Western Spitsbergen Island). Soil
researches are dealing with morphogenetic studies of the major soil types near Barentsburg. The aim of
the soil researches is to establish the role of micro- and nanorelief in the soil formation processes and
soil cover structure. Landscape ecogeochemical studies include simultaneous sampling and analysis of
all major environment media (atmospheric precipitation, vegetation, soil and stream waters). This
approach allows to study the peculiarities of environment chemistry and to trace the fate of elements in
the landscape of this peculiar area.
The study of mosses of Spitsbergen
Belkina Olga, Likhachev Alexey
PhD, lab. Flora and Vegetation PABGI KSC RAS
Ph. (81531) 52742, e-mail: belkina_07@list.ru
184256, Kirovsk, Murmansk District, Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute Kola Sci Centre of Russian Academy of
Sci
Olga Belkina and Alexey Likhachev have been studying moss species diversity of Spitsbergen since
2005. Samples were collected from different parts of archipelago: Vestspitsbergen (Bockfjorden,
Grønfjorden, Linnévatnet area, Pyramiden, the middle part of Reindalen, Trygghamna in Isfjorden,
Colesbay) and Nordaustlandet (Prins Oscars Land, Nordvika in Murchisonfjord). Most of them have
been identified as well as the collections of bryophytes were made by N.A. Koroleva in 1991, 2003.
The lists of moss species had been compiled for some local bryoflora. A comparison of these floras
(species composition, taxonomic structure) shows essentual distinction between them. The dominant
moss species in all studied plant communities are different too. The main reason of that is geochemical
composition of minerals, especially presence of Ca2+, and location. The most frequent, abundant and
everytopic species were arranged in groups of “active species” according to Yurtsev (1968).
Distributions of some species on Spitsbergen were corrected. Some new localities of rare mosses were
found as well as some species new for the archipelago (Andreaea blyttii Schimp., Oligotrichum
hercynicum (Hedw.) DC. in Lam. & DC., Pohlia wahlenbergii (Web. & Mohr) Andrews in Grout,
Schistidium flexipile (Lindb. ex Broth.) G. Roth. Warnstorfia spp. ect.)
Some mosses have unusual look (habitus), such as morphologic features of leaves (Racomitrium
lanuginosum (Hedw.) Brid., Meesia triquetra (Richter) Aongstr.

Map of study area of mosses (fig. 1)
Literature
1. Belkina O. A., Likhachev A. Yu. Some aspects oh the cormophyte moss flora of the Reindalen Valley (Spitsbergen) //
Nature of the shelf and archipelagos of the European Arctic. Iss. 8. Proceedings of the International Scientific
Conference. - Moscow, 2008. - Р. 33-36.

2. Koroleva N. E., Konstantinova N. A., Belkina O. A., Davydov D. A., Likhachev A. Yu., Savchenko A. N.,
Urbanavichene I. N. Flora and vegetation of Gronfjord area (Spitsbergen archipelago) // K&M. Apatity. 2008. - 114 p.
The study of Hepatics of Spitsbergen
Konstantinova Nadezda
Doctor of Sci, professor, Head of lab of Flora and Vegetation PABGI KSC RAS
Ph. (81531) 52340, e-mail: nadya50@list.ru
184256, Kirovsk, Murmansk District, Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute Kola Sci Centre of Russian Academy of
Sci
Savchenko Anatoly
lab. Flora and Vegetation PABGI KSC RAS
Ph. (81531)52340, e-mail: nadya50@list.ru
184256, Kirovsk, Murmansk District, Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute Kola Sci Centre of Russian Academy of
Sci
Borovichev Evgeny
PhD student, lab. Flora and Vegetation PABGI KSC RAS
Ph. (81531)52340, e-mail: borovichev@yandex.ru
184256, Kirovsk, Murmansk District, Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute Kola Sci Centre of Russian Academy of
Sci
Hepatics of Spitsbergen have been studied more than 200 years. The results of this study were
summarized and revised by A. Frisvoll & A.Elvebakk (1996). These authors accepted a totally 85
hepatic species for Svalbard. During our study of hepatics in Svalbard in the last three years new for
archipelago as well as rare and poorly known species were found. Some of these records were published
in little known Russian issues (Konstantinova, 2003; Konstantinova & Koroleva, 2003; Konstantinova &
Savchenko, 2006).
We have collected hepatics in 7 areas (fig.1): eastern coast of Grønfjorden including the lower part of
Grøndalen (July 23 to August 1, 2004); valley of Linnevatnet (July 21- 24, 2005); western coast of
Bockfjorden (July 27- 30, 2005); middle part of Reindalen (July 27 – August, 1 2006); Nordauslandet,
Prins Oscar Land, Mefjordheia (August, 3 – 8; 2006) and coast of Nordvika Bay in Murchisonfjord (the
end of July-beginnig of August, 2007); surroundings of Pyramiden (2008). In all collecting localities
coordinates and elevations were measured with GPS. A total of ca. 1000 specimens were collected and
ca. 30% of them were identified. As much as possible we trying to study living material and describe
number and size of oil-bodies for species of such genera as Lophozia, Scapania and Schistochilopsis.
Most of the collected specimens were studied fresh at the laboratory of RAS in Barentsburg and than
restudied in the Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden (Kirovsk).
Some new for archipelago species were collected during our study: Anastrophyllum sphenoloboides
R.M.Schust., Lophozia silvicoloides N. Kitagaw, Marsupella sprucei (Limpr.) H.Bern., Marsupella
boeckii (Austin) Lindb., etc. A number of species that were excluded from the list of Hepatics of
Spitsbergen by Frisvoll & Elvebakk (1996) were collected by us in the archipelago: Odontoschisma
elongatum (Mårt.) Dumort., Lophozia excisa (Dicks.) Dumort., Dichiton integerrimum (Lindb.) H.Buch
[Cephaloziella integerrima (Lindb.) Warnst.]. The knowledge on distribution of many rare in Svalbard
species (Diplophyllum albicans (L.) Dumort., Gymnomitrion apiculatum (Schiffn.) Muell. Frib.,
Scapania spitsbergensis (Lindb.) Muell Frib., Lophozia polaris (R.M.Schust.) R.M.Schust.,
Schistochilopsis grandiretis (Lindb.) Konst. (Lophozia grandiretis (Lindb. ex Kaal.) Schiffn.), Nardia
geoscyphus (De Not.) Lindb., etc.) was expanded (Konstantinova, 2003; Konstantinova & Koroleva,
2003; Konstantinova & Savchenko, 2006). Localities of Diplophyllum albicans (L.) Dumort. and
Marsupella boeckii in Prins Oscars Land (Nordauslandet) are the northernmost in the world.
Literature
1. Konstantinova N. A. On phytogeograpy of hepatics of Spitzbergen Archipelago // Complex investigations of
Spitzbergen nature. Iss. 3. Apatity: Publ. KSC RAS, 2003. Р. 156-161.

2. Konstantinova N. A., Koroleva N. E. On some dwarf forms of hepatics new for Spitzbergen archipelago // Complex
investigations of Spitzbergen nature. Iss. 3. Apatity: Publ. KSC RAS, 2003. P. 163-165.
3. Konstantinova N. A., Savchenko A. N. Findings of some rare in Spitsbergen hepatics in western coast of Bockfjorden
// Complex investigations of Spitsbergen nature. Iss. 6. Apatity: Publ. KSC RAS, 2007. P. 330-336.
4. Konstantinova N. A., Savchenko A. N. New and rare in Spitsbergen Hepatics in vicinities of Barentsburg // Complex
investigations of Spitsbergen nature. Iss. 7. Apatity: Publ. KSC RAS, 2007. P. 265-278.
5. Konstantinova N. A., Savchenko A. N. Distribution of liverworts, rare for the Svalbard Archipelago, around Piramida
(Pyramiden) Settlement // Nature of the shelf and archipelagos of the European Arctic. Iss. 8. Proceedings of the
International Scientific Conference. - Moscow, 2008. P. 177-181.
6. Koroleva N. E., Konstantinova N. A., Belkina O. A., Davydov D. A., Likhachev A. Yu., Savchenko A. N.,
Urbanavichene I. N. Flora and vegetation of Grønfjord area (Spitsbergen archipelago) // K&M. Apatity. 2008. 114 p.
7. Koroleva N. E., Konstantinova N. A., Urbanavichene I. N. Urbanavichus G. P., Shmakova N. Yu., Davydov D. A.
Multiparty investigations of Polar-alpine botanical garden on the Spitsbergen archipelago // Complex investigations of
Spitsbergen nature – Iss. 5. Collection of materials of the Fifth International Conference - Apatity: Print. Kola Science
Centre RAS, 2005. P. 396-403.
8. Konstantinova N. A. & Savchenko A. N. 2008. Contribution to the hepatic flora of Svalbard // Lindbergia 33: 13-22.
Soil researches and landscape ecogeochemical studies
Soil researches are dealing with morphogenetic studies of major soil types in the vicinities of
Barentsburg Town. The aim of soil researches is to establish the role of micro- and nanorelief on the soil
formation processes and soil cover structure.
Landscape ecogeochemical studies include simultaneous sampling and analysis of all major
environment media (atmospheric precipitation, vegetation, soil and stream waters). This approach allows
to study the peculiarities of environment chemistry and to trace the fate of elements in the landscape of
this peculiar area.
Pereverzev Vladimir
PhD, professor, Head of laboratory Soil science PABGI KSC RAS
Ph. (815 55) 79156, e-mail: vnpereverzev@mail.ru
184209, Apatity, Murmansk District, Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute Kola Sci Centre of Russian Academy of
Sci
Kaschulina Galina
PhD, lab. Soil science PABGI KSC RAS
Ph. (815 55) 79156, e-mail: galina.kashulina@gmail.com
184209, Apatity, Murmansk District, Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute Kola Sci Centre of Russian Academy of
Sci
Litvinova Tatjana
lab. Soil science PABGI KSC RAS
Ph. (815 55) 79156, e-mail: lita0409@mail.ru
184209, Apatity, Murmansk District, Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute Kola Sci Centre of Russian Academy of
Sci
The complex ecogeochemical studies with simultaneous sampling of all basic environment
compartments (atmospheric precipitates, vegetation, soil and surface water) were carried out in the
vicinity of Barentsburg. Basic macro- (Si, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, K, Ti, Mn, P) and trace elements (Ni, Cu, Co,
Cr, Cd, Zn, S, V) contents were determined in all collected samples. This approach gives a lot of
information about environment and its major components chemistry, as well as to trace the fate of the
major elements in the landscape of this unique territory.

The genetic features of the soils on marine and basic terraces and seaside slopes of Isfjord and Grenfjord
(Western Spitsbergen) were studied. Relief is responsible for parent material differentiation on the area
where the soils were investigated. One type of the soil with the profile O-AY-C was formed on parent
material of different origin and grain-size composition. The poor differentiation of the morphological
features is typical for these soils. Humus accumulation horizon AY horizon formation occurs under the
O horizon. AY horizon is gradually transforming to the parent material (C horizon).
The bulk chemical composition and the content of oxalate-soluble Al and Fe compounds have not
revealed the differences between the soils formed in the different landscape conditions or on different
parent material. No any within profile differentiation were found for the bulk chemical composition and
the content of oxalate-soluble sesquialteral oxides in all studied soils.
Literature
1. Kaschulina G. M. Morphology-genetic performance of soils in the Barentsburg's surroundings, Spitsbergen //
Materials of the Russian scientific conference «Soil science and Agrochemistry in XXI sentury». St.-Petersburg, St.-
Petersburg state university, 2006. P. 32-33.
2. Kashulina G. M. Soil geochemistry in the Barentsburg's surroundings, Spitsbergen // Complex investigations of
Spitsbergen nature. Iss. 6. Apatity: Publ. KSC RAS, 2007. P. 321-330.
3. Kashulina G. M., Baskova L. A., Likhachev A. Ya Plant chemical composition in the Barentsburg's surroundings,
Spitsbergen // Complex investigations of Spitsbergen nature. Iss. 7. Apatity: Publ. KSC RAS, 2007. P. 254-265.
4. Kashulina G. M., Kaschulin N. A. Stream waters chemistry in the Barentsburg's surroundings, Spitsbergen // Complex
investigations of Spitsbergen nature – Iss. 5. Collection of materials of the Fifth International Conference - Apatity:
Print. Kola Science Centre RAS, 2005. P. 308-314.
5. Pereverzev V. N., Litvinova T. I. Geomorphologic structure, vegetation and soils of the Isfjord and Gronfjord coasts
(Spitsbergen) // Nature of the shelf and archipelagos of the European Arctic. Iss. 8. Proceedings of the International
Scientific Conference. - Moscow, 2008. P. 306-310.
Ecophysiological researches
Ecophysiological researches include studies of the pigment complex of vascular plants, mosses and
lichens as well as productiivity of plant communities in the vicinities of Barentsburg Town (Western
Spitsbergen Island).
Shmakova Natalya
Doctor of Sci, Head of laboratory Ecological physiology of plants Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute KSC RAS
Ph. (81531) 52340, e-mail: shmanatalya@yandex.ru
184256, Kirovsk, Murmansk District, Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute Kola Sci Centre of Russian Academy of
Sci
Markovskaya Evgeniya
Doctor of Sci, professor, Head of Department of Botany and Plants Physiology
faculty of Ecology and biology, Petrozavodsk state university, Petrozavodsk, Lenina, 33.
Ph. (8142) 711019, e-mail: volev@sampo.ru
The research area includes an investigation of plant and lichen assimilation structures in arctic tundras
(content and composition of plastid pigments, chlorophyll index), an assessment of dominant
phytocenoses primary productivity in the neighborhood of Barentsburg and an evaluation of productivity
and biometric indices of individual vascular plants species in different ecotopes.
The conducted ecophysiologic researches have shown that the photosynthetic apparatus of plants and
lichens (content and composition of plastid pigments) labilely reacts to environmental conditions and
depends on species biology. The results can provide valuable information on plant adaptive paths in
light-thermal conditions of the Arctic. Apparently, two basic adaptive strategies of plants are maintained
in the ambience of the Arctic: (a) the adaptation leading to minimizing of organism’s requirements to
environmental factors (content decreasing of plastid pigments and productivity reduction) and (b)

acclimation (content increasing of plastid pigments and capacity increasing of light-harvesting complex)
keeping up the potential productivity. The achievement degree of the latter is determined by the
environmental conditions.
Literature
1. Koroleva N. E., Konstantinova N. A., Urbanavichene I. N. Urbanavichus G. P., Shmakova N. Yu., Davydov D. A.
Multiparty investigations of Polar-alpine botanical garden on the Spitsbergen archipelago // Complex investigations of
Spitsbergen nature – Iss. 5. Collection of materials of the Fifth International Conference - Apatity: Print. Kola Science
Centre RAS, 2005. - P. 396-403.
2. Shmakova N. Yu. Productivity of the gramineous frutescent-mosses communities in the Barentsburg settlement
suburbs // Complex investigations of Spitsbergen nature – Iss. 5. Collection of materials of the Fifth International
Conference - Apatity: Print. Kola Science Centre RAS, 2005. - P. 519-525.
3. Shmakova N. Yu., Markovskaja E. F. Some singularities of assimilation construction of plants and lichens in tundra
communities of Arctic and Sub-arctic region // Fundamental and applied problems of botany by the begining of XXI
sentury: materials of Russian conference and XII congress RBA. September 22-27, 2008. Petrozavodsk, 2008. V. 6. P.
155-157.
4. Shmakova N. Yu., Markovskaja E. F. Pigment complex of plants and lichens in arctic tundra associations of
Spitsbergen // Nature of the shelf and archipelagos of the European Arctic. Iss. 8. Proceedings of the International
Scientific Conference. - Moscow, 2008. - P. 400-403.
The Geobotanic exploration
Koroleva Natalia
PhD, lab. Flora and Vegetation PABGI KSC RAS
Ph. (81531)52340, e-mail: flora01@rambler.ru
184256, Kirovsk, Murmansk District, Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute Kola Sci Centre of Russian Academy of
Sci
Geobotanic exploration of Spitsbergen includes description of plant communities covering Grønfjord,
Isfjord, Bokkfjord, Belsunn seashore. Plant communities were ascribed to syntaxa according Braun-
Blanquet approach. The altitudinal distribution and of syntaxa was examined. The main types of habitats
and distribution of syntaxa were described. List of vascular plants of Grønfjorden seashore was
compiled. Index of activity was determined for all species. Restoration of plant cover under small-scale
disturbances on plakor was observed and the first residents in the disturbed sites were determined.
Literature
1. Koroleva N. E. 1994. Early stages of plant recovery on tracked vehicle paths in the High Arctic (West Coast of
Westspitsbergen) // Polarforschung V. 64. P. 19-25.
2. Koroleva N. E. Ornitogenic vegetation on the south Bellsund shore (West Spitsbergen) // Complex investigations of
Spitsbergen nature – Apatity: Print. Kola Science Centre RAS, 2004. P. 255-262.
3. Koroleva N. E. Plant communities of the Reipfjord, Nordaustlandet (Spitsbergen archipelago) // Complex
investigations of Spitsbergen nature. Iss. 7. Apatity: Publ. KSC RAS, 2007. P. 278-286.
4. Koroleva N. E. Vegetation recovery after anthropogenic impact in European sector of Arctic and Sub-arctic (on
example of Western Spitsbergen and Kola Peninsula) // Complex investigations of Spitsbergen nature. Iss. 6. Apatity:
Publ. KSC RAS, 2006. P. 337-342.
5. Koroleva N. E., Konstantinova N. A., Belkina O. A., Davydov D. A., Likhachev A. Yu., Savchenko A. N.,
Urbanavichene I. N. Flora and vegetation of Gronfjord area (Spitsbergen archipelago) // K&M. Apatity. 2008. 114 p.

6. Koroleva N. E., Konstantinova N. A., Urbanavichene I. N. Urbanavichus G. P., Shmakova N. Yu., Davydov D. A.
Multiparty investigations of Polar-alpine botanical garden on the Spitsbergen archipelago // Complex investigations of
Spitsbergen nature – Iss. 5. Collection of materials of the Fifth International Conference - Apatity: Print. Kola Science
Centre RAS, 2005. P. 396-403.
The study of Cyanoprokaryota of Spitsbergen
Davydov Denis
PhD, lab. Flora and Vegetation PABGI KSC RAS
Ph. (81531) 52742, e-mail: d_disa@mail.ru
184256, Kirovsk, Murmansk District, Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute Kola Sci Centre of Russian Academy of
Sci
Shalygin Sergey
PhD student, lab. Flora and Vegetation PABGI KSC RAS
Ph. (81531) 52742, e-mail: nq.87@mail.ru
184256, Kirovsk, Murmansk District, Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute Kola Sci Centre of Russian Academy of
Sci
Researches of Cyanoprokaryota of Spitsbergen include the study of biodiversity and environmental
characteristics. Particular attention was paid to overgrown permafrost spots and successions
cyanobacterial communities on glacial moraine deposits.
We have summarized the results of the study species composition Cyanoprokaryota of Spitsbergen
(Davydov, 2010) and compiled an annotated list. Flora of Cyanoprokaryota of the archipelago consists
of 196 species and needs the further study. Particularly relevant are phytogeographical and molecular
studies to trace the flow of genes in populations, to confirm the possible existence of endemic species,
morpho- and ecotypes. Meanwhile, among the Arctic areas of Russian flora of Spitsbergen is one of the
most studied (Patova, Davydov, 2006). In comparison with other northern territories the flora has typical
features of the arctic, reflecting both climate and terrain areas.
D.A. Davydov started the study of biodiversity of Cyanoprokaryota in 2004. We examined several local
floras, including those in remote areas of the archipelago. We have compiled an annotated list of species
of the eastern coast of Grønfjorden (Davydov, 2005; Koroleva et al, 2008), the western coast of
Riipfjorden (Davydov, 2008). We identified 17 species new to the archipelago: Aphanocapsa grevillei
(Hassall) Rabenh., Calothrix elenkinii Kossinsk., Jaaginema kuetzingianum (Näg.) Anagn. et Kom., J.
subtilissimum (Kütz. ex De Toni) Anagn. et Kom., Tolypothrix saviczii Kossinsk., etc.
We traced the succession in the overgrown cyanobacteria moraine deposits during the retreat of the
glacier Aldegonda (Davydov, 2009) and it was found that in early stages of succession the dominant
species is Phormidium uncinatum Gomont. The next step is overgrowing the pond banks with
Aphanocapsa parietina Nägeli, Leptolyngbya cf. "Albertano/Kovacik-green", Nostoc sp. This stage is
accompanied by the indwelling bryophytes. At the third stage cenoses on the banks of streams and lakes
are enriched of aerophytic species. The bottom of streams in addition to Phormidium uncinatum Gomont
has overgrown Pseudanabaena frigida (Fritsch) Anagnost. The most recent phase is rich in multispecies
communities.
Literature
1. Borge O. 1911. Die Süsswasseralgenflora Spitzbergens // Videnskapsselskapets Skifter. I. Mat.-Natur. Kl. 1l. N. 11.
P. 1–38. Kristiania.
2. Lagerheim G. 1894 Ein Beitrag zur Schneeflora Spitzbergen // La nuova notarisia. P. 650-654.
3. Perminova G. N. 1990 [in Russian] Terrestrial algae some region Eurasian and Far East. Kirov, Dep. In VINITI N.
4471. B-90. 41 p. [Potchevennye vodorosli nekotoryh raionov Evtasii i Dalnego Vostoca – Kirov, Dep. V VINITI
№4471. В-90. 41 s.]
4. Sculberg O. M. 1996. Part. 9. Terrestrial and limnic algae and cyanobacteria // In: Elvebakk A. Prestrud P. (eds.) A
catalogue of Spitsbergen plants, fungi, algae and cyanobacteria / Norsk Polarinst., Skr. Bd. 198. P. 383–395.

5. Stockmayer S. 1906. Kleiner Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Süsswasseralgenflora Spitsbergens // Österreich. Bot. Zeitschr.
V. 56. P. 377-384.
6. Strǿm K. M. 1921. Some algae from hot springs in Spitsbergen // Bot. Not. P. 17-21.
7. Thomasson K. Zur planktonkunde Spitzbergens, 1 // Hydrobiologia. 1958. Vol. 12. P. 226-236.
8. Thomasson K. Zur planktonkunde Spitzbergens, 2 // Hydrobiologia. 1961. Vol. 18. P. 192-198.
9. Wittrock V., Nordstedt O. 1882. Algae aquae dulcis exiccatae. Upsaliae, Lundae et Stockholmiae.
10. Wittrock V.B. 1883. Om sons och isens flora, särskildt i de arctiska trakterna // In: A.E. Nordenskiold Studier och
forskningar föranledda af mina resor i höga norden. H. 2, 3. Stockholm. P. 65-124.
11. Davydov D. A. Cyanoprokaryota of the Prince Oscar Earth polar deserts, North-East Land Island (Nordaustlandet),
Spitsbergen // Nature of the shelf and archipelagos of the European Arctic. Iss. 8. Proceedings of the International
Scientific Conference. - Moscow, 2008. P. 85-89.
12. Davydov D. A. Terrestrial cyanobacteria of the eastern coast of Grønfjord (West Spitsbergen) // Complex
investigations of Spitsbergen nature – Iss. 5. Collection of materials of the Fifth International Conference - Apatity: Kola
Science Center RAS, 2005. P. 377-381.
13. Koroleva N. E., Konstantinova N. A., Belkina O. A., Davydov D. A., Likhachev A. Yu., Savchenko A. N.,
Urbanavichene I. N. Flora and vegetation of Grønfjord area (Spitsbergen archipelago) // K&M. Apatity. 2008. 114 p.
14. Koroleva N. E., Konstantinova N. A., Urbanavichene I. N. Urbanavichus G. P., Shmakova N. Yu., Davydov D. A.
Multiparty investigations of Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden on the Spitsbergen archipelago // Complex investigations of
Spitsbergen nature – Iss. 5. Collection of materials of the Fifth International Conference - Apatity: Kola Science Center
RAS, 2005. P. 396-403.
15. Davydov D. A Cyanoprokaryota involved in overgrown moraine deposits in the valley glacier Aldegonda
(Spitsbergen) // Problems of marine paleoecology and biogeography in the era of global change: Proceedings of the VII
All-Russia School on Marine Biology and IX International Scientific Conference "Complex investigation of the nature
of the Spitsbergen archipelago (Murmansk, 12-14 November 2009) - M.: GEOS, 2009. P. 223-228.
16. Davydov D. A Cyanoprokaryota of Spitsbergen: state of knowledge of flora // Botanical Journal. 2010. T. 95. № 2.
25-32 (in press).
The study of Lichens of Spitsbergen
Konoreva Lyudmila
PhD, lab. Flora and Vegetation PABGI KSC RAS
Ph. (81531) 52742, e-mail: ajdarzapov@yandex.ru
184256, Kirovsk, Murmansk District, Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute Kola Sci Centre of Russian Academy of
Sci
Species diversity of lichens has one of the largest values among other Spitsbergen inhabitants. The range
of the literature dedicated to Spitsbergen lichens comprises several hundred papers. Spitsbergen lichen
species list included 597 species to the date of the beginning of the PABGI KSC RAS workers research.
In 1991 and 2003 N. E. Koroleva collected lichens in the course of the geobotanical observations in three
areas in western and north-eastern parts of the archipelago (Bellsun’s bay southern shore, Kolsbay’s bay
coast and Grønfellet slopes nearby Barentsburg; Reinfjord coast on North-Eastern Land). As a result of
the collection treatment the species list was supplemented by 3 species and has amounted to 600 species
(Koroleva et al., 2005). New to the archipelago species: Absconditella annexa (Arnold). Vězda,
Baeomyces carneus Flörke., Leptogium imbricatum P. M. Jørg. In 2005 Urbanavichene I. N. collected

lichens in the surroundings of Barentsburg, Grønfjord and Isfjord bays and composed the species list for
the territories (Urbanavichene, Koroleva, 2008).
In 2008-2009 we investigated lichens of the Spitsbergen archipelago and collected specimens from more
than 600 points in the neighborhood of Pyramiden, Colesbay and Barentsburg, Aldegonda glacier,
Trygghamna bukta. As a result of the primary cameral treatment of the material from 150 points 131
lichen species were determined. Several widespread species occupied all available substrates, such as:
Ochrolechia frigida (Sw). Lynge, Peltigera rufescens (Weiss) Humb., Pertusaria oculata (Dicks). Th.
Fr. etc. Findings rare and curious in the area are listed: Amygdalaria consentiens (Nyl). Hertel, Brodo
and Mas. Inoue; Bellemeria alpina (Sommerf). Clauzade and Cl. Roux; Cladonia phyllophora Hoffm.
(presumably, the species is distributed more widely than represented in previous literature); Lecanora
intricata (Ach). Ach.; Melanelia stygia (L). Essl.; Protoblastenia calva (Dicks). Zahlbr.; Protoblastenia
seibenhaariana (Körb.) J. Steiner; Rhizocarpon hochstetteri (Körb.) Vain.; Rhizocarpon macrosporum
Räsänen; Verrucaria aethiobola Wahlenb. (the species lives on rocks under water and so, evidently, is
distributed more widely than represented in previous literature); Vestergrenopsis elaeina (Wahlenb).
Gyeln. (presumably, the species is distributed more widely than represented in previous literature).
Species new to the archipelago: Amygdalaria pelobotryon (Wahlenb.) Norman, Aspicilia moenium
(Vain.) G. Thor & Timdal, Diploschistes scruposus (Schreb.) Norman., Lecanora bicincta Ramond,
Melanelia elegantula (Zahlbr.) Essl., Ophioparma ventosa (L.) Norman, Placynthium stenophyllum
(Tuck.) Fink, Xylographa parallela (Ach.: Fr.) Fr.
In 2010 the book ”The Lichen Flora of Svalbard” written by Dag Olav Øvstedal, Tor Tønsberg, and
Arve Elvebakk was published. It includes the list of 742 species, and seven of them are new to science.
Notwithstanding the long-time history of the detailed explorations of Spitsbergen lichen flora, it is
necessary to proceed.
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