Lapshina E.D.1, Noskova M.G.2,3, Skuchas Yu.V.4 2016. Sphagnum mosses in vegetation cover of highlands in the Sub-Polar Ural, Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous District // Arctoa. Vol. 25(1): 177–182 [in English].
1 Yugra State University, 16 Chekhov St., Khanty-Mansiysk, 628012 Russia; e-mail: e_lapshina@ugrasu.ru
2 St. Petersburg University, 7/9 Universitetskaya Nab., St. Petersburg, 199034 Russia.
3 Komarov Botanical Institute RAS, 2 Popov St., 197376 St. Petersburg Russia; e-mail: maria.noskova@mail.ru
4 Museum of Nature and Man, 11 Mira St., Khanty-Mansiysk, 628012 Russia; e-mail: jskuchas@umuseum.ru
KEYWORDS: Sphagnum, highlands, altitudinal distribution.
ABSTRACT. Species diversity of Sphagnum was studied in the mountain highlands (areas above a timber-line) in the Sub-Polar Urals within the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous District (64°27’ – 64°35’ N; 59°35’ – 59°46’ E). This work was conducted in 2013 and 2015 and revealed 19 species. Their distribution along the altitudinal profile from 300 m alt. in the upper forest belt to 1200 m in mountain tundra belt has been studied. Only one species, S. compactum, was found to occur mostly in the mountain tundra belt, although with a low abundance. The most common and widespread species above timber-line were found to be S. girgensohnii and S. russowii, which grow in a wide range of habitats. Several primarily bog species, including S. fuscum, S. balticum, S. capillifolium, S. lindbergii, S. teres, and S. contortum are confined in the highlands of the Sub-Polar Urals to the dwarf shrub-sedge-Sphagnum mires, concentrating there in less than 1% of total in surveyed area. A number of species of Sphagnum occur in a wider variety of the vegetation types, while three species, S. fallax, S. flexuosum and S. jensenii grow up to the tree-line, but never exceed it in th study area. The altitudinal distribution and frequency of Sphagnum species in the Sub-Polar Urals and other mountains of the Northern Eurasia are compared.
doi 10.15298/arctoa.25.16