Complex ecological study of the fjell field in the Khibiny Mountains
N. E. Koroleva1, M. N. Maslov1, A. D. Danilova1, D. A. Davydov1, A. B. Novakovskiy2, I. V. Zenkova3, V. V. Redkina3, I. M. Shtabrovskaya3, R. R. Shalygina3
1Federal Research Centre "Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences", Polar-alpine Botanical Garden-Institute of N. A. Avrorin, Apatity, Russia
2Institute of Biology of Komi Science Centre of UB RAS, Syktyvkar, Russia
3Federal Research Centre "Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences", Institute of North Industrial Ecology Problems, Apatity, Russia
Keywords: fjell fields, EUNIS habitat typification, vegetation, soils, soil algae, invertebrates, Arctic
Abstract
Ecosystems of the fjell fields in the Khibiny Mountains (Kola Peninsula), were investigated, including vegetation, soils, soil algae and invertebrate fauna. We used EUNIS habitat typification (2013) to differentiation of habitats. The most common habitat types were: (1) Crustose-lichens (Rhizocarpon geographicum) rocks habitat type on eluvia of base-rich, alkaline and siliceous rocks (U5111); (2) The lichens-, sedges-and dwarf-shrubs-dominated turfs and cushions on gravelly and rocky slopes (U5112); (3) Sedge-, moss- and-lichens-dominated habitat type on rubble and stony mountain plateaus and peaks (U5113); (4) Biological soil crusts (BSCs) habitat type on fine-earth and gravelly polygons edges (U5114); (5) Late snow bed moss vegetation (U5115). Soils of the fjell fields were Leptosols. Content of soil organic C was very high (26-32 %) despite the thin soil profile, which had no illuvial-eluvial differentiation by the content of SiO2 и R2O3. The total flora includes 176 species of plants and lichens. Soil algae flora comprised 43 species, where green algae of Chlorophyceae prevailed. Among soil microarthropods prevailed Collembola, Oribatida and Mesostigmata, which were also typical for mountain tundra. The soil microbial activity, diversity and abundance of soil algae and invertebrates depend on habitat type, soil moisture, as well as soil organic matter contents and gets higher on wet substrata or in more complex vegetation.
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