On the issue of influence of coastal seabird colonies on adjacent pelagic communities of the Kola Peninsula

According to previously obtained data, seabird colonies, as a biotic factor, exert a substantial influence on communities of some coastal waters around the Novaya Zemlya archipelago. In the current study, an attempt has been made to assess the degree of the impact of seabird colonies on planktonic assemblages in the coastal waters of the Kola Peninsula. A study of phyto- and zooplankton near the colony on Cape Gorodetsky (Rybachy Peninsula) did not reveal any substantial differences in the qualitative and quantitative composition of this community in comparison with the other coastal waters of the Barents Sea. The lack of influence on the coastal biota can be explained by the low abundance of birds in the colonies, as well as by the effect of the Murman Coastal Current, which carries away and disperses the biogenic matter that enters the aquatic environment with guano.     

Structural variability of the lithorheophile macrobenthos communities

The relationship between the abundance of taxa and life forms of lithorheophile macrobenthos and its variability were studied based on 200 quantitative samples from six territories of the Palaearctic (Moscow province, northwestern Caucasus, eastern Carpathians, northern Karelia, South Urals, and Altai mountains). The set of taxa predominant in the communities and their ecology are described. It is found that community structure varies strongly, depending on the characteristics of each region, on the size of the watercourse, and on the season. Six types of biocenoses are recognized by means of the Braun-Blanquet method, each characterized by its peculiar set of predominant life forms and families rather similar in different territories. The differences between these types are related to the size and the hydrological conditions of the watercourse. Biocenosis 1 is typical to smal brooks (up to 0.01-0.1 m3/s), characterised by the predominance of detritophagous animals non-specific to the type of food (Gammarus, Nemoura, Limnephilidae). In biocenosis 2a (large brooks with water flow 0.03-0.3 m3/s and velocity 0.1-0.3 m/s), almost immobile shell scrapers (Ancylus, Silo, Agapetes, Glossosoma) are predominant. Biocenosis 2b (large brooks with velocity 0.3-0.5 m/s) have a more or less balanced set of fundamental lithorheophile life forms. Biocenosis 2c (large mountain brooks with velocity 0.5-1 m/s) is characterised by specialized scrapers of the rapids (Epeorus and Diomesa) and filterers (Simuliidae). In biocenosis 3 (small rivers), sedentary filterers (Hydropsychidae, Simulliidae) are predominant; scrapers also play a significant role. Biocenosis 4 (rivers with water flow more than 3 m3/s, thick incrustations, and silted stones on the bottom) has predominant filterers (Hydropsychidae) and vermiform algophagous animals inside the incrustations (Orthocladius, Psychomyia). Significant variability in community structure unrelated to the environmental factors is revealed within each of the biocenotic types. It is concluded that the quantitative structure of lithorheophile communities cannot be reliably predicted at the present level of knowledge, and the extrapolation of data is possible only at the level of species composition and ranked distribution of abundance.     

Spring macrobenthos communities of the Moscow province

Macrozoobenthos communities are described based on material from 70 springs and spring brooks of the Moscow province. The communities include 587 taxa of various origin: 27 rheophiles, 11 crenobionts, 10 ubiquists of small water bodies, and 3 limnophiles. Rheophile species predominate in diversity (52%) and total abundance (41.5%). Crenobionts include Beraea pullata, B. maura, Crunoecia irrorata, Apatania zonella, Parachiona picicornis, Potamophylax nigrocornis, Oxycera pseudoamoena, O. rara, O. pardalina, Pedicia rivosa, Thaumalea testacea; six of these are recorded in the region for the first time. Four types of spring communities are recognised in the region according to the Braun-Blanquet method: with predominant Rhyacophilafasciata and Baetis rhodani (macrorheocrenes), Potamophylax nigroicornis (microrheocrenes), Nemurella pictetii (limnocrenes), and Parachiona picicornis (helocrenes). Three of them are confined to water bodies of different size and flow velocity; one (N. pictetii) is linked to weakly flowing silted wated bodies. Change of spring communities is often observed also downstream due to the distance from the opening of the spring. The structure of rheocrene communities is most similar to that of brooks, that are significantly larger than the rheocrenes. Limnocrene and helocrene communities have no counterparts among communities of other types of water bodies. Some of the specific traits of spring communities fit the island theory and can be explained by it. Comparison of the studied communities with those of springs of Sweden and England reveals wide variance of the general faunistic composition of the communities with a rather stable assortmeont of troglobiot species.     

Effect of emissions from a Copper-Nickel Smelter on soil microbial communities in forest biogeocenoses of the Kola Peninsula

The effect of industrial pollution with emissions from the Severonikel Copper-Nickel Smelter (CNS) on soil microbial communities of forest biogeocenoses has been studied taking into account their relative location under tree crowns (near the stem, in the undercrown area, or under gaps in the canopy). The results show that increasing technogenic pollution results in a significant decrease in the microbial biomass, basal respiration, and maximum specific growth rate, as well as in dominance of K-strategists in the microbial communities of polluted soils. The effect of location under the crown, compared to the intercrown area, manifests itself in dominance of rapidly growing microorganisms with the r-strategy. However, emissions from the CNS inhibit the growth of r-strategists, and the location-dependent differences between microbial communities are leveled off in areas with the highest pollution level.     

Planktonic fauna of small salmon rivers in the Kola Peninsula

The zooplankton of 23 small salmon rivers of the White Sea and Barents Sea basins in the Kola Peninsula were studied. The species composition and quantitative indices in juvenile salmonids habitats are characterized. The maximum species diversity and abundance of planktonic fauna were recorded in lake-regulated rivers and places with large quantities of water. The quantitative development of zooplankton in rivers is low, which testifies to its minor role as a food resource for salmonid juveniles. The assessment of the ecological state of the river water is presented.     

The life cycle of myxosporidians in fish of the Kola Peninsula

Monthly studies on the seasonal parasite fauna dynamics of pike, minnow and perch were carried out from May, 1974 to September, 1977. It was found out that the myxosporidian Henneguya creplini has a one-year life cycle. The infection of perch with this parasite takes place at a water temperature not exceeding 13 degrees. In other species (Chloromyxum esocinum, Ch. mitenevi, Myxobolus cybinae) the life cycle is shorter, in consequence of which fishes can be infected with these parasites several times a year and in different seasons. The nature of seasonal changes in abundance of myxosporidians depends to a great extent on weather conditions of each concrete year.     

Prasinophyceae (Green Algae) from the Lower Proterozoic of the Kola Peninsula

Eukaryotic organisms discovered from the earliest Lower Proterozoic phosphorites (2.04 Ga) of the Kola Peninsula are described. These are fossil forms Pechengia melezhiki gen. et sp. nov., which are tentatively assigned to green algae of the class Prasinophyceae.     

Bacterial paleontology of the Neoarchean banded iron formations of Karelia and the Kola Peninsula

Probable microfossils, presumably of bacterial origin, were found in the banded iron formations of Karelia and the Kola Peninsula. The age of these formations is 2.7–2.8 Ga. Based on the organic carbon content and balance estimations it was established that these banded iron formations were deposited in environments rich in organic matter. Comparative analysis of the morphology of Recent and Neoarchean microorganisms suggests a bacterial origin for some magnetite in the studied quartzites.     

Zoobenthos in riffles of salmon river in southeast of Kola Peninsula

The species composition and abundance of zoobenthos in salmon rivers of the southeastern part of the Kola Peninsula have been studied. Poor species composition and low values of abundance and biomass have been recorded. Apparently this is due to severe climate conditions and the low input of vegetative organic matter into the stream. The maximum number of species and abundance of zoobenthos is recorded on detrital rock grounds and in sites of the input of leaf litter in the forest-tundra zone. The maximum biological diversity is in the riffles covered with Fontinalis moss. Feeding conditions of juvenile salmonids are poor in the rivers of the tundra and medium in the south of the region in the forest-tundra zone.     

Springtails (Hexapoda,Collembola) of Tundra Landscapes of the Kola Peninsula

A quantitative study of collembolan assemblages on the Barents Sea coast of the Kola Peninsula was performed. Altogether, 104 collembolan species of 55 genera and 16 families were found. Analysis of the faunal composition revealed its high similarity to that of the faunas of the neighboring regions of Norway as well as a marked decline in species richness as compared to the Siberian analogues. A high share of littoral forms with increased vagility and the predominance of species with “southern” (= boreal) and “western” distribution patterns are the main characteristics of the fauna studied; only a few true arctic forms were found, always with low abundance and occurrence levels. Most of the studied collembolan assemblages are characterized by the dominance of a few species which inhabit a part of or the entire range of plant communities. As a result, collembolan assemblages under various types of vegetation cover in different landscape elements often show only insignificant differences.     

Ecological-faunistical review of fish parasites in the Umbozero Lake (the Kola Peninsula)

Data on fish infestation by parasites in the Umbozero Lake are given. 90 species of parasites were identified including 16 species of Myxosporea, 2 Suctoria, 18 Peritricha, 12 Monogenea, 13 Cestoda, 18 Trematoda, 5 Nematoda, 2 Acanthocephala, 2 Hirudinea, and 2 species of Crustacea. Character of parasites' distribution in fishes of this lake and ecological peculiarities in the host-parasite system are demonstrated.     

Snow-land communities of Reykjanes Peninsula,SW. Iceland (Plant communities of Reykjanes Peninsula,part 4)

Snow-land communities in Reykjanes Peninsula are represented by the associationsHylocomio-Salicetum herbaceae, Rhodiolo-Bartsietum alpinae andRhytidiadelpho-Poetum alpinae, belonging to a new alliance,Antitrichio-Rhodiolion, and byAnthelietum Juratzkanae, Sibbaldio-Salicetum herbaceae andSibbaldietum procumbentis, belonging to the allianceSalicion herbaceae s. l. Their syntaxonomy and ecology are discussed.     

Seed dispersal spectra of plant communities in the Iberian Peninsula

We studied the seed dispersal spectra of 46 Iberian plant communities of five types: potential woodland, forest fringe, substitutional scrubland, nitrophile communities and montane communities. There were no significant differences between the spectra of communities of the same type from Mediterranean and Eurosiberian regions. Biotic dispersal is most common at mature stages of succession, and abiotic dispersal at immature stages.     

Fell-field and heath communities of Reykjanes Peninsula,SW. Iceland (plant communities of Reykjanes Peninsula,Part 5)

The author gives a survey of fell-field, dwarf shrub-and grass heath-communities of Reykjanes Peninsula. Eight associations were found to belong to this complex; they belong to the alliancesJuncion trifidi Krajina,Loiseleurio-Arctostaphylion Kalliola andNardo-Caricion Bigelowii Nordh. respectively. Their syntaxonomy and ecology are discussed.     

Performance of Birch Seedlings Replanted in Heavily Polluted Industrial Barrens of the Kola Peninsula, Northwest Russia

Industrial barrens replacing coniferous forests around the Severonikel smelter in the Kola Peninsula, northwestern Russia, have recently expanded over 3000 ha or more. Total concentrations of metal contaminants in the upper soil layers approach 3000–5000 μg/g, and maximum hourly concentrations of sulphur dioxide in ambient air exceed 1000 μg/m³. To monitor possibilities for vegetation recovery in the denuded landscapes continuously affected by industrial emissions, we conducted several experiments with 4- to 15-year-old (1–25 cm tall) seedlings of Betula pubescens ssp. czerepanovi (mountain birch), replanted to two barren sites. Specifically, we investigated the effects of wind-sheltering, watering, and fertilization on seedling performance in the polluted sites. Sheltered and watered seedlings had more symmetrical leaves than control seedlings, suggesting less environmental stress. Consistently, sheltering and (to a lesser extent) watering improved the survival of seedlings compared with controls. The beneficial effects of watering and sheltering were most pronounced the first 2–4 weeks following planting and were greatest in the most polluted site. We conclude that the revegetation of industrial barrens can be significantly promoted by inexpensive treatments such as wind sheltering and watering, even under current emissions.     

The plant communities of theAsplenietea trichomanis in the SW Iberian Peninsula

The rupicolous vegetation of theAsplenietea trichomanis in the south-western Iberian Peninsula is analysed using the methods of the Zürich-Montpellier School. Phytosociological tables, and biogeographical, ecological and floristic data are given for a number of syntaxa. A phytosociological synopsis of the studied vegetation was made for the entire region. Four new syntaxa are described: theCoincyo logirostri-Dianthetum lusitani, Jasiono marianae-Dianthetum lusitani jasionetosum tomentosae, Digitali thapsi-Dianthetum lusitani conopodietosum ramosi andSedo hirsuti-Polypodietum cambrici polypodietosum interjecti.