Sexual reproduction of clonal dwarf shrubs in a forest–tundra ecotone

Successful sexual reproduction may be more important for regeneration of clonal species in high-latitude and -altitude areas than has been previously suggested. We investigated the potential of Vaccinium myrtillus, V. vitis-idaea and Empetrum nigrum ssp. hermaphroditum (E. hermaphroditum) for sexual reproduction at three sites in the forest–tundra ecotone in Finnish Lapland. We studied whether the potential differs between plant communities, whether disturbance enhances germination, and whether seedling emergence is limited by seed availability. We established a field experiment with disturbance and sowing treatments, and monitored seed and seedling numbers and survival rates for two years. The number of mature seeds of V. myrtillus was higher in plants from the tundra heath than in those from the coniferous and mountain birch forests. The number of mature seeds and seedlings emerging from the seed bank of E. hermaphroditum tended also to be higher in the tundra heath. Disturbance marginally increased the seedling emergence of V. myrtillus and E. hermaphroditum, whereas sowing generally increased the seedling numbers. The seedling number of V. myrtillus was lower in the tundra heath and that of E. hermaphroditum was lower in the coniferous forest than at the other sites. Seedling survival was equal for all plant species at all sites. We conclude that the capacity for sexual reproduction varies among plant communities, and seed availability is a stronger constraint than microsite availability for the studied species. Once the crucial early phase of seedling establishment is overcome, seedling survival enables successful recruitment of V. myrtillus, V. vitis-idaea and E. hermaphroditum in the subarctic area.     

Long-term forest composition and its drivers in taiga forest in NW Russia

Understanding the processes behind long-term boreal forest dynamics can provide information that assists in predicting future boreal vegetation under changing environmental conditions. Here, we examine Holocene stand-scale vegetation dynamics and its drivers at the western boundary of the Russian taiga forest in NW Russia. Fossil pollen and conifer stomata records from four small hollow sites and two lake sites are used to reconstruct local vegetation dynamics during the Holocene. Variation partitioning is used to assess the relative importance of the potential drivers (temperature, forest fires and growing site wetness) to the long-term stand-scale dynamics in taiga forest. All the main tree taxa, including the boreal keystone species Picea abies (Norway spruce) and Larix sibirica (Siberian larch), have been locally present since 10,000 cal yr bp. The constant Holocene presence of L. sibirica at three small hollow sites suggests a fast postglacial immigration of the species in northern Europe. Picea was present but not dominant at all study sites until its expansion between 8,000 and 7,000 cal yr bp markedly changed the forest structure through the suppression of Betula (birch), Pinus (pine) and Larix. Our results demonstrate that in general, the Holocene forest dynamics in our study region have been driven by temperature, but during short intervals the role of local factors, especially forest fires, has been prominent. The comparison between sites reveals the importance of local factors in stand-scale dynamics in taiga forests. Therefore, the future responses of taiga forest to climate change will be predominantly modulated by the local characteristics at the site.     

Refugium of the Boreal Forests of the Circumpolar Urals

The results of studies of the vegetative cover and ontogenetic composition of the cenopopulations of Picea obovata Ledeb. and Larix sibirica Ledeb. in the Gorno-Khadytinskii Forest Reserve, which is the refugium of the northern taiga forests of Western Siberia, have been summarized. According to the Brown–Blanke system, two associations of forests were identified and described, as well as two tundra associations, for comparison. The unique association of the Aconito septentrionalis–Piceetum obovatae taiga forests Zaugolnova et Morozova 2009 were analyzed in detail, and a comparison of these associations was carried out in the Gorno-Khadytinskii and Pechoro-Ilychskii reserves, where these forests are the reference standards of the zonal-type forests. An estimate of the ontogenetic composition of the cenopopulations of P. obovata Ledeb. and L. sibirica Ledeb. is given, as well as the absolute age of the trees of these species.     

Peculiarities of the Male Generative Sphere in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus sibirica</Emphasis> from Forest Bog Ecotopes of Western Siberia

We studied the male generative sphere in the populations of Pinus sibirica Du Tour growing in forest bog ecosystems of the southern taiga subzone of western Siberia. Significant differences in the morphological and palynological characteristics were found in specific microclimatic and edaphocenotic growing conditions on the upland and on the ecotone between the upland and the bog.     

Nucleotide polymorphisms of candidate genes of adaptive significance in the ural populations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Larix sibirica</Emphasis> Ledeb.

The objectives of conservation and sustainable forest management require in depth study of genomes of woody plants and definition of their intraspecific genetic diversity. In recent years, an approach was developed based on the study of “candidate genes” that can potentially be involved in the formation of adaptive traits. In this study, we investigated nucleotide polymorphism of several adaptive candidate genes in the populations of Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) in the Urals. Representatives of this genus are among the most valuable and widely distributed forest tree species in Russia. From ten selected gene loci in the genome of L. sibirica, we isolated and investigated three loci, one of which (ABA-WDS) was sequenced in L. sibirica for the first time. The total length of the analyzed sequence in each individual amounted to 2865 bp. The length of locus alignment was from 360 bp to 1395 bp. In total, we identified 200 polymorphic positions. The most conservative is locus 4CL1-363, and the most polymorphic is locus sSPcDFD040B03103-274. The studied populations of L. sibirica are characterized by a high level of nucleotide polymorphism in comparison with other species and genuses (Picea, Pinus, Pseudotsuga, Abies) conifers plants (Hd = 0.896; π = 0.007; θ_W = 0.015). The most selectively neutral polymorphism (D _T =–0.997) was attributed to locus 4CL1-363, and polymorphism with high probability of adaptability (D _T =–1.807) was determined for the ABA-WDS locus. We identified 54 SNP markers, only five of which were nonsynonymous (9.26%) replacements. The average frequency of SNPs in the three studied loci of L. sibirica was one SNP in 53 bp. We detected unique SNP markers for eight populations, which could potentially be used to identify populations. Populations that are characterized by the highest number of unique SNP markers can be recommended for selection in order to preserve the gene pool of the species.     

A review of the centipede (Lithobiomorpha,Henicopidae, Lithobiidae) fauna of the Urals and Cis-Ural Area

The centipede fauna of the Urals and Cis-Ural Area includes 11 species of 4 genera. Two new species, Lithobius ruderalus Farzalieva and L. kozminykhi Farzalieva, are described. The species status of the damaged specimen of Hessebius was not determined. A new combination, Lithobius steppicus (Farzalieva et Zalesskaja, 2003) (of Monotarsobius), is proposed. Other species have been redescribed and illustrated. Reasons for a high endemism of the regional centipede fauna are discussed. The diversity of local faunas is relatively high in southern zones (5–7 species). The number of species decreases down to two in the middle taiga and mountains. Only one species, Lithobius curtipes, penetrates into the forest-steppe and tundra.     

Peculiarities and Determinants of Regeneration of Siberian Larch on the Upper Limit of Its Growth in the Urals

Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of cones and seeds and the emergence and survival of seedlings in the Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) have been studied in different parts of the ecotone at the upper boundary of arboreal vegetation (treeline ecotone) on Serebryanskii Kamen’ Mountain (Northern Urals) and on the hills (with a landmark 312 m above sea level) surrounding Chernaya Mountain (Polar Urals) from 2005 to 2011. We have found a decrease in the parameters of cones, number of seeds in the cones, their viability in laboratory with an increase in altitude, and differences in the number of seedlings between parts of the treeline ecotone. It is shown that the formation of Siberian larch generations on the Northern Urals occurs only after moist years. It is noted that, in the Polar Urals, Siberian larch produces a big seed crop every 2–3 years. It is proven that the seed production and mortality of seedlings in Siberian larch are influenced not only by air temperature and soil moisture, but also by wind load, snow depth, and soil temperature rapidly changing along the slope.     

The composition of fatty acids in the endosperm and embryo lipids of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus sibirica</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">P. sylvestris</Emphasis> seeds

The fatty acid (FA) composition of storage lipids in the seed endosperms and embryos of two pine species, Pinus sibirica and P. sylvestris, and possible biosynthetic pathways of these acids were studied by the GLC method. Linoleic acid predominated in the embryo and endosperm lipids of both P. sibirica (43.5 and 42.6%) and P. sylvestris (44.8 and 46.8%); this was evidently determined by a high expression of the gene encoding stearoyl-Δ9 acyl-lipid desaturase and the fad2 gene encoding microsomal ω6 acyl-lipid desaturase. P. sibirica lipids of the embryo and endosperm contained more oleic acid (22.0 and 24.0%, respectively) than corresponding P. sylvestris lipids (18.7 and 14%). Storage lipids of conifer seeds contain Δ5-unsaturated FAs: taxoleic (18:2Δ5,9), ephedrenic (18:2Δ5,11), pinoleenic (18:3Δ5,9,12), skiadonic (18:3Δ5,11, 14), and coniferonic (18:4Δ5,9,12,15). In the endosperm and embryos of P. sylvestris, the content of pinolenic acid was higher (22.1 and 19.6%) than in P. sibirica seeds (19.1 and 18.6%).     

Determining the subspecies composition of bean goose harvests in Finland using genetic methods

Management of harvested species is of great importance in order to maintain a sustainable population. Genetics is, however, largely neglected in management plans. Here, we analysed the genetics of the bean goose (Anser fabalis) in order to aid conservation actions for the commonly hunted but declining subspecies, the taiga bean goose (A. f. fabalis). We used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and microsatellites to determine the subspecies composition of the Finnish bean goose harvest, as the hunting bag is thought to comprise two subspecies, the taiga bean goose and the tundra bean goose (A. f. rossicus). The latter subspecies has a more stable or even increasing population size. Other eastern subspecies (A. f. serrirostris, A. f. middendorffii) could additionally be part of the Finnish hunting bag. We estimated genetic diversity, genetic structure and sex-biased gene flow of the different subspecies. Most of the harvested bean geese belonged to the taiga bean goose, whereas most of the tundra bean goose harvest was found to be geographically restricted to south-eastern Finland. The mtDNA data supported strong genetic structure, while microsatellites showed much weaker structuring. This is probably due to the extreme female philopatry of the species. The taiga bean goose had lowered genetic diversity compared to other subspecies, warranting management actions. We also detected A. f. serrirostris mtDNA haplotypes and evidence of interspecific hybridization with two other Anser species.     

Review of the fauna of the bug families Ceratocombidae,Tingidae, Microphysidae,and Reduviidae (Heteroptera) of the Middle and South Urals,with analysis of the zoogeographie structure of the Tingidae fauna

Based on the material of the authors’ collections from the South Ural Reserve (Republic of Bashkortostan), Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk provinces, the collections of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Ilmen State Reserve (Chelyabinsk Province), and the Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Yekaterinburg), and also the reliable literature data, an annotated list of the true bug fauna of the Middle and South Urals is compiled for the first time. The list includes representatives of the families Ceratocombidae (1 species), Tingidae (45 species of 14 genera), Microphysidae (1 species), and Reduviidae (2 species of 1 genus). The known fauna of the Middle Urals (Perm Territory and Sverdlovsk Province) includes 24 species of Tingidae and 1 species of Microphysidae; that of the South Urals includes 1 species of Ceratocombidae, 41 species of Tingidae, 1 species of Microphysidae, and 2 species of Reduviidae. Six species are recorded from the Urals for the first time: Ceratocombus (Xylonannus) brevipennis Poppius, 1910 (Ceratocombidae), Acalypta gracilis gracilis (Fieber, 1844), Agramma tropidopterum Flor, I860 (Tingidae), Loricula (Myrmedobia) exilis (Fallén, 1807) (Microphysidae), Empicoris culiciformis (De Geer, 1773), and E. vagabundus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Reduviidae). The families Ceratocombidae and Microphysidae were not previously known from this region. The following numbers of species are recorded for the first time for different regions of the Middle and South Urals: for Perm Territory, 2 species of Tingidae; for Sverdlovsk Province, 11 species of Tingidae and 1 of Microphysidae; for Bashkortostan, 1 species of Ceratocombidae, 13 of Tingidae, 1 ofMicrophysidae, and 2 species of Reduviidae; for Chelyabinsk Province, 3 species of Tingidae. The Tingidae fauna of the Middle and South Urals mostly includes species widespread in the latitudinal and longitudinal directions, including 4 Holarctic (8.9%) and 12 Trans-Palaearctic species (26.7%). Ranges of 24 species (53.3%) mainly lie in the “humid” northern part of the Palaearctic (the humid complex of species). Ranges of 21 species (46.7%) mainly lie in the southern part of the Palaearctic, i.e., the Tethyan Region (the arid complex), the Tingidae fauna of the Middle Urals including only 2 species (8.3%) of that complex. Seven species (17.1%) of Tingidae form the arid element in the fauna of Orenburg Province: Kalama henschi (Puton, 1892), Galeatus vitreus Golub, 1974, G. scrophicus Saunders, 1876, Tingis (Tingis) pusilla (Jakovlev, 1873), T. (Tropidocheila) renovata Golub, 1977, T. (Tr.) maculata (Herrich-Schaeffer, 1838), Dictyla subdola (Horvath, 1905). Ranges of 7 species (15.5% of the whole studied fauna of Tingidae) are limited to the Middle and South Urals in the east and northeast. Ranges of 8 other species (17.8%) extend eastwards, beyond the Urals no farther than the south of Western Siberia and Western Kazakhstan. The mountain territory of the Middle and the South Urals obviously serves as a significant orographic and climatic barrier on the way of eastward expansion of some Western- and Central-Palaearctic species of Tingidae.     

Terrestrial bugs (Heteroptera) in high mountains of the Suntar-Khayata Range (Eastern Yakutia)

Thirty-nine species of bugs, representing meso-and xerophilic inhabitants of open tundra, meadow, and steppe landscapes, were collected within the altitude range of 1260–1850 m above sea level in the upper Kyubyume River basin (63°13′N, 139°36′E, the Indigirka River basin). In the sub-golets sparse forest zone (up to 1550 m), 37 species were recorded, the dominant form being Chlamydatus pullus. The bugs were rare in most of the habitats; their species richness and abundance increased distinctly only on the south-facing slopes, reaching the maximum in the cryophytic steppe. The specific features of these complexes manifested themselves in the prevalence of Capnoda nigroaenea, a xerophilic species of alpine mountain steppes. The rest of the dominants comprised the ecologically flexible Emblethis brachynotus, Chlamydatus pullus, and Galeatus spinifrons. In the goletstundra zone, 8 species were found, half of them being arctic forms (Calacanthia trybomi, Orthotylus artemisiae, Ch. wilkinsoni, and Ch. opacus). Ch. wilkinsoni was the most common species. The species composition of bug groups in the dry lichen-dryad communities within this zone resembled that of similar communities of zonal tundra, whereas the humid habitats remained unpopulated, unlike their plain analogues. Comparison of the heteropteran fauna of mountain tundras in different regions of the Verkhoyansk-Kolyma mountain country attests to significant variations of its species composition. The possible reasons for these differences are discussed.     

Modelling the spatial distribution of wildlife animals using presence and absence data

This study was conducted to analyze the habitat preference of six major mammals for various environmental factors based on 100 random points within a mountain area in South Korea. In-situ presence and absence data for the mammals were surveyed and collected, and twelve explanatory variables related to topography, water, greenness, and anthropogenic influence were applied to create a habitat distribution model. The best combination of variables was determined using Moran’s I coefficients and Akaike criteria information, and applied to estimate the habitat preference for each species using GRASP v.3.0. The predictive map showed that wildlife animals in this study were mainly categorized into two groups: Group I (Korean squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris, mole, Talpa micrura and water deer, Hydropotes inermis), showed equal preference for all mountainous areas; Group II (weasel, Mustela sibirica, leopard cat, Felis bengalensis and raccoon dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides) showed different preferences in a mountain.     

Variability of metric and qualitative traits of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nitraria</Emphasis> species in relation to ecological and climatic conditions of Siberian habitats

The metric traits of shrubs, leaves, seeds, and flower parts have been studied in 19 Siberian populations of Nitraria sibirica Pall. and N. schoberi L. According to the obtained data, N. schoberi is characterized by larger shrubs (150–179 cm in height), leaves (15–30 mm in length, 5.7–8.8 mm in width), and seeds (up to 10 mm in length) and has rather wide (~2.5 mm) corolla petals. The size of anthers exceeds that of N. sibirica 1.2–1.5 times. The height of N. sibirica shrubs does not exceed 80 cm; the length of lamina, seed, and petals of corolla is 8–10, 3.7–7.4, and ~3.5 mm, respectively; and the size of anthers is 0.5–1 mm. Irrespective of habitat conditions, the stability of metric traits typical for both species has been shown to be rather high. The only dependence on climatic parameters is observed for the height of N. sibirica, which forms creeping forms in continental regions, especially in the mountains of the Altai Republic. Vegetative organs (laminas and young shoots) of N. sibirica are always more pubescent than those of N. shoberi.     

On Two Little Known Species of Leaf Beetles (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae) from the South Urals

120 years ago G.G. Jacobson described two species of leaf beetles from the South Urals that have remained poorly studied until recently. Chrysolina roddi, previously known only from the foothills and low mountains of the South Urals, the low Zhiguli Mountains, and the limestone cliffs on the Don River, is recorded here for the first time from the alpine tundra of the Iremel massif; its host plant in the alpine zone is the small alpine lovage Pachypleurum simplex (= Ligusticum mutellinoides), family Apiaceae. Two species of the subgenus Crositops, Ch. roddi and Ch. kabaki, are presently treated as foothill-alpine disjunct taxa. The distribution of Ch. poretzkyi, described from the low-montane part of Bashkortostan, also shows a foothill-alpine disjunction. Alpine populations of Ch. poretzkyi are described here as a new subspecies Ch. (Arctolina) poretzkyi olschwangi Mikhailov subsp. n. Revision of the type of Ch. poretzkyi that has long been considered lost confirms that this species belongs to the subgenus Arctolina, in disagreement with its previous placement in the subgenus Pleurosticha. Within Arctolina, the identity of Ch. tundralis and its differences from Ch. poretzkyi are discussed.     

Biological and environmental effects on fine-scale seed dispersal of an invasive tree in a secondary subtropical forest

Dispersal abilities of invading species emerge from the interaction between the species and some features of the target community. Ligustrum lucidum is a tree species invading different ecosystems. Major spatial patterns of Ligustrum invasions and their ecological consequences have been analyzed, but no study addressed the dispersal process at a fine scale, assessing the effects of different biological and environmental factors. Ligustrum lucidum is an ornithochoric species. The structure of the environment determines bird movements and thus affects seed dispersal. We used inverse modeling to analyze bird-mediated dispersal of L. lucidum seeds in a secondary Yungas forest and surrounding crop-fields. We assessed the effects of egestion mode (regurgitation and defecation) and tree density (as an environment character) on seed dispersal. Seed dispersal presented different spatial patterns depending on the egestion mode. Tree density was positively associated with the number of regurgitated dispersed seeds and negatively associated with the number of defecated dispersed seeds. In both cases, dispersal distance increased in open areas, but absence of perches inhibited seed arrival. Thus, spread of L. lucidum is facilitated in open areas with some trees; inside the native forest, short distance dispersal facilitates the gradual invasion by this exotic species. Our results suggest that processes like crop abandonment and forest succession, which are active in subtropical montane systems, may facilitate L. lucidum invasion. Our seed dispersal models should be combined with actual distribution maps of L. lucidum to identify areas vulnerable to new invasions.     

Investigation of the photosynthetic activity of bark phelloderm of arboreous plants using the fluorescent method

Seasonal changes in the characteristics of chlorophyll fluorescence were studied in the bark of several species of trees originating in various climatic zones: Siberian cedar (Pinus sibirica), larch (Larix sibirica), eastern arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis), pendent white birch (Betula pendula), wild black cherry (Padus virginiana), horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), red oak (Quercus rubra), Manchurian catalpa (Catalpa bungei), linden (Tilia cordata), goat willow (Salix caprea), Amur cherry (Padus maackii), and apple Korichnaya (Malus domestrica B.). Tree bark has a sufficient amount of chlorophyll for measuring the parameters of chlorophyll fluorescence throughout the year. The relative yield of the variable fluorescence of chlorophyll (F _v/F _m) can be used to assess seasonal changes in the physiological state of various trees.     

Role of indehiscent pericarp in formation of soil seed bank in five cold desert Brassicaceae species

The dispersal and germination unit of some Brassicaceae species is the fruit, and we hypothesized that it could affect germination phenology and promote formation of a soil seed bank. We determined the effects of the indehiscent pericarp on germination and longevity of buried seeds of five Brassicaceae species native to cold deserts of central Asia. Germination phenology (seedling emergence) was monitored for intact dispersal units and isolated seeds of Chorispora sibirica, Goldbachia laevigata, Spirorrhynchus sabulosus, Tauscheria lasiocarpa (annuals), and Sterigmostemum fuhaiense (perennial) at natural temperatures in watered and non-watered (natural precipitation) soil. Intact dispersal units and isolated seeds were buried under natural conditions and exhumed at regular intervals for 35 months to monitor germination, viability and moisture content of isolated seeds, seeds in dispersal units, and seeds removed from dispersal units after burial. Isolated seeds of Goldbachia, Spirorrhynchus, and Tauscheria germinated only the first autumn and those of Chorispora and Sterigmostemum the first autumn and first spring, with higher germination percentages in all species in watered than in non-watered soil. A high percentage of seeds in buried dispersal units of Chorispora, Goldbachia, and Sterigmostemum was viable after 35 months, and seeds exhibited a 6-month dormancy cycle, being non-dormant only in autumn and spring. Seeds in buried dispersal units of Spirorrhynchus and Tauscheria germinated when exhumed in the first spring, but all non-germinated seeds were dead after 1 year. Thus, the presence of the pericarp allows Chorispora, Goldbachia, and Sterigmostemum to form a persistent seed bank but not Spirorrhynchus and Tauscheria.     

Structure of microbial communities of peat soils in two bogs in Siberian tundra and forest zones

The structure and functional activity of microbial complexes of a forest oligo-mesotrophic subshrub- grass-moss bog (OMB, Central Evenkiya) and a subshrub-sedge bog in the polygonal tundra (PB, Lena River Delta Samoylovsky Island) was studied. Soil of the forest bog (OMB) differed from that of the polygonal tundra bog (PB) in higher productivity (C_org, N_total, P, and K reserves), higher biomass of aerobic chemoorganotrophs (2.0 to 2.6 times), and twice the level of available organic matter. The contribution of microorganisms to the carbon pool was different, with the share of C_mic in C_org 1.4 to 2.5 times higher in PB compared to OMB. Qualitative composition of the methane cycle microorganisms in PB and OMB soils differed significantly. Methanogenic archaea (Euryarchaeota) in the shrub-sedge PB of tundra were more numerous and diverse than in the oligo-mesotrophic bog (OMB) and belonged to six families (Methanomassiliicoccaceae, Methanoregulaceae, Methanobacteriaceae, Methanomicrobiaceaee, Methanosarcinaceae, and Methanotrichaceae), while members of only four families (Methanosarcinacea, Methanobacteriaceae, Methanotrichaceae, and Methanomassiliicoccaceae) were revealed in OMB. In both bogs, methane-oxidizing bacteria belonged to Alphaproteobacteria (II) and Gammaproteobacteria (I). Methanotroph diversity was higher in OMB than in PB. Microbial communities of PB soils had higher potential activity of methanogenesis and methanotrophy compared to those of OMB. Methanogenic and methanotrophic activities in PB were 20 and 2.3 times higher, respectively, than in OMB.     

Dynamics of the range of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Artemisia</Emphasis> genus over the territory of Western Siberia and adjacent regions in holocene in connection with climate change on the basis of pollen data

Reconstruction of the dynamics of the range of Artemisia genus was carried out with the help of palynoareological method on the basis of the data of 97 pollen diagrams from the territory of Western Siberia and the Altai-Sayan mountainous region over the millennial time sections since the Late Glacial time till the present time. It was revealed that the maximal spread of the Artemisia steppe communities (probably of the cryoarid pattern) occurred at the territory under examination at 13–10 ka yr BP. After the time point of 9 ka yr BP a fundamental change in landscapes of Western Siberia occurred which resulted in the disintegration of previously continuous Artemisia steppe cover into separate blocks. Since 8 ka yr BP the Artemisia steppe communities of modern appearance occupied the zones of modern steppe and forest-steppe of Western Siberia and Northern Kazakhstan while over the taiga zone the Artemisia plant communities were spread occasionally under the extra zonal conditions and as the pioneering plant groupings on naturally disturbed soils. Since the time point of 4 ka yr BP till the present time the northern boundary of the steppe zone under-went pulsing shifts to the north and back and also broadening and narrowing of isolated insular steppes in Altai-Sayan mountain region took place. At present time we observe an increase in the role of plants of Artemisia genus in the tundra zone of Western Siberia and in the Altai mountains.