The first record of Boloria frigga (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) on Kolguev Island, Arctic Russia

A new record of Boloria frigga from the Arctic islands of European Russia is given. Image of a captured specimen, as well as brief considerations on the species habitat, are provided.  

Geoheritage of the Monchegorsk Igneous Layered Paleoproterozoic Intrusion (Kola Peninsula, Arctic Russia): Evaluation and Geotourism Opportunities

Monchegorsk is an intrusion complex of basic and ultrabasic rocks of the Paleoproterozoic age. This complex formed during active magmatic mobility that took place in NE Scandinavia 2.5 Ga years ago. These were the subject of intensive exploration and exploitation at the beginning of the 20th century, the latter carrying on through to the beginning of the 21st century. This contributed to the creation of some different forms of post-industrail mining infrastructure in the area. Many mining settlements, including Monchegorsk, mining plants, adits and quarries were established during this time, the relics of which are still present today. The Monchegorsk intrusions complex is formed by several fragmented massifs: Traviannaya, Kumuzhia, Nittis, Sopcha, Nyud, Poaz, and Monchetundra, the highest elevations of which reach up to 1000 m above sea level. These massifs form a landscape of “islands” and mountain ranges that have influence upon the regional landscape over several tens of kilometers. Their geography is characterized by numerous reliefs, glacial cirques, rocky thresholds with waterfalls and trough lakes. The potential of this region lies in the heritage of historical exploitation, numerous monuments of which have been preserved to this day. An important value is a landscape resulting from the relief of these mountains, highlighted by glacial activity in the Pleistocene. There are also interesting examples of Arctic fauna and flora, and of the rocks that form the bedrock in this intrusion. Some of the mineralization of these outcroppings can also be admired in the collections of the local museum that serves as a geocenter. The possibility of admiring relatively easily accessible views (the international route St. Petersburg–Murmansk–Kirkenes passes through the middle of the hills) and the interesting geology of the area abounding in rocks of mineralogical significance, their exposures, and history, along with the possibility of observing various post-industrail forms, make this area of great tourist potential. This article describes the most interesting exposures of outstanding tourist value and proposes routes connecting these points. It also discusses the problem of securing these exposures and the necessary tourist infrastructure, which is currently lacking.

A contribution to the syntaxonomic diversity of the Tazovsky Peninsula, Arctic Russia

Syntaxonomic diversity of the vegetation in the southern tundra subzone of the Tazovsky Peninsula is represented by six associations, three subassociations and three variants. Four associations (Dicrano maji–Salicetum lanatae Khitun ass. nov. hoc loco, Sphagno girgensohnii–Betuletum nanae Khitun ass. nov. hoc loco, Empetro subholarctici– Eriophoretum vaginati Khitun ass. nov. hoc loco, Eriophoro leiocarpi–Caricetum rotundatae Khitun ass. nov. hoc loco), the three subassociations (Hierochloo alpinae– Hylocomietum splendentis empetretosum subholarctici Khitun subass. nov. hoc loco, Eriophoro leiocarpi–Caricetum rotundatae typicum Khitun subass. nov. hoc loco, Eriophoro leiocarpi–Caricetum rotundatae caricetosum chordorrhizae Khitun subass. nov. hoc loco) and the three variants are described for the first time. A high degree of similarity was found between vegetation of the Tazovsky Peninsula and vegetation of the southern part of the Gydansky Peninsula (the typical tundra subzone). They have four of six associations in common, whereas with the northern part of the typical tundra there is only one association in common.

A new Norwegian Lemming subspecies from Novaya Zemlya, Arctic Russia

Norwegian Lemming Lemmus lemmus is a remarkable population cycling species having a number of aposematic traits in coloration and behavior. This species was thought to be the only mammal endemic to Fennoscandia. Here, we report on the discovery of a distinct lineage of this species from Novaya Zemlya. This lineage is described here as the new subspecies Lemmus lemmus chernovi ssp. nov. that morphologically differs from the nominate subspecies by having a cryptic coloration. Our time-calibrated phylogeny revealed that this insular subspecies was isolated there since the Eemian interglacial (mean age 93 Ka). Hence, bright coloration and antipredator behavior of the nominate subspecies are novel aposematic traits that evolved since its isolation in a European refugium. This new discovery indicates that Novaya Zemlya supported a cryptic polar refugium for cold-adapted terrestrial fauna during the Pleistocene. Finally, our findings highlight that allopatric ranges of the true lemmings (Lemmus) reflect stepwise range expansions in cold climatic episodes with subsequent isolation in refugia during interglacial events.