Gymnocolea borealis (Anastrophyllaceae, Marchantiophyta) in Asia and Russia: morphology, ecology, distribution, and differentiation

Gymnocolea borealis is reported for the first time for Asia from Russia based on the morphological and subsequent molecular-genetic comparison of rbcL cpDNA sequence of the specimen from the Gydansky Peninsula, West Siberian Arctic. An extended morphological description, generalizing the species characters throughout its range, and data on its variation, differentiation and ecology, and photomicrographs are provided. The occurrence of G. borealis growing as separate shoots among dense mire vegetation makes it easy to overlook. Presently known isolated records of G. borealis support its disjunctive circumpolar distribution.

Lichens of swamp complexes of Sakhalin Island (Sakhalin Region, Russian Far East)

This paper presents the results of the study of lichen flora in swamp complexes of Sakhalin Island, obtained during expeditionary research in 2005–2009 and 2014–2020. The revealed species composition of lichens includes 172 species. The 28 of them are new for Sakhalin and 93 are new for the island swamp complexes. Bryocaulon pseudosatoanum is included in the regional and federal Red lists. Lecidea nylanderi is new to the south of the Far East. The information about substrates, habitats and locations is given for all species. The data on the distribution in the south of the Far East and, in some cases for all Far East, are listed for selected species that are new for Sakhalin Island and the south of the Far East. For the first time, a characteristic of the distribution of lichens in oligotrophic, eutrophic and mesotrophic bogs of Sakhalin Island is given.

First data on plasmodial slime moulds (Myxomycetes = Myxogastrea) of Rdeysky Nature Reserve (Novgorod Region, Russia)

The results of the first study of the species diversity of myxomycetes of the Rdeysky State Nature Reserve are presented. The 201 field specimens of sporophores belonging to 56 morphospecies from 27 genera, ten families, and six orders were collected from September 30 to October 5, 2020. Fifty-two species of these were new for the Novgorod Region. The most common species at the reserve were Arcyria affinis, Hemitrichia calyculata, Lycogala epidendrum, Metatrichia vesparia, Physarum album, Trichia decipiens, and T. varia. Additionally, detailed morphological descriptions of two rare species Amaurochaete trechispora and Trichia crateriformis are given.

Rare and new for Antarctica species of algae from the continental waterbodies of Schirmacher Oasis

One rare (Dinobryon cylindricum) and two new (Gonium pectorale, Staurastrum orbiculare) for the Antarctic algal flora species were found in the waterbodies of Schirmacher Oasis (East Antarctica). Their locations are described. Data on morphology, ecology and distribution of the recorded species are summarized.

On the distribution of the Arctic endemic alga Laminaria solidungula (Laminariales) in the White Sea

The morphological and anatomical features of the specimens of the brown alga Laminaria solidungula collected in the White Sea are provided. Environmental conditions for the growth and reproduction of this species in the White Sea are analyzed. The probable timing of penetration of this species into the White Sea and possible scenarios of changes in its distribution in response to global warming are discussed.

New cryptogamic records. 8

First records of silica-scaled chrysophyte alga for the Leningrad Region and North-West of European Russia, fungi for the Pskov and Novosibirsk regions, and the Republic of Tuva, myxomycetes for the Republic of Belarus, lichens for the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area and West Siberia, liverworts for the Kurgan Region, mosses for the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania, the Taimyr Peninsula, the Chukotka Autonomous Area, and the Kamchatka Territory from the North Koryakia are presented. The data on their localities, habitats, distribution, and specimens are provided. The specimens are kept in the Herbarium of the Komarov Botanical Institute RAS (LE), the Herbarium of M. G. Popov at the Central Siberian Botanical Garden RAS (NSK), or the Herbarium of the Kuprevich Institute of Experimental Botany NAS of Belarus (MSK-F).

New records of Mallomonas species (Chrysophyceae, Synurales) for the Orenburg Region (South Urals, Russia)

The data about new findings of species of the genus Mallomonas for the Orenburg Region are given. Among them, M. rasilis is reported for the first time for Russia. For each species, data on morphology, location, and distribution are represented. SEM microphotographs for these species are provided.

Addition to the lichen flora of Iturup Island (Sakhalin Region, Russian Far East)

As a result of expeditionary investigations on Iturup Island (southern group of islands of the Kuril archipelago), 61 species of lichens were identified as new to the island, including Porpidia contraponenda and Xylographa rubescens – new to the Russian Far East, and Amandinea coniops and Arthonia dispuncta – new to the South of the Russian Far East. Six species are new to the Sakhalin Region. The difference in species composition of the Sea of Okhotsk coast and the Pacific coast of Iturup Island is briefly discussed.

Northern distribution limits of Sphagnum wulfianum (Sphagnaceae, Bryophyta) in the Northern Palearctic – records from tundra: coincidence or rule?

Sphagnum wulfianum is a widespread circumboreal species in the Northern Hemisphere. The distribution of this species in the Northern Palearctic was studied by generalizing and combining data from open sources (GBIF, literature data) and herbarium samples from LE, MW, NSK, and MHA into a single database. Data from herbarium labels and annotated lists were put on the map of Eurasia as points in the ArcGis 10.0 software. Analysis of the data shows that out of 3061 points 15 samples only were found in the tundra zone, which is 0.49% of all samples. This demonstrates that tundra habitats are not typical for S. wulfianum. Spatial analysis of samples collected in the Arctic of Eurasia shows that S. wulfianum was found only in the tundra of Yamal, Taz, and Taimyr peninsulas and in the part of Bolshezemelskaya tundra, which is adjacent to the Polar Urals. Analysis of vegetation history shows that S. wulfianum is a relic of the Holocene climatic optimum, preserved in the present southern tundra since the existence of forest vegetation. It is unknown from the tundras of Yakutia and Chukotka and from the mountainous tundras of Scandinavia, where any forest vegetation is unknown in the Holocene.

New data on the morphology of Achnanthes brevipes (Bacillariophyta)

This electron microscopy study of Achnanthes brevipes from mineralized tributaries (Solyanka, Chernavka, Khara) of the hyperhaline Lake Elton (Volgograd Region) provides new data on the variability of quantitative diagnostic characteristics (valve length, number of striae and areolae in 10 μm). Based on the original and published data, a refined diagnosis of A. brevipes is proposed. It is very similar to A. longipes in valve shape and quantitative characteristics, but striae are multi-row in the latter species and single-row in A. brevipes. A short note about the nomenclature status of A. brevipes is given.