FORESTS
The nature reserve is situated on the north of the taiga zone, at its very border with forest-tundra. According to different classifications, the territory belongs to different districts and areas:
- According to geobotanical zoning of the Non-Chernozem region (1989), it forms part of the Lotto-Tuloma area of northern taiga forests in the Kola-Karelian taiga sub-province.
- As per the floristic zoning of the region, it belongs to the Imandra floristic district, which is a subregion of the Lotto-Tuloma lowland.
- As to the classification of Scandinavian scientists, the nature reserve belongs to the Lapponia petsamoënsis (Lps) biogeographic province of Pechenga Lapland.
Forest age: old, the maximum age is 470 years. Pine forests over 140 years old account for 59% of the forests.
Forest value: these are the northernmost forests in the European part of Russia and the most valuable ones in the Murmansk region.
Forest resources
Pine forests
- Pine forests are sparse and are located at the edge of their habitat in Europe.
- Area coverage is 6 876 hectares, which is approximately 46.81% of the reserve's total area and 90.16% of the area of its forest lands.
- Forests are composed of the northern form of the common pine Pinus sylvestris (P. sylvestris L. var. lapponica Fr. ex Hartm., P. frieseana Wichura, P. lapponica (Hartm.) Mayr).
- Total stock: 411.6 cubic meters.
- Current state: natural or after felling and fires.
There are signs of old selective cuttings of low intensity across most of the territory of the nature reserve. A very small part of green moss and lichen pine forests was clearcut on the cusp of the XIX — the XX centuries. Currently, there are middle-aged and maturing forest stands. In the central part of the nature reserve, around the Kalkuplya mountain, there are primary pine forests that are more than 200 years old, that have never been logged.
- These are the most widespread forests on the territory of the nature reserve.
- Area coverage is 60% of the forest land.
- These forests are located in well-drained areas and on hillsides.
- Stand composition: pine and birch.
- The understory is poorly developed and consists of rowan, goat willow, and common juniper.
- Ground cover is formed by low shrubs, mosses, and lichens.
- Low shrubs: lingonberry, crowberry, bilberry, and Ledum.
- Mosses: red-stemmed feathermoss (Pleurozium schreberi) and glittering wood moss (Hylocomium splendens);
- Fruticose lichens (mainly of the Cladonia genus) make up to 15-20% of the ground cover.
- These forests are less common.
- Area coverage is 28,4% of the forest land.
- These forests include: low shrub-sphagnum, cotton grass-sphagnum, cowberry, and Ledum forests;
- The forests are located in areas of deposition of the sea and sandy loam as well as in the lower concave parts of the slopes of the hills.
- Ground cover is formed by low shrub-lichen tussocks. Lichen coverage reaches up to 5-15%.
- These forests include lichen-low shrub, low shrub-lichen, lichen-green moss, and lichen pine forests.
- Lichen pine forests can be found in the areas where the bedrock lays close to the surface (rupicolous lichen pine forests) or in places where morainic deposits are located.
- The forest stand is very sparse and there's hardly any undergrowth.
- Lichens account for 45-85% of the ground cover.
Birch forests
- There are 5 species of birches growing in the nature reserve, 4 of them are tree species and one is a shrub.
- Area coverage: 725 hectares, which is approximately 4,93% of the total area of the nature reserve and 9,5% of its forest lands.
- Primary birch forests are located along the stream and river banks, while secondary stands can be found in the former agricultural lands and felling sites.
- Average age: 70 years.
- Total stock: 28 cubic meters.
- Forest stands are often formed by birches and pine trees.
- Current state: natural and after felling. The Pasvik river floods the coastal areas of the forests during the high water periods.
- Subarctic birch - Betula subarctica N. I. Orlova (B. pubescens Ehrh. subsp. subarctica (N. I. Orlova) Á. Löve & D. Löve). This is a dominant and frequently occurring species. It forms primary and secondary forests as well as birch elfinwood. Subarctic birch can be found even in the alpine tundra. It also grows along the roads, on grasslands, wastelands, opencast mines, etc. This taxon is often considered within the species B. pubescens as its subspecies.
- Cherepanov birch - B. czerepanovii N. I. Orlova (B. pubescens Ehrh. subsp. czerepanovii (N. I. Orlova) Hämet-Ahti, B. pubescens Ehrh. var. pumila (L.) Govaerts, B. tortuosa auct.). This species is quite widespread in alpine tundra, elfinwood areas, and primary valley forests. This taxon is also considered within the species B. pubescens as its subspecies. On the territory of the Pasvik nature reserve and often within one biotic community, one can easily find all transitional forms between this "alpine" taxon and the "plain" taxon B. subarctica.
- B. × intermedia Thomas ex Rchb. (B. nana L. × B. pubescens Ehrh. s.l.). This birch is very rare and appears in coastal swamp forests and along the swamp edges. In particular, one can run across this birch in the areas of the Kalkuplya mountain and the lake Kaskamayarvi.
- Silver birch - B. pendula Roth (B. verrucosa Ehrh.). This birch is hard to find and grows mostly in coastal forests. A few of these birches were found in the dam area. This species doesn't form communities and grows individually.
- One more species that grows in the nature reserve is dwarf birch - Betula nana L. It is widely spread in swamps, swamp forests, birch elfinwood, and alpine tundra.
- These are the most widespread birch forests in the nature reserve. They occupy up to 26,5% of the total area covered by birch forests.
- The forests mostly grow in coastal areas, along the sides of the rivers Pasvik and Menikkajoki, as well as along the streams running through the hollows in the lower parts of the Kalkuplya mountain.
- Grass- low shrub layer is very well developed and covers up to 80% of the forest area.
- These forests grow in the elevated parts of coastal slopes.
- The understory is well-developed and consists of willows and rowans.
- Ground cover is dominated by low shrubs including lingonberry, bilberry, and crowberry. Occasionally it is mixed with grasses. In some communities, lichens make up to 5% of the ground cover.
Aspen forests
Aspens are widely distributed on the territory of the Pasvik nature reserve. Occasionally aspen forms small secondary forests on former agricultural lands and logging areas. It can also grow on more fertile soils in pine and birch forests. This species tends to appear in non-swampy forests including birch elfinwood. It is hardly possible to come across aspens in the alpine tundra belt.
- Stand composition: Aspen — Populus tremula L.
- Area coverage is 4,5 hectares in total, which is less than 1% of the forest area in the nature reserve.
- Total stock: 0,4 cubic meters.
- Forest age: on average aspen forests are 45 years old, with the oldest communities being around 80 years old.
- These are the densest (0,69) and the most productive forests (the IV yield class) in the nature reserve.
- The undergrowth is developed to a greater or lesser extent in the green moss aspen forests.
- Ground cover is dominated by low shrubs and in some cases by grasses.
- Grassy aspen forests are mostly located along the banks of the Pasvik river and in confluence areas. They can be found on former agricultural lands, as indicated by the presence of several preserved meadow plant species.
- The undergrowth and moss layers are usually poorly developed.
Spruce forests
- In the Pasvik river valley, spruce forests are extremely rare.
- There are a few small groups of spruces (Picea obovata Ledeb. (P. abies (L.) H. Karst. subsp. obovate (Ledeb.) Domin) in the central part of the nature reserve, at the foot of the Kalkuplya mountain.
- Spruce grows along the streams and swampy lake shores as well as in the inter-ridge depressions.
- In small groups of spruces, the trees are suppressed. There are signs of selective cutting, however, the renewal of spruces hasn’t been registered. Nevertheless, spruces show the IV yield class, which is a very good mark for the communities located in the Extreme North. The diameter growth in the last 10 years equals 1 centimeter, which tells us that the spruces are continuously growing.
- To the south of the Pasvik reserve, there are some large and sparse rupicolous low shrub spruce forests. These forests extend to the east as far as the eye can reach.
- The maximum determined spruce age is 190 years. The diameter of the spruce trunks reaches up to 30−45 cm.
Composition of forest-forming tree species
Composition of forest-forming tree species
Pine
young: 312 hа
middle-aged: 2378 hа
maturing: 728 hа
mature: 2231 hа
overmature: 1227 hа
young: 312 hа
middle-aged: 2378 hа
maturing: 728 hа
mature: 2231 hа
overmature: 1227 hа
Birch
middle-aged: 405 hа
maturing: 174 hа
mature: 146 hа
middle-aged: 405 hа
maturing: 174 hа
mature: 146 hа
Aspen
young: 1 hа
middle-aged: 3 hа
young: 1 hа
middle-aged: 3 hа
Zonation
There is a vertical or altitudinal zonation on Kalkupya mountain. This is the only mountain in the Pasvik reserve and it is 357 m above sea level.
In the lower parts of the mountain slopes, there are pine and birch green moss and lichen forests, which are similar to plain forests in their composition.
Starting from 200 meters above sea level, forest communities become more sparse, gradually transitioning into birch elfinwood. The most widespread are the low shrub-lichen and lichen birch forests growing on shallow soils. The lichen cover in these forests can reach up to 20−30%.
Alpine tundra lays at an altitude of more than 300 m, covering the top of the mountain. The total area of alpine tundra is 347 hectares, which is approximately 2.5% of Pasvik reserve territory. This zone is dominated by rupicolous-shrub, low shrub-lichen, and lichen communities, where shrubs, low shrubs, lichens, mosses, and liverworts prevail in various combinations and proportions.
In the lower parts of the mountain slopes, there are pine and birch green moss and lichen forests, which are similar to plain forests in their composition.
Starting from 200 meters above sea level, forest communities become more sparse, gradually transitioning into birch elfinwood. The most widespread are the low shrub-lichen and lichen birch forests growing on shallow soils. The lichen cover in these forests can reach up to 20−30%.
Alpine tundra lays at an altitude of more than 300 m, covering the top of the mountain. The total area of alpine tundra is 347 hectares, which is approximately 2.5% of Pasvik reserve territory. This zone is dominated by rupicolous-shrub, low shrub-lichen, and lichen communities, where shrubs, low shrubs, lichens, mosses, and liverworts prevail in various combinations and proportions.
Cherepanov birch (Betula czerepanovii N.I. Orlova — B. pubescens subsp. czerepanovii (N.I. Orlova) Hämet-Ahti, B. tortuosa auct.) is an alpine form of the downy birch. It grows in small groups or individually as a shrub in alpine tundra. Lichen cover in some tundra communities can reach up to 70−80%. There are frequent spots of frost heaving and frost boils that are devoid of vegetation except for liverworts. This is what creates a mosaic of small patches and results in the spotted appearance of alpine tundra.
Cherepanov birch (Betula czerepanovii N.I. Orlova — B. pubescens subsp. czerepanovii (N.I. Orlova) Hämet-Ahti, B. tortuosa auct.) is an alpine form of the downy birch. It grows in small groups or individually as a shrub in alpine tundra. Lichen cover in some tundra communities can reach up to 70−80%. There are frequent spots of frost heaving and frost boils that are devoid of vegetation except for liverworts. This is what creates a mosaic of small patches and results in the spotted appearance of alpine tundra.
BOGS
The territory of the Pasvik nature reserve is significantly swamped. There are bogs of various types. This is due, among other things, to the position of the reserve, which is located in the transition zone between the palsa and aapa mires.
- Area coverage: 3 741 ha, which is around 25,48% of the total area of the nature reserve.
- The largest swamp areas are located to the south of Kalkupya mountain, to the east of lake Langvatnet, and in the northeastern part of Menikk Island. Typically the swamps are located in areas of marine deposits.
- Swamp age: the deposition of peat and the development of bogs began about 9 thousand years ago.
- Composition: mosses of the genus Sphagnum, red-stemmed feathermoss Pleurozeum schreberi, sedge Carex, cotton grass Eriophorum, wild rosemary Ledum palustre, bog rosemary Andromeda polifolia, species of the genus Vaccinium and dwarf birch Betula nana.
- Types of bogs: heterotrophic, eutrophic, mesotrophic, and oligotrophic.
- Current state: natural, most of the swamps are located along the banks of the Pasvik river, around the lakes and streams.
Types of bogs
- These swamps are widely spread all over the Pasvik nature reserve.
- They tend to appear on the fluvioglacial landforms.
- There is a well-developed nanorelief of low shrub-cloudberry-lichen-sphagnum ridges and tussocks as well as cotton grass-sphagnum carpets and pools.
- Lichen cover reaches up to 30−40% on ridges and tussocks.
- These bogs are more rare. Small patches of these bogs can be found in depressions between the moraine hills.
- The ground cover of these bogs is quite homogeneous.
- There are some lichens with area coverage of up to 5%.
- These bogs are located in flowing-water concave depressions, where the bedrock lays close to the surface and hard water inflows.
- Nanorelief is well-defined. The biotic communities of ridges and pools are highly complex and heterotrophic.
- These swamps are typical for washout rills on the butte slopes.
- The floristic composition of these swamps is rather diverse.
- These bogs occupy a large area in the northeastern half of Menikk Island;
- Permafrost lenses occur in the nanorelief of the area. They are usually registered in the middle of summer starting at a depth of 40−50 cm, and sometimes at 25 cm.
- The area is formed by hummocks and ridges covered with low shrub-lichen communities.
- Lichen coverage reaches 40−70%.
- Hollows and carpets are formed by cotton grass-sphagnum communities.
- They are rather rare on the territory of the reserve.
- Typically, there is a wide oligotrophic periphery in these bogs.
Main characteristics of bog types
Детальные исследования болотных экосистем заповедника выполнены лабораторией болотных экосистем Института биологии КарНЦ РАН (г. Петрозаводск) в 2011–2015 годах.
Main characteristics of bog types
Detailed studies of the Pasvik Nature Reserve bog ecosystems were carried out by the Bog ecosystems laboratory of the Institute of Biology, KarRC RAS (Petrozavodsk) in 2011−2015.
Ombrotrophic type and vegetation class
Detailed studies of the Pasvik Nature Reserve bog ecosystems were carried out by the Bog ecosystems laboratory of the Institute of Biology, KarRC RAS (Petrozavodsk) in 2011−2015.
Сan be found on the bog edges and on the ridges of the raised bogs. This association is widespread throughout the whole European taiga zone.
- Located on the high ridges and hummocks of raised bogs.
- This group includes 18 species of vascular plants, 8 species of mosses, and 10 species of lichens. 24 of these species are highly constant (III-V classes).
- The ratio between Sphagnum fuscum and lichens in individual communities of the association varies depending on the height of the ridges and the degree of their drying in summer.
- The association is quite widespread and covers most of the ridges of raised bogs in the Eurasian taiga zone.
- Can be found in hollows of raised bogs. The association Eriophorum vaginatum — Sphagnum lindbergii is the most common one and covers the majority of the hollows in the reserve. This association also includes two sub-associations.
- This group includes 36 species: 20 vascular plants, 10 mosses, and 6 lichens. 13 of them are highly constant.
- In the course of the development of these associations, "black" hollows with deergrass-liverwort communities are formed.
- The associations Carex rariflora-Sphagnum lindbergii and Carex rotundata — Sphagnum lindbergii are typical for the coastal raised bogs in the extreme north of Europe.
Oligotrophic class
Communities in this class are composed of mesooligotrophic species for which low groundwater salinity is sufficient. The class consists of 11 associations sorted into three groups.
- Pine stands in these associations are 4−10 meters high and have a canopy density of 0.2−0.4. Typically they are located along the edges of bogs of different types or appear as areas of swamp forests with a thin layer of peat.
- Although ombrotrophic species dominate in the composition of these associations, there is also a constant presence of minerotrophic species of grasses and mosses that grow in microdepressions.
- The flora of these communities includes 57 species and is much richer than in ombrotrophic ones, which are formed by 31 species.
- These communities are typical for northern Europe in general, however, in the north of the Kola Peninsula, there are some peculiarities of species composition. For instance, the eutrophic species (Equisetum palustre, Saussurea alpina, Paludella squarrosa) are present due to the flow of rich groundwater on the slopes.
- This group includes five syntaxa.
- In these communities, the moss layer composed of ombrotrophic mosses (Sphagnum fuscum, S. magellanicum) coexists with minerotrophic and ombrotrophic vascular plants.
- The communities can be found in different biotopes: on high ridges of the aapa mires, on tussocks of sedge-sphagnum bogs, and along the shallow edges of swamps.
- These associations are widespread in different bog biotopes on the territory of the nature reserve.
- The most common association is Eriophorum angustifolium-Sphagnum lindbergii. This association is made up of two sub-associations: standard and liverwort.
- The group includes 41 species. Small quantities of some mesoeutrophic species (Sphagnum subfulvum, Loeskypnum badium) can also be found.
- The association Carex rostrata — Sphagnum lindbergii is also typical for the bogs of northern Eurasia. There are 34 plant species belonging to this association in the nature reserve.
Mesotrophic class
This class is represented by four associations sorted into two groups. Dividing communities into mesotrophic and eutrophic is always controversial and rather tentative since most of the species composing such communities have a wide ecology. There are a few typical eutrophic calciophilic species in the northern bogs. Nevertheless, they indicate the richest keystone biotopes with eutrophic vegetation.
- This association was documented on the high ridges of aapa-mires.
- There is a rather dense layer of juniper in the communities.
- The grass layer contains species of different ecology. Two sub-associations are distinguished based on the composition of this layer.
- The moss-lichen layer absorbs nutrients from the atmosphere and includes psychrophilic species that can withstand prolonged periods of drying out.
- The flora of the association is quite diverse and contains 120 species on the territory of the nature reserve.
- These associations appear in the hollows of aapa mires and on grass marshes of the transitional bogs.
- Cotton grass-sedge communities often occupy small saucer-shaped depressions with a diameter of 10−50 meters on Kaskama, Korablekk, and Kalkupya mountains.
- There is a shallow peat deposit and boulders are often found among the vegetation.
Eutrophic class
Eutrophic communities are widespread and highly diverse within the wetlands of the reserve. They are represented by 17 syntaxa belonging to 4 groups of associations.
It is likely that with further research, additional syntaxa will be identified. In particular, it is necessary to describe communities of small areas (1−4 square meters) in "hanging" bogs with spring nutrition. Additional description is needed due to the high mosaicity of the vegetation cover and the small size of biotic communities.
Moreover, there are some swamp areas covered with birch trees, which also have not been researched yet.
It is likely that with further research, additional syntaxa will be identified. In particular, it is necessary to describe communities of small areas (1−4 square meters) in "hanging" bogs with spring nutrition. Additional description is needed due to the high mosaicity of the vegetation cover and the small size of biotic communities.
Moreover, there are some swamp areas covered with birch trees, which also have not been researched yet.
- These communities are assigned to five syntaxa.
- Mainly they can be found in river-floodplain bogs and narrow shrub-grass-moss bogs located in hollows between the ridges.
- Willow-herbal communities with a fragmented moss cover of green mosses typically appear in biotopes with prolonged flooding.
- Biotopes with better drainage conditions that are not subject to prolonged flooding are occupied by shrub-grass-moss cenoses. The shrub layer is formed by willows and dwarf birch, the grass layer is composed of different species, and the moss layer consists of sphagnum and green mosses, presented in different proportions.
- In general, the flora of these communities is quite diverse and unique.
- The flora also includes a number of species that are typical for floodplain biotopes.
- This group includes communities that cover low hummocks, ridges, and carpet areas of aapa mires and grass-moss fens.
- The shrub layer is poorly developed.
- The grass layer is dominated by various types of gramineous plants and sedges.
- The moss cover is composed of eutrophic sphagnum species mixed with a number of green mosses.
- The flora of these associations is quite rich and totals to 80 species.
- The species saturation in individual communities ranges from 20 to 42 species.
- These associations are typical for Fennoscandian bogs.
- These associations are widespread on the territory of the Pasvik nature reserve.
- They occupy a lot of hollows and microdepressions of the aapa mires and herb-hypnum fens.
- This group includes six associations and one rankless community. Sub-associations were also distinguished within two of the associations.
- The grass layer in the communities of these syntaxa is formed by various sedge species, moor grass, and horsetails.
- The moss cover usually includes from 3−4 to 6−10 species of green mosses, sometimes including a small addition of sphagnum.
- Communities with rich water-mineral nutrition include a number of calciophilic species (Salix myrsinites, Pedicularis sceptrum-carolinum, Saxifraga hirculus, Paludella squarrosa, Catoscopium nigritum) that are associated with cenoses in keystone areas.
- All syntaxa distinguished in this group can be found in northern Fennoscandia. Also, some of them have a much wider habitat.
- These communities are located in the hollows of the aapa mires and in flooded areas along the river banks.
- Green mosses almost always are present in these communities. However, they do not form a continuous cover and grow in small tussocks.
- Carex livida dominates some hollows of the aapa mires. In the Pasvik nature reserve, this species is located on the northern border of its habitat and it does not grow in the forest-tundra.
Minerotrophic vegetation
Minerotrophic vegetation includes three different classes. The classes are separated according to the degree to which biotic communities are demanding for water-mineral nutrition.
Composition of bog vegetation
Further ground studies of the bog flora and vegetation will broaden our knowledge of the flora composition and of the community type range on the territory of the Pasvik nature reserve. They will also serve as a basis for the development of a classification of bog biotopes in the reserve. Additionally, the results of the studies can be used for monitoring of bog ecosystems.
About 120 species of vascular plants, which is approximately 40% of the flora of the nature reserve
90 Bryopsida moss species
Around 15 lichen species
Several species of liverworts
High species and cenotic diversity has been proven through the analysis of the composition and structure of bog vegetation.
MEADOWS
All meadows in the reserve are secondary. They developed in areas of human settlements and agricultural lands. Forb-grass communities with a rich floristic composition have formed in the meadows. Now the meadows are gradually degrading. They are being overgrown with birch, and to a lesser extent with pine, aspen, willow, and rowan.
- Composition: gramineous plants and herbs, with smaller amounts of sedges, legumes, and species from other families.
- Area coverage is less than 0.5% of the total area of the reserve.
- Meadows are located along the banks of the Pasvik river, in the south and in the north of the reserve. They can also be found around lakes Salmiyarvi, Niliyarvi, Kaitoyarvi, and around the Yaniskoski village.
- The meadows are characterized by a high level of floristic diversity including adventive species.
- Current state: recovering from the intense anthropogenic intervention at the beginning of the 20th century.
Meadows of the Isle of Varlam
An international botanical expedition of 1995−1996 explored several meadow areas, including the island itself. They managed to compare their results with the Finnish pre-war data.
The land planning of the area was carried out on the right bank of the Pasvik river in 1928−1929 when the Pechenga region temporarily formed part of Finland. According to the land plan, the total area of the main island was 18.91 hectares (National Survey Board data, Helsinki) and it consisted of three farms with several residential buildings, cowsheds, and barns.
Now the Isle of Varlam is covered with pine and birch forests, as well as with a few small meadows. Forb-grass meadows with high species diversity prevail among them. These meadows can be divided into several types.
All these meadows are open, however, there is an overgrowth threat from actively growing downy birch and tea-leaved willow. Also, meadows are being continuously overgrown with fireweed. In some areas tussock-grass forms huge hummocks.
The land planning of the area was carried out on the right bank of the Pasvik river in 1928−1929 when the Pechenga region temporarily formed part of Finland. According to the land plan, the total area of the main island was 18.91 hectares (National Survey Board data, Helsinki) and it consisted of three farms with several residential buildings, cowsheds, and barns.
Now the Isle of Varlam is covered with pine and birch forests, as well as with a few small meadows. Forb-grass meadows with high species diversity prevail among them. These meadows can be divided into several types.
All these meadows are open, however, there is an overgrowth threat from actively growing downy birch and tea-leaved willow. Also, meadows are being continuously overgrown with fireweed. In some areas tussock-grass forms huge hummocks.
Forb meadows are dominated by common buttercup Ranunculus acris, meadow-rue Thalictrum rariflorum Fries, bush vetch Vicia sepium, and meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis.
Grass-forb meadows most likely were formed on former fertilized agricultural fields. They are dominated by cow parsley Anthriscus sylvestris, fireweed Chamaenerion angustifolium, and stinging nettle Urtica dioica.
Common bentgrass meadows are dominated by common yarrow Achillea millefolium, bentgrass Agrostis capillaries, and Jacob's ladder Polemonium acutiflorum.
Tussock-grass meadows are formed by tufted hairgrass Deschampsia cespitosa.
The meadow flora of the Isle of Varlam
The meadow flora of the Isle of Varlam is very interesting, especially in its southern part. There are species with so-called eastern connections that are rare in western Fennoscandia. For example, one can find such species as Jacob’s ladder Polemonium acutiflorum, arctic bramble Rubus arcticus, meadow-rue Thalictrum rariflorum Fries, longleaf speedwell Veronica longifolia, and bistort Polygonum viviparum.
Some species may have been cultivated or introduced by accident during the 20th century. Among such species are wild chamomile Chamomilla suaveolens, white bedstraw Galium album, timothy Phleum pratense, tansy Tanacetum vulgare, red clover Trifolium pratense, germander speedwell Veronica chamaedrys, and others.
There are also different meadows located to the north along the banks of the Pasvik river. The diversity of species in these areas is much lower than on the Isle of Varlam, however, Jacob’s ladder Polemonium acutiflorum and longleaf speedwell Veronica longifolia are still abundant there.
Some species may have been cultivated or introduced by accident during the 20th century. Among such species are wild chamomile Chamomilla suaveolens, white bedstraw Galium album, timothy Phleum pratense, tansy Tanacetum vulgare, red clover Trifolium pratense, germander speedwell Veronica chamaedrys, and others.
There are also different meadows located to the north along the banks of the Pasvik river. The diversity of species in these areas is much lower than on the Isle of Varlam, however, Jacob’s ladder Polemonium acutiflorum and longleaf speedwell Veronica longifolia are still abundant there.
PLANT DIVERSITY
- This is the most studied flora group in the Pasvik nature reserve.
- 461 species are found on the territory of the reserve.
- 343 species inhabit the Korablekk nature park, adjacent to the central part of the Pasvik reserve.
- 403 species inhabit the area of the planned nature reserve "Pazovsky", which is located south of the Pasvik nature reserve.
- In total, the local flora of Russian Pasvik is populated by 622 species of vascular plants.
In 2019, several flowering specimens of the common shoe Cypripedium calceolus L. were found on the territory of the reserve. This species is listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation (category 3, "rare"), the Red Book of Murmansk region (category 1b, "endangered"), and the Red List of Vascular Plants of Europe (Near Threatened).
- This flora group has been thoroughly studied in the Pasvik reserve.
- There are 311 known species of bryophytes in the reserve.
- The number of bryophytes includes 114 species of liverworts.
- It also includes 197 species of mosses.
- 6 species of bryophytes (5 liverworts and 1 moss) are included in the Red Book of Bryophytes of Europe (1995). Three of these species (Haplomitrium hookeri, Lophozia ascendens, Nardia japonica) are classified as R (rare); two of them (Barbilophozia rubescens, Pseudolophozia debiliformis) are listed as K (insufficiently known taxon) and one species (Tayloria splachnoides) was assigned a category V (vulnerable).
- 4 species of bryophytes (3 liverworts and 1 moss) are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation (2008). Haplomitrium hookeri belongs to the category 2a (species with a decreasing number), Oleolophozia perssonii is assigned the 3rd category (rare species), Nardia breidleri is listed as category 4 (undetermined status), and Tetrodontium repandum belongs to the category 3b (rare species that inhabits a large area, within which small populations are located sporadically).
- 20 species of bryophytes (13 liverworts and 7 mosses) are listed in the Red Book of the Murmansk region (2014).
- This flora group has been insufficiently explored on the territory of Pasvik nature reserve.
- There are 48 species and forms of microalgae (excluding charophytes) from 7 divisions.
- This flora group has been thoroughly studied.
- 591 species and subspecies of lichens and closely related species of fungi were found on the territory of the Pasvik nature reserve.
- Pine forests are dominated by lichen species that are typical for this area. Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl. is often found on tree trunks, while Cetraria islandica (L.) Ach. and Cladonia stellaris (Opiz) Pouzar & Vězda can be found on soils.
- Bryoria fremontii (Tuck.) Brodo & D. Hawksw listed in the Red Book often inhabits old pine forests.
- The Pasvik pine forests are inhabited by species indicating the old-growth forests.
- There is a high diversity of species on the trunks of old aspens: for example, one can find there an extremely rare species Collema curtisporum Degel. It is listed in the Red Book of the Murmansk region with 2nd category (2014) and is extremely rare not only in the Murmansk region but throughout Russia.
- There are aspen forests populated by species located at the northernmost limit of their habitats. For example, Rinodina colobina (Ach.) Th. Fr. found on the northwestern foot of Kalkupya mountain, has been registered in southern Finland, at a distance of almost 1,000 km from the Pasvik nature reserve.
- Rare and specialist species of lichens are located on rock outcrops with high concentrations of calcium salts. Calciphilous lichen species are extremely rare in the region. There are several places in the Pasvik nature reserve where rock outcrops with a high content of these salts have been discovered. Mainly they are located on shale buttes in the dam area.
- Conditions favorable for semi-aquatic lichens that live on rocks partially flooded with water exist in the stream beds of the reserve. These biotopes are typically the most diverse ones. Scientists have discovered more than 10 specialist species and two genera: Anisomeridium (Müll. Arg.) M. Choisy and Koerberiella Stein. Among them there are extremely rare species that are listed in the Red Book of the Murmansk region.
There are 310 species of lichens located on the territory of the Korablekk nature park. This makes the park one of the 5 most studied PAs of the Murmansk region in terms of lichen flora.
- This group of organisms is relatively well-studied on the territory of the Pasvik nature reserve. It includes:
- 6 species of ascomycetes;
- 105 types of pileate fungi;
- 223 species of wood-destroying fungi;
- 28 species of microscopic fungi in the soils of the reserve.
Illustrations on this website belong to (photo credits): E. Valova, S. Grechany, O. Natalskaya, D. Kochetkov, M. Buzun, V. Buzun, O. Pershin, N. Polikarpova, A. Yakovlev, A. Afanasova, N. Sazhina, G. Dmitrenko, E. Melnikov and Pasvik Nature Reserve.
Illustrations on this website belong to (photo credits): E. Valova, S. Grechany, O. Natalskaya, D. Kochetkov, M. Buzun, V. Buzun, O. Pershin, N. Polikarpova, A. Yakovlev, A. Afanasova, N. Sazhina, G. Dmitrenko, E. Melnikov and Pasvik Nature Reserve.
Pasvik Nature Reserve
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Pasvik Nature Reserve
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The site was modernized with the support of the Kolarctic CBC 2014–2020 program, within the framework of this project.
- Gvardeyskiy avenue 43, Nikel, Pechenga District, Murmansk Region, 184421
- +7 815 54 50 700
pasvik.zapovednik@yandex.ru
- If you have an emergency, witnessed a fire or illegal dumping, dial:
- +7 815 54 50 700
+7 921 668 88 81
© Pasvik State Nature Reserve
All rights reserved. Any copying from this site is prohibited without permission of the nature reserve's administration.
All rights reserved. Any copying from this site is prohibited without permission of the nature reserve's administration.
