326
Land-Ocean Svstems in the Siberian Arctic: Dynamics and History
Meesia triquetra, Aulacomnium palustre) on Fibri-geJic Histosols; B) Moist herb-moss
communities of the polygon borders (Carex arctisibirica, sometimes Astragalus umbellatus,
Calamagrostis holmii; the moss layer consists of Tomentypnum nitens, Sphagnum spsp.); the
soils are Umbri-gelic Gleysols; the cover is continuous.
33 - Residual-polygonal bogs from the same location, but further from the lakeshore
These bogs are characterized by a significant development of thermokarst on the background
flat-polygons and the low center polygon. The outliers of the elevated polygons occupy 5-25 %
of the area. The vegetation is classified into 2 elements according to microrelief: A) Polygon
outliers with moist shrub-herb-moss communities (Salix reptans, S.pulchra, Carex
arctisibirica, Luzula con/usa, Senecio atropurpureus, Calamagrostis holmii; the dense moss
layer consists of Polytrichum strictum, Dicranum elongatum, Aulacomnium palustre). The soil
is Umbri-gelic Gleysol; B) Thermokarst depressions with vegetation and soils analogous to
polygons of unit 32; continuous plant cover.
34 - Paisa bog complexes
There is one large massif in the Krasn~a River mouth valley; it is probably a relict of an ancient
warmer epoch. The cracks between palsas are frequently filled with water and the palsas reach
1,5 m In height. Denudation is evident on the palsas. The vegetation comprises 3 elements: A)
Mesic shrub-herb-moss communities on palsas with 90-100 % cover (Salix reptans, Cassiope
tetragona, Carex arctisibirica, Luzula con/usa, Senecio atropurpureus, Calamagrostis
holmii), the moss layer is thick (Polytrichum strictum, Dicranum elongatum, Aulacomnium
turgidum). The soils are Umbri-gelic or Dystri-gelic Gleysols; B) Wet continuous sedge-cotton
grass-moss communities in cracks (Eriophorum polistachyon, E. medium, Carex concolor, the
hygrophilous moss Limprichtia revolvens) on Dystri-gelic Gleysols; C) Undergrowth of
Arctophila fulva in water-filled cracks; the floating moss Calliergon giganteum is sometimes
also found.
Acknowledgements
We thank all of the field group investigators from the AARI, AWl, IPO, MGU, ISSP, IfE,
MLU expedition and members of the Taimyrsky reserve for their assistance in the field. We
especially thank the expedition chief, Dr. D. Yu.Bolshijanov, and the Reserve chief, Yu. M.
Karbainov, for the organization of field work. We gratefully acknowledge E.B. Pospelova for
her review of the manuscript and for botanical consultation, M.V. Orlov for consultation on soil
sciences and Prof. V.D. Vassiljevskaja for assistance in soil nomenclature.
References
Alexandrova, V.D. (1977) Geobotanic subdivision of Arctica and Antarctica (in Russian). Nauka, Leningrad,
188pp.
Andreev, V.N. and V.D. Alexandrova (1981) Geobotanical division of the Soviet Arctic. In: L.C. Bliss (ed.)
Tundra ecosystems: a comparative analysis, Cambrige Univ. Press, Cambridge, 1981, 813pp.
Arctic flora of the USSR (1960-1987), Vol. I-X. Nauka, Moscow - Leningrad (in Russian).
Armand, D.L. (1975) Landscape science (in Russian). Mysl, Moscow, 287pp.
Bolshiyanov, D. Yu. and H.-W. Hubberten (1996) Russian-German Cooperation: The Expedition Taymyr 1995
and the Expedition Kolyma 1995 of the ISSP Pushchino group. - Reports on Polar Research. No. 211.
Bremerhaven,215pp.
Chronicle of the Nature State Biosphere reserve "Taimyrsky" (1995) Vol. 10. Chatanga, 11-93 (in Russian).
Czernov, Ju.I. and N.V. Matveeva (1979) The laws of zonal distribution of Taimyr plant communities (in
Russian). In: Arctic Tundras and Polar Deserts of Taimyr.Nauka, Leningrad, 166-200.
Land-Ocean Svstems in the Siberian Arctic: Dynamics and History
Meesia triquetra, Aulacomnium palustre) on Fibri-geJic Histosols; B) Moist herb-moss
communities of the polygon borders (Carex arctisibirica, sometimes Astragalus umbellatus,
Calamagrostis holmii; the moss layer consists of Tomentypnum nitens, Sphagnum spsp.); the
soils are Umbri-gelic Gleysols; the cover is continuous.
33 - Residual-polygonal bogs from the same location, but further from the lakeshore
These bogs are characterized by a significant development of thermokarst on the background
flat-polygons and the low center polygon. The outliers of the elevated polygons occupy 5-25 %
of the area. The vegetation is classified into 2 elements according to microrelief: A) Polygon
outliers with moist shrub-herb-moss communities (Salix reptans, S.pulchra, Carex
arctisibirica, Luzula con/usa, Senecio atropurpureus, Calamagrostis holmii; the dense moss
layer consists of Polytrichum strictum, Dicranum elongatum, Aulacomnium palustre). The soil
is Umbri-gelic Gleysol; B) Thermokarst depressions with vegetation and soils analogous to
polygons of unit 32; continuous plant cover.
34 - Paisa bog complexes
There is one large massif in the Krasn~a River mouth valley; it is probably a relict of an ancient
warmer epoch. The cracks between palsas are frequently filled with water and the palsas reach
1,5 m In height. Denudation is evident on the palsas. The vegetation comprises 3 elements: A)
Mesic shrub-herb-moss communities on palsas with 90-100 % cover (Salix reptans, Cassiope
tetragona, Carex arctisibirica, Luzula con/usa, Senecio atropurpureus, Calamagrostis
holmii), the moss layer is thick (Polytrichum strictum, Dicranum elongatum, Aulacomnium
turgidum). The soils are Umbri-gelic or Dystri-gelic Gleysols; B) Wet continuous sedge-cotton
grass-moss communities in cracks (Eriophorum polistachyon, E. medium, Carex concolor, the
hygrophilous moss Limprichtia revolvens) on Dystri-gelic Gleysols; C) Undergrowth of
Arctophila fulva in water-filled cracks; the floating moss Calliergon giganteum is sometimes
also found.
Acknowledgements
We thank all of the field group investigators from the AARI, AWl, IPO, MGU, ISSP, IfE,
MLU expedition and members of the Taimyrsky reserve for their assistance in the field. We
especially thank the expedition chief, Dr. D. Yu.Bolshijanov, and the Reserve chief, Yu. M.
Karbainov, for the organization of field work. We gratefully acknowledge E.B. Pospelova for
her review of the manuscript and for botanical consultation, M.V. Orlov for consultation on soil
sciences and Prof. V.D. Vassiljevskaja for assistance in soil nomenclature.
References
Alexandrova, V.D. (1977) Geobotanic subdivision of Arctica and Antarctica (in Russian). Nauka, Leningrad,
188pp.
Andreev, V.N. and V.D. Alexandrova (1981) Geobotanical division of the Soviet Arctic. In: L.C. Bliss (ed.)
Tundra ecosystems: a comparative analysis, Cambrige Univ. Press, Cambridge, 1981, 813pp.
Arctic flora of the USSR (1960-1987), Vol. I-X. Nauka, Moscow - Leningrad (in Russian).
Armand, D.L. (1975) Landscape science (in Russian). Mysl, Moscow, 287pp.
Bolshiyanov, D. Yu. and H.-W. Hubberten (1996) Russian-German Cooperation: The Expedition Taymyr 1995
and the Expedition Kolyma 1995 of the ISSP Pushchino group. - Reports on Polar Research. No. 211.
Bremerhaven,215pp.
Chronicle of the Nature State Biosphere reserve "Taimyrsky" (1995) Vol. 10. Chatanga, 11-93 (in Russian).
Czernov, Ju.I. and N.V. Matveeva (1979) The laws of zonal distribution of Taimyr plant communities (in
Russian). In: Arctic Tundras and Polar Deserts of Taimyr.Nauka, Leningrad, 166-200.