Popov,, S.Yu. Distribution patterns of
Sphagnum sect.
Acutifolia species
in the Eastern
European Plain and Eastern Fennoscandia
Arctoa (2018) 27: 34–48
doi: 10.15298/arctoa.27.4
Distribution of 11 species
of Sphagnum from section Acutifolia
in the East European Plain
and Eastern Fennoscandia (EEPEF) is analysed. Area
of each species
was compiled using geostatistics methods. Within the range of
each species, the abundance zones
determined on a six-point scale
are shown. Patterns of species
distribution, depending on changes in
climatic factors, were revealed with
using the methods of multivariative
analysis. A map of species
richness for the studied territory
is drawn up and regularities
of changes in the number
of growing species are determined,
in connection with the change
in climatic parameters. Eleven species of the
section Acutifolia
are divided in two groups
by their distribution pattern. First group contains such species as
S. girgensohnii, S. russowii,
S. capillifolium, S. warnstorfii,
S. fuscum, S. rubellum, and S. fimbriatum, widespread in EEPEF.
They grow in all vegetation
zones (except desert and semidesert
zones) and have maximal abundance
in the west
of the territory,
in boreal and hemiboreal zones. Second group
includes S. quinquefarium,
S. subnitens, S. subfulvum,
and S. molle, the rarest species
in EEPEF. These species are
distributed in boreal and hemiboreal
zones only around the Baltic
Sea and have
low abundance elsewhere. High moisture is nessesary
for high species abundance. For the group
of widespread species, values of precipitation amount must be
not less than 600 mm per
year and relative humidity – not less than
60% durining growing season through the zones of
climatic optimum. In the zones
of climatic pessimum it might
be various, but not less
than 450 mm and 50% respectively. For the group
of rare species,
annual precipitation must be not
less then 600 mm and relative
humidity during growing season – not less 70% through
the whole range. In addition
to the climatic
factors, distribution of rare species
is probably associated with areas of maximal
distribution of peatlands and presence
of glacial forms of relief
within the zone of maximal
spread of the Last Glaciation.
In these regions maximal species diversity is also observed.