Sofronova, E.V. 2019. Liverworts of the mountain tundra belt of the North-East Yakutia
Arctoa (2019) 28: 210–217
doi: 10.15298/arctoa.28.18
The materials collected during
several expeditions in the mountains of NE Yakutia
are summarized; they include the data on species composition, distribution of
liverworts in mountain tundra belt in North-Eastern Yakutia and their ecology. In
total, 111 liverwort species were revealed; 15 of them are known within Yakutia
only here. Apotreubia hortoniae, Diplophyllum albicans, Frullania ignatovii,
Gymnomitrion brevissimum, G. commutatum, Herbertus aduncus, Isopaches alboviridis,
Marsupella arctica, M. boeckii, and Pleurocladula albescens are
found in Yakutia in 1–3 localities. Presence in mountain ranges, habitats and
substrates (most frequent ones are highlighted), presence of gametangia,
sporophytes and brood bodies, and most frequent associated species are given
for each species. Liverwort species with sound role in vegetation of mountain
tundra are revealed. Liverworts preferably inhabit places where competition
with mosses and vascular plants is low; however, they avoid unstable
substrates. The highest liverwort diversity was observed along mountain brooks
with slow current, while the lowest number of species was revealed on
rock-fields, solifluction slopes, and near late snowfields. The high species
number was found on frost medallions and in pools in bogs.