The results of studies of biological activity, concentrations of carbon-containing greenhouse gases and their emissions in eutrophic and mesotrophic swamps are presented. It was established that 4 years of research are characterized as long-term averages, levels marsh water in the swamps were close to the surface, and the humidity in the 0–30 cm layer did not fall below 0.8 of the total moisture capacity. It was revealed that the degree of heating of peat profiles of swamps is determined by their type and the level marsh water. The activity of oxidoreductases involved in the formation of humic substances has been revealed. The activity of catalase and polyphenol oxidase in the peats of a eutrophic swamp is identical to their activity in the peats of a mesotrophic swamp, and the activity of peroxidase in eutrophic peats is 1.5–6 times higher compared to the peats of a mesotrophic swamp. The dynamics of carbon-containing gases in the peat profile of swamps was studied, which showed similar values for both types of swamps from 0.07 to 1.4 mmol/dm3 for CO2 and from zero to 0.65 mmol/dm3 for CH4. The extreme values of the concentration of CO2 and CH4 gases in the eutrophic peat deposit were determined: for CO2—0.07–1.40 and for CH4—0.00–0.65 mmol/dm3, and in the mesotrophic: for CO2—0.05–1.10 mmol/dm3 and for CH4—0.00–0.62 mmol/dm3. In the eutrophic swamp, limits of emission values are observed: for CO2—17.2–932 77.1 mg CO2/(m2 h), for CH4 1.3–11.3 mg CH4/(m2 h). In a mesotrophic swamp, the emission limits are: for CO2—34.9–109.9 mg CO2/(m2 h), for CH4—0.5–15.1 mg CH4/(m2 h). Quantitative indicators of biological parameters and their distribution along the peat profile of eutrophic and mesotrophic types were obtained. It has been proven that the activity of biological processes manifests itself throughout the peat profile of the swamp down to the mineral underlying rocks, but the degree of their activity is determined by the type of swamp and the botanical composition of the peat profile.

The results of the study of enzymatic activity of peats of the three bogs of upper and lowland types – Saim, Bolshoye and Tungusovskoye (Tomsk region) are presented. The peculiarities of organic matter formation of peats of different types are given. It is shown that the properties of peats with up to eight different plants in their composition are a consequence of the different structure of polymers of the original plants. The activity indices of enzymes invertase, protease, catalase, polyphenol oxidase, nitrate and nitrite reductase in the peats of different genesis are determined. Thus, at the type level, the extreme values of nitrate and nitrite reductase activity in the peats of the upland bog are equal to 3.60–4.94 mg of reduced NO3– /24 h/g and 3.52–7.01 mg of reduced NO2–/24 h/g, respectively, lowland bog – 4.66–19.33 mg of reduced NO3–/24 h/g and 0.9–13.0 mg of reduced NO2 –/24 h/g, fluvial bog – 8.77–22.29 mg of reduced NO3–/24 h/g and 0.2–13.6 mg of reduced NO2 –/24 h/g. The activity of the enzyme in peats and in mineral soils is compared with the activity estimation according to the D.G. Zvyagintsev scale. Peats are found to show a wider range of invertase values than indicated by the scale. The need to develop a gradation of enzymatic activity assessment for peats is identified. Probably, the activity of enzymes on peat OM transformation may increase when external conditions change towards warming. In the future, it is suggested to develop an evaluation cadastre of peats by enzymatic activity, which will allow, through a balanced selection of peats for agricultural production, to ensure the required quality of products, their environmental safety and economic efficiency.

When studying the carbon cycle in the biosphere, special attention is paid in Russia to the transformation of organic matter in the surface layer of supergene zone. The group composition of the organic matter (OM) in peats of different genesis in the taiga zone of Western Siberia is studied. Our data show that it is important to take into account the botanical composition of peat that make up natural and reclaimed forest swamps, well as their spatial heterogeneity, which is a necessary component when estimating the carbon stocks in peat soils of forest ecosystems within the national monitoring system for carbon pools and greenhouse gas fluxes. The experiments on peat OM transformation demonstrate that its efficiency is determined by its botanical composition. According to the rate of OM decomposition, the oligotrophic peats form a sequence: sphagnum–hollow > complex > fuscum > scheuchzeria–sphagnum > cotton grass–sphagnum > scheuchzeria > cotton grass peats and eutrophic peats: hypnum > sedge > sedge–hypnum > menyanthes > woody > wood–sedge peats. According to two-year field experiments on the transformation rate and direction of the OM of peat-forming plants, the component and chemical compositions of their OM significantly changes but in an individual manner for each plant. The content of aromatic polyconjugated systems and carboxyl groups increases, while the amount of carbohydrate fragments decreases. A 60 years long forest amelioration influences the transformation of peat OM. The degree of grass and sedge peat species in the process of amelioration increases by 5

The results from surveying swamps in the Altai Republic at permanent stations from 2010 to 2014 are presented. The hydrothermal and gas regimes, as well as carbon dioxide and methane emissions, have been investigated at observation stations located in the Turochak, Kutyushskoe, and Balanak swamps. It is pointed out that, throughout all the years of investigation, the levels of swamp water remained close to the surface and the humidity did not fall beyond the limit 0.8 of total moisture capacity. The extreme values of CO 2 and CH 4 concentrations in the mesotrophic peat deposit varied from 0.05‒1.10 mmol/dm 3 to 0‒0.62 mmol/dm 3 , respectively. In the eutrophic deposit, these values were higher: 0.07‒1.40 for CO 2 and 0‒0.65 mmol/dm 3 for CH 4 . It is established that different weather conditions are not the determining factor for the dynamics of the gas regime in the peat deposit of eutrophic and mesotrophic genesis. A significant role is played by other factors that have been neglected. It is found that the concentration of greenhouse gases in peat deposits of a different genesis varies within small limits, and their dynamics under different weather conditions have an unstable regime, but with a general increasing trend towards the underlying rock. It is confirmed that mountain swamps are not a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. Extreme losses of CO 2 and CH 4 in total for the summer period were 29.7 to 76.6 g/(m 2 × summer period) in the Turochak Swamp and 42.1 to 80.9 g/(m 2 × summer period) in the Kutyushskoe Swamp, which is a factor of 15‒43 smaller than the net primary production.

Swamps and wetlands in forested areas, as well as nonforest swamps, are collectively involved in the global carbon cycle. They play an important role in depositing greenhouse gases. This article analyzes the long-term dynamics of concentration of greenhouse gases (CO2 and CH4) in a peat deposit and their emission in a natural and reclaimed oligotrophic bog in the southern taiga zone of Western Siberia. It is shown that a significant role in the dynamics of CO2 and CH4 concentration in peat deposits is played by weather conditions in each month of the warm period, as well as by the botanical composition, the activity of biochemical processes, and the structure and physical and mechanical properties of peat deposits. We have also identified the intradeposit spatial and temporal dynamics of indices of greenhouse gas concentrations. It has been proven that there are multicomponent dependences of CO2 and CH4 concentrations on parameters of external and intradeposit conditions. Parameters of concentrations in the peat deposit of the oligotrophic bog from the swampy catchment basin of the Klyuch River have been determined as follows: extreme concentrations of CO2 were 0.002–3.64 mmol/dm3 and extreme concentrations of CH4 were 0.003–2.03 mmol/dm3; normalized CO2 fluxes varied from /–22.2/ to 157.8 mg C/(m2 h), the extreme values of normalized CH4 fluxes were /–3.0/–5.3 mg C/(m2 h), CO2 fluxes for the warm period were 20–110 g C/(m2 year), and CH4 fluxes for the warm period were 0.8–3.7 C/(m2 year). A slight increase in the activity of normalized CO2 fluxes has been recorded at the forest reclamation site compared to a natural swamp, while the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the peat deposit have proven to be comparable in both cases. It is shown that the absence of an operating drainage system leads to rebogging. The vast areas of swamps on the West Siberian Plain and the aggressive pattern of bogging implies moderate and selective forest reclamation for its taiga zone.

Structural indicators (abundance and diversity) of the fungal and actinomycete complexes of eutrophic peat soils in the zone of active organic detritus decomposition, namely, litter (L and F layers) and eutrophic peat horizon (TE), were analyzed. Samples were e taken in swamped forests (black alder, pine, birch, and mixed forest stands) of the Tver and Tomsk oblasts (Russia) in summer of 2021. The abundance of mycelial organisms was measured by fluorescence microscopy and plate method. Species of culturable representatives were identified by their phenotypic traits. The fungal mycelium in the litter is two–tenfold longer as compared with the TE horizons; the abundance of culturable fungi is bigger by two‒three orders of magnitude; and that of actinomycetes, by one‒two orders of magnitude. The litter fermentative layer (F) displays the maximum carbon content of the mycelial component (3‒10 mg C/g). The stocks of actinomycete biomass in the zone of active organic detritus decomposition varies from 23 to 60 kg/ha and of fungal biomass, from 1593 to 3718 kg/ha. The share of litter in the total stock of mycelial biomass across the profile is larger in deciduous forests. In total, 70 species of culturable fungi belonging to 43 genera and 42 actinomycetes species of 12 series and 4 sections were isolated from the zone of active organic detritus decomposition. Representatives of Penicillium, Talaromyces, and Trichoderma genera are prevalent in the fungal complex and of Streptomyces, in the actinomycete complex. The litter does not yield to the TE horizon in terms of species diversity of both fungi and actinomycetes. The species similarity of fungal complexes of the litter and TE horizon is 0.68 and that of actinomycetes, 0.27.

This study deals with the analysis of long-term trends in greenhouse gas concentration, emission, and flows in the landscape profile (LP) of the Vasyugan swamp located in the southern taiga biome in Western Siberia. The autonomous part of the LP is occupied by the sedge–sphagnum swamp; the transitional part, by the dwarf-shrub–sphagnum swamp with low pine trees; and the accumulative part, by the dwarf-shrub–sphagnum swamp with high pine trees. Peat deposit in autonomous and transitional parts of the LP is up to 3 m in thickness, whereas in the accumulative part, up to 1 m. Concentrations of greenhouse gases were determined by the equilibrium diffusion chambers (“peepers”) method, and emissions were determined by the chamber method. It was found that under different climatic conditions the concentration of CO2 in the LP peat deposits varied in the range from 0.01 to 4.2 mmol/dm3; and the concentration of CH4, from 0.01 to 2.19 mmol/dm3. Against the background of an uneven distribution of CO2 and CH4 in peat deposits, a tendency for an increase in their concentrations and a decrease in the amplitude of fluctuations with the depth was revealed. A reliable influence of the botanical composition of peat on the profile activity of the studied gases was determined. The temporal variability of greenhouse gas concentrations in the upper layer of LP peat deposits was greatly affected by the weather conditions: the maximum values of CO2 concentrations were more often recorded in July and of CH4 concentrations, in May and September. The CO2 emission in LP peat deposits during the 8-yr-long observation period ranged from 3.9 to 160.3 mg CO2/(m2 h); and CO2 flows, from 17 to 120.5 g C/(m2 yr); CH4 emission varied from –3.0 to 10.7 mg CH4/(m2 h); and CH4 flows, from 0.5 to 6.7 g C/(m2 yr). At all observation points of the LP, maximum CO2 flows and minimum CH4 flows were recorded in a dry year with the annual hydrothermal index of 0.9. The flows of CH4 consistently increased from the accumulative to the transit and then to the autonomous part of the LP irrespectively of the hydrothermal conditions of particular year.

Thanks to the recently published papers on the classification and diagnostics of soils in Russia, significant progress has been made in theoretical and practical soil science. Here, we outline the principles of the classification of peat soils, which occupy approximately 9% of the soil resources in Russia and annually increasing. As is shown, the organic and mineral parts of peat soils form a genetically integrated soil profile retaining the history of its development. We propose to regard the entire peat profile down to the underlying mineral rocks as peat soils. In our view, the approach described in the classification of peats and peat deposits by Tyuremnov and his team (Moscow Peat Institute) is most adequate as the basis for the classification of peat soils. The highest taxonomic unit in this classification is peat type, distinguished according to the conditions of peat profile formation, and the lowest unit is peat species, based on peat geobotanical composition. Several examples demonstrate that the identification of taxonomic units utilizing the botanical composition of peats is able to more objectively assess each stratigraphic layer of peat soil.

The comprehensive study of mycobiota in full profiles of eutrophic peatlands based on abundance and diversity rates has been carried out in order to broaden the knowledge on microorganisms’ biodiversity in wetland ecosystems and get a detailed understanding of their functioning. Thick eutrophic peatlands of forest and floodplain origin in Tver and Tomsk oblasts, Russia, were the objects of research. The abundance of fungi has been assessed by luminescent microscopic and plate methods. Culturable fungi were identified basing on their phenotypic features. All the numbers and rates acquired were analyzed considering that the peatland profile could be divided into acrotelm and catotelm layers. Samples were taken from the peatlands layer-by-layer with regard to botanical composition of peat in September 2019. The length of fungal mycelium varied in the studied peatlands from 195 m to 2.3 km per gram, the number of spores varied from 8 to 45 million spores per gram of dry peat. The fungal mycelium biomass differed (2–24 times) from peatland to peatland, whereas the fungal spore biomass was similar at all studied sites. Fungal biomass supplies in the studied peatlands, calculated for the whole profile, varied from 2 to 18.7 t/ha. Alder peatland (Alnusglutinosa) of forest origin was especially rich in fungal biomass. The proportion of fungal biomass in the acrotelm varied from 52 to 72% of total fungal biomass throughout all the peat profile. Culturable fungi were represented by 52 species of 32 genera. In the samples of analyzed fungi the representatives of genera: Mortierella, Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Trichoderma were the most widespread. The list of fungi species and the frequency of their occurrence are presented in the study. The Shannon’s biodiversity index varied from 1.8 to 2.5. The taxonomic similarity of the fungal complexes in the studied peatland in accordance with the Sørensen-Dice Index did not exceed 0.65.

This article contains an analysis of structural and functional parameters of bacterial complexes taken for examination from complete profiles of fens assigned to the Klyukvennoe and Karbyshevskoe wetlands in Tomsk oblast. Bacteria in the fens are revealed throughout the entire profile. Their number determined by a direct method of fluorescence microscopy is high and varies from 27 to 78 × 109 cells/g of dry peat. The high number of saprotrophic bacteria (to 108–109 CFU/g of dry peat) is detected by the plate method. An increase in the number of saprotrophic bacteria down the fen profile is revealed. These data enable us to conclude for the first time that index k (a dimensionless universal characteristic of natural prokaryotic communities) in fen profiles decreases with depth. The bacterial cultures isolated from the fens studied are assigned to ten taxa: Bacillus, Streptomyces, Arthrobacter, Microbacterium, Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium, Dyadobacter, Janthinobacterium, Pedobacter, and Myxobacteriales. The acrotelm is dominated by bacterial cultures represented by genera Bacillus and Streptomyces; and Pseudomonas, Dyadobacter, and Arthrobacter are the dominants of the catotelm. The functions of bacterial genera and species identified by molecular biological methods are described. The study of nitrogen fixation, denitrification, and methanogenesis has shown that bacteria are viable and active throughout the entire peat profile.

Oligotrophic peatlands traditionally have a high profile in microbiological research. Eutrophic peatlands are studied by residual principle and their research is generally focused on the active layer, acrotelm. The purpose of our study was to assess microbial biomass, its structure and activity in the full profiles of peatlands of various geneses. We investigated eutrophic peatlands of lacustrine, forest, and floodplain origins in Tver and Tomsk regions. Luminescent microscopy was used to analyze the microbial biomass. Microbial respiration was examined by gas chromatography. Microbial biomass stocks calculated for a three-meter layer of the studied peatlands varied from 7 to 13 t/ha. Eukaryotic biomass stocks reached 3–9 t/ha, and prokaryotic biomass stocks were about 3–4 t/ha. Eukaryotes predominated in the microbial biomass of the acrotelm, while prokaryotes predominated in the microbial biomass of the catotelm. Bacteria dominated in the structure of prokaryotic biomass all over the profiles of the studied peatlands. The fraction of actinomycetic mycelium did not exceed 15%. It was found that prokaryotic biomass depends on the botanical composition of peat in the eutrophic peatlands. This dependence becomes stronger from the woody peat to the herbaceous peat. The comparison of eutrophic peatlands of different geneses demonstrated their microbial specificity. Thus, the peatland of forest bogging had the maximum microbial pool among all peatlands. The peatland of lacustrine origin was characterized by the saturation of the acrotelm with microbial biomass. The peatland of floodplain origin was maximally enriched in bacterial biomass. In many layers of studied peatlands, the potential respiration level was 2–5 times higher than the actual one. Microbial respiration reached its maximum intensity in the peatland of floodplain origin.

Mire ecosystems in Western Siberia play a significant role in the environment and sustain ecological balance in the biosphere. The aim of the research was to study the chemical and biological processes of mire pedogenesis and the influence of this process on the formation of the composition of bog water and its migration to surface waters. The research was carried out in the southern taiga zone of Western Siberia in a small catchment of the Klyuch River within a catena of geochemically linked mire landscapes. The chemical and microbiological properties of the peat soils were studied in autonomous, transitional, and accumulative geomorphic positions; their influence on the formation of chemical composition of bog water was determined in each position. It was shown that a predominance of certain plant associations (oligotrophic sphagnum, cotton grass, or sedges) caused the accumulation of organic matter of significantly different chemical compositions. The biochemical activity could be traced throughout the peat profiles and affected significantly the chemical composition of bog water. Bog water had certain individual chemical properties in each landscape position. The factors affecting the migration of substances and the removal of chemical compounds beyond the studied profile were determined. The overall removal of macroelements with runoff flows during the growing season amounted up to 4843 kg/km2 for Ca2+, 51.7 kg/km2 for total Fe, 1419.0 kg/km2 for $${\text{SO}}_{4}^{{2 - }},$$ 2.253 × 10–3 kg/km2 for Pb, 10.037 × 10–3 kg/km2 for Cu, 317.29 × 10–3 kg/km2 for Mn, 41.191 × 10–3 kg/km2 for Zn, 8.151 × 10–3 kg/km2 for Ni, and 29.651 × 10–3 kg/km2 for Ti. The removal of organic matter reached 583.2 kg C/km2. The influence of bog water (especially, its organic components) on the water composition in the Klyuch River was clearly shown. Our data on the chemical composition of bog water in the system of geochemically linked more landscapes and on the bog water migration from the boggy catchment can be used to forecast the geochemical situation in the surface waters of boggy territories.

Болота занимают в России значительные территории. В статье рассмотрены основные факторы процесса образования торфяных болот и их биосферные функции. На примере сосново-кустарничково-сфагновых биогеоценозов Западной Сибири проанализирован баланс углерода в различные по погодным условиям годы. Результаты полевых наблюдений и проведенные расчеты прироста торфа в некоторых типах болот на основе математической модели свидетельствуют о положительном балансе (нетто-накоплении углерода) в разные годы. Можно сделать предположение, что в предстоящие десятилетия в современных климатических условиях (при увеличении количества осадков и повышении температуры), в северных регионах России, в том числе и на территории Западной Сибири, процесс болотообразования и торфонакопления активизируется.

Belonging to a specific geochemical region determines the qualitative conditions for the formation of the biogenic and abiogenic properties of peat deposits of swamps. The article provides the analysis of the microbiological and enzymatic activity of different genesis peat deposits in Western Siberia and the Gorny Altai region and their influence on the hydrochemical composition of swamp waters. Most of the chemical elements in the swamp water of the Western Siberia are characterized by elevated concentrations compared to the swamps of the Gorny Altai region. However, the swamp waters of the Gorny Altai region have a predominant content of humic acids in comparison with fulvic acids, unlike the composition of swamp waters of Western Siberia. It was revealed that the redox conditions of the 1-m-thick layer of the peat deposit are of great importance, in which the hydrochemical composition of the swamp waters with individual features in each type of phytocenosis is formed on the basis of biochemical processes during the vegetative season. The maximum concentration of almost all components is observed on the margin of the swamp as a result of migration of substances in this direction from autonomous swamp landscapes. The results of studies of the biochemical activity of the 1-m-thick layer of the peat deposits of different swamps according to the genesis indicate that the peat deposits of the mesotrophic and eutrophic types are characterized by the greatest biochemical activity. On the landscape profile of geochemically linked swamps, a high overall biochemical activity is noted in the peat deposit of autonomous position. It is concluded that the migratory streams from the territory of Western Siberia, which is distinguished by a large swamping and an active manifestation of the peat formation process, influence the formation of the biogenic and abiogenic composition of river waters. The performed studies have shown that it is necessary to take into account the hierarchy and conjugation of landscapes of the river basin and the organic component of swamp waters.