Frozen peatlands in the Northern Hemisphere are vulnerable to climate change and, according to recent scenarios, may degrade within the current century. However, the variability of regional factors and features of the development history can distort forecasts of their dynamics. To highlight this, we investigate the unique frozen peat plateau of Sosnovets Island (White Sea, NW Russia) on the edge of the sporadic permafrost zone. We show the developmental stages of the island peatland, identify patterns of peat accumulation and examine the permafrost in peat. The studied peatland formed when the top of the Sosnovets Island emerged from the sea ca. 7000 cal BP. In the mid-Holocene, its rate of isostatic uplift was 1.8 mm/year. In the late Holocene, it decreased to 1 mm/year, and now it has entered a subsidence phase. Although the age of permafrost formation is estimated ca. 2400 cal BP, peat accumulation after that did not stop and is now ongoing at a rate of 0.1–0.2 mm/year. Since occurrence, permafrost has been present without interruption on the island, and despite positive mean annual temperatures, is characterized by sufficient stability. Exogenous factors for the stability of the plateau are severe winters, strong winds, and low amounts of precipitation. The endogenous factors are large thickness of the peat deposit, dry conditions because of drainage, and undulating terrain that does not promote a large accumulation of snow. As a result, this combination provides good thermal insulation properties of peat, prevents lateral thermal effects, and reduces the wind erosion. Overall, the frozen peat plateau of Sosnovets Island is an important site of the permafrost monitoring network in Northern Fennoscandia, as it would take significant climate shifts to cause its irreversible degradation.

The Khibiny Mountains (hereafter called Khibiny Mts.) are one of the most urbanized and industrialized regions in the Russian Arctic. There are combined a developed mining complex, elaborate infrastructure, a well-known tourist resort, and a large population, all amidst an exceptionally rich biodiversity of plants. In this study, we analyzed the current knowledge of the spatial distribution of rare and endangered vascular plants and vegetation and the impacts of human activities on these ecosystems. Approximately 28% of the protected vascular plant species in the Murmansk Region were registered within the confines of the Khibiny Mts. In particular, although only a handful of protected species had a widespread presence, most rare species were confined to the southern reaches of the mountain range, with only a select few extending into other parts. Papaver lapponicum was the only species that thrived across the entire territory, including industrial areas. The studied territory contained nine specially protected areas spanning 123,220 hectares. Nature monuments adjacent to mining sites and urban centers play an important role in preserving regional biodiversity. However, the expansion of the mining industry, alongside deforestation and wildfires, poses considerable threats to the biodiversity of the Khibiny Mts. A comprehensive biodiversity conservation strategy implemented in this region balances the local and expansive territorial protection of rare species and habitats, ensuring environmental preservation while facilitating social and economic progress, a noteworthy example of environmental protection in the Arctic.

Started in 2021, the field work for a new flora in ventory continued in the Utrish Strict Nature Reserve in 2022. The territory of the reserve was covered by a network of floristic transects in which the locations of vascular plants were recorded. Among the newly recorded plant species, 23 are new findings for the territory of the Utrish Reserve, three of which are included in the third edition of the Red Data Book of the Krasnodar Krai. Lolium subulatum, previously known in Russia only in the vicinity of the city of Novorossiysk, was found. The western most Caucasian populations of Athyrium filix-femina and Ophioglossum vulgatum were recorded. In contrast to the studies of the previous year, no new plant species originating from food waste were found. However, Secale cereale was observed, apparently grown from forage for feeders scattered on a road. According to our preliminary assessment of literary sources and the new data of 2022, the flora of the Utrish Reserve within the new boundaries has 979 species of vascular plants.

The Lovozero Mountains are one of the largest mountain ranges in the Murmansk Region, characterized by a high level of botanical diversity as well as sozological significance. Based on the specimens of herbarium of the Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute (KPABG), collected in the Lovozero Mountains, 32 out of 37 protected species recorded in literature were identified. The whole information from the herbarium labels was digitalized, geo-referencing was performed according to a standardized protocol. The article shows that herbarium collections are distributed fairly evenly in the Lovozero Mountains, in contrast to the Khibiny Mountains. Regarding protected areas, the most representative herbarium specimens are from the Seydyavvr Nature Reserve, as well as from the area of the botanical natural monument 'Arnica Plants and Poppies in the Indichjok Gorge'. A considerable proportion of protected species habitats is located outside the existing protected areas, which confirms the necessity to reorganize the Seydyavvr State Nature Reserve into the Seydyavvr Nature Parkand increase its area. A high concentration of protected species, confirmed by herbarium specimens, is associated with the north-western part of the mountain range on Karnasurt Mountain near the Lovozersky Mining and Processing Plant. The spatial analysis revealed the necessity of special botanical research of the protected areas in the Lovozero Mountains, as well as a detailed study of the previous records, especially in the areas of active economic and recreational activities.

Qualitative differences in the nrDNA ITS and ETS sequences in the total sample were determined to allow identification of the following groups of samples: H. mantegazzianum, H . cf. sosnowskyi, H . cf. mantegazzianum and H . cf. sosnowskyi × H . cf. mantegazzianum among other representatives of the Heracleum genus presented in the genetic databases. The study revealed the absence of correlation between a sample type in the group H. mantegazzianum, H . cf. sosnowskyi, H . cf. mantegazzianum and H . cf. sosnowskyi × H . cf. mantegazzianum and qualitative transformations in the ITS and ETS sequences. The qualitative analysis of the rbcL, matK, rps16 intron, intergenic spacers psbA-trnH, trnQ-rps16, rps16-trnK and rpl32-trnL cpDNA sequences for the samples identified as Heracleum mantegazzianum , H . cf. sosnowskyi , H . cf. mantegazzianum and H . cf. sosnowskyi × H . cf. mantegazzianum demonstrated no correlation between them as well.

Abstract Heracleum mantegazzianum Sommier & Levier and Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden. are two species that belong to the giant invasive hogweed complex. H. mantegazzianum is predominantly found in Western European countries, while H. sosnowskyi is invasive in the European part of Russia and Eastern European countries. The taxonomy of the Heracleum genus is quite complex, and identifying these species requires extensive expertise. Surprisingly, although H. mantegazzianum and H. sosnowskyi are considered separate species, their morphological and ecological-physiological properties, as well as their ontogeny and population structure, exhibit remarkable similarities, making them ecological twins. The intentional introduction of this invasive species was initially conducted in the cities of Kirovsk city (Murmansk region, Russia) and Syktyvkar city (Komi Republic, Russia). Plant materials sourced from these two regions were subsequently distributed to all regions encompassing the modern hogweed invasion range across the former USSR countries. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that the plants initially introduced in Kirovsk and Syktyvkar actually belong to H. mantegazzianum. To accomplish this, herbarium material was collected, and DNA barcoding was performed on 16 samples of giant invasive hogweed from the vicinity of the cities of Kirovsk and Syktyvkar, as well as on 30 H. mantegazzianum samples collected within its native range in the Western Caucasus. The results of morphological identification combined with DNA barcoding demonstrate that H. mantegazzianum and the plants growing in Kirovsk and Syktyvkar belong to the same species – H. mantegazzianum, rather than H. sosnowskyi as previously believed.

Data on 124 findings of 25 regionally red-listed species of vascular plants collected in the Tersky and Lovozersky Districts of Murmansk Region in areas with Pomor settlements and in Pomor fishing grounds are reported. The surveys covered the abandoned villages of Porya Guba and Kuzreka, villages Kashkarantsy, Chavanga and Sosnovka, as well as areas along the Umba-Varzuga road between Creeks Ludoshny and Kashkarantsky, seacoast stretch from Tochilennyi Creek area to Lodochnyi Creek, from Krivoy Creek area to the Rombach River and from the Pulonga River to Krasnyi Nos Cape near the mouth of the Ponoy River. New localities were detected for 8 very rare species: Armeria scabra, Carex recta, Comastoma tenellum, Cotoneaster antoninae, Cotoneaster laxiflorus, Dactylorhiza incarnata, Pilosella erratica, and Helianthemum arcticum . The latter was found in the region for the second time. Seven species were registered within the boundaries of the nature monument Ametisty mysa Korabl': Cotoneaster antoninae, C. cinnabarinus, C. laxiflorus, Dianthus arenarius, Pilosella erratica, Sedum acre , and Thymus subarcticus.

Based on the evidence of morphology and a comprehensive revision of herbarium collections and field records, the taxonomy of the Erigeron acris group in Murmansk Region, European Russia, is completely revised. Its accepted diversity is increased from 2 to 8 taxa, including putative hybrids. The only native species, E. politus, is distributed in mountainous regions, along sea coasts and in the Kutsa River basin. Five species are alien: E. rigidus (previously confused with E. acris s.str.), E. acris s.str. (first recorded in the narrow taxonomic definition), E. brachycephalus (previously unrecorded), E. droebachiensis and E. uralensis (previously reported in error). Two major waves of the introduction of alien taxa are discovered, with different occurrences and species compositions. Regional and local dispersal by pomors (historical Russian settlers) occurred during their colonisation and traditional activities since the 12th century (archaeophytes or early neophytes); such alien taxa (E. rigidus, E. brachycephalus, and partly E. acris) are particularly common within the territory traditionally settled by Russian colonists but also found elsewhere along historical trade routes. Other alien species of the E. acris group (E. droebachiensis, E. uralensis, and partly E. acris and E. brachycephalus) colonised industrial areas in the 1960s–1990s as seed contaminants introduced during revegetation of slag dumps, stockyards, dams and channels. Putative hybrids between E. politus (native), E. rigidus and E. acris (aliens) are found in the places of co-occurrence. Updated nomenclature, synonymy and descriptions are provided for all accepted taxa.

The article presents a brief background of the botanical study of the Teriberka Village environs and the studies for substantiating the establishment of a protected area - Teriberka Nature Park. The information on the locations of rare and protected species of plants, fungi and lichens in the Teriberka Nature Park and its surroundings was summarized based on the analysis of herbarium and archival materials, literature sources and fieldwork in 2020. Overall, 22 species of plants, lichens and fungi from the Red Data Book of the Murmansk Region and four species from the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation were identified inside the park and in its immediate vicinities. There are 13 regionally red-listed species within the boundaries of the Teriberka Nature Park, two of them listed also in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation. The most valuable habitats in terms of protecting rare plants, lichens and fungi were identified.

An annotated list of bryophytes of the Buzuluk Bor National Park within Orenburg Region was compiled based on field observations, herbarium collections, and data from the literature. This territory comprises the largest pine forest in the steppe zone of Northern Eurasia and the only “island” forest area with relict landscapes in steppes on the left bank of the Volga River. The bryophyte flora of this territory is made up of 18 liverworts and 68 mosses; six of the moss species are regionally red-listed. Two previous records (Grimmia plagiopodia Hedw., Polytrichum strictum Brid.) are questionable.

The non-native vascular plants of Murmansk Region (European Russia) are under active investigation towards the compilation of the first complete checklist. This work is part of the project 'Flora of Russian Lapland', which ultimately aims at the complete inventory of the taxonomy, distribution and status of vascular plant species in Murmansk Region, based on the comprehensive database of herbarium specimens, field observations and literature.New territory-level records of non-native vascular plants emerged during our inventory of herbarium collections and recent fieldwork. Fourteen species (Anthemis ruthenica, Aruncus dioicus, Bromus commutatus, Chaerophyllum hirsutum, Galega orientalis, Geum aleppicum, Leonurus quinquelobatus, Lepidium densiflorum, Levisticum officinale, Myrrhis odorata, Phleum phleoides, Prunus armeniaca, Rorippa sylvestris, Senecio vernalis) are reported as new to Murmansk Region. The historical occurrences of alien plants appeared in the territory largely as contaminants (of seed or forage). In particular, Rorippa sylvestris and Senecio vernalis arrived with the forage imported during the Second World War. All recent occurrences originated by escape from confinement (ornamental purposes, horticulture, agriculture), reflecting a high diversity of the modern assortment of cultivated plants in commerce and private gardens. Regarding the invasion status, five alien species are considered casual and eight species are treated as locally established or persisting (for uncertain time). Only one species, Galega orientalis, is considered naturalised and capable of further spreading in the territory, although without invasive potential.

By the method of data re‐collection and re‐assessment, we here test the completeness of distribution areas of the species and species aggregates of Rosa in Eastern Europe as mapped in volume 13 of Atlas Florae Europaeae (AFE), and discuss insights into the issues connected with the data. We found many new occurrences which are additions to the published maps: 1068 records of species and 570 records of species aggregates. The new occurrences are listed with references to the sources, and the updated AFE maps are provided. The greatest increase by new native occurrences was revealed for the species that are widespread or taxonomically complicated, and by new alien occurrences for the species that currently expand their secondary distribution areas. The mapping work published in 2004 is considered good, with minor omissions caused by possible oversights and incomplete sampling. The majority of new additions originated in the period after the original data collection. Nearly the same amount of new data originated from larger and smaller herbarium collections, underlining the value of small collections for chorological studies. We found that only ca 20% of new records based on herbarium specimens have been published, thus highlighting the need for data papers for publication of distributional data. The greatest increase by new records based on herbarium specimens was found for insufficiently studied territories (Belarus, central, northern and eastern parts of Russia), whereas the same level of increase for the territories with reasonably good coverage (Latvia) was achieved by observations. We conclude that the overall sparsity of published records in Eastern Europe is caused by a lower level of data collection rather than by poor data availability, and that floristic surveys based on herbarium specimens cannot compete in speed and density of records with observation‐based surveys, which may become the main source of distributional information in the future.