1. Amphidium lapponicum (Hedw.) Schimp.Contributor. R. OchyraPoland. Western Carpathians, Western Beskidy Mountains: Beskid Żywiecki Range, Babia Gora massif, on the northern slope of Diablak peak,...

First records of lichens for the Saratov Region, of mosses for the Franz Josef Land Archipelago, the republics of Karelia and Khakassia, Stavropol, Khabarovsk and Kamchatka Territories, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area – Yugra, Magadan Region and first records of liverworts for the Tula Region are presented. Data on localities, habitats, distribution of recorded species are provided.

Mosses of the planned national park “Tulos” were studied in 1997, 2004–2006. In total 150 moss species and 1 variety were recorded. Comments on ecology and distribution of all the species, and label data for rare mosses are given. Sixty six moss species and 1 variety are recorded as new to the planned national park “Tulos”, and 11 species as new to Kuitozero-Leksozero floristic district. Three species (Neckera pennata, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans and Sphagnum auriculatum) are listed in the Red Data Book of Karelian Republic, and 4 species (Neckera pennata, Polytrichastrum pallidisetum, Sphagnum subnitens, S. inundatum) are in the Red Data Book of Finland.

The dynamics of yielding capacity of small cranberry ( Oxycoccus palustris Pers.) were studied in three permanent sampling plots in a natural bog in southern Karelia for 28 years (1975–2002). The yield of berries varied from year to year from 1 to 179 g/m 2 depending on phytocenotic and, to a greater extent, climatic factors. The proportion between the number of ripe berries and the number of flowers varied from 10 to 66%. No distinct periodicity in the abundance of fruiting was revealed.

The monograph generalises vast data characterising the diversity of the biota in Russian Karelia. The data pool includes both materials of long-term studies, and new data collected in 1997–2000 within the Russian-Finnish project “Inventory and studies of biological diversity in Republic of Karelia”. The volume is composed of four interrelated chapters. Chapter one provides a detailed account of the climatic, geological, geomorphological, hydrological and soil conditions in which the regional biota has been forming. Chapter two describes and evaluates the diversity of forest, mire and meadow communities, and the third chapter details the terrestrial biota at the species level (vascular plants, mosses, aphyllophoroid fungi, lichens, mammals, birds, insects). A special section is devoted to the flora and fauna of aquatic ecosystems (algae, zooplankton, periphyton, macrozoobenthos, fishes). Wide use is made of various zoning approaches based on biodiversity-related criteria. Current status of the regional biota, including its diversity in protected areas, is analysed with elements of the human impact assessment. A concise glossary of the terms used is annexed. This is an unprecedentally multi-faceted review, at least for the taiga zone of European Russia. The volume offers extensive reference materials for researchers in a widest range of ecological and biological fields, including graduate and post-graduate students. The monograph is also available in Russian.