Alien Plant Species in the Russian Arctic: Spatial Patterns, Corridors and Local Invasions

Abstract

The article analyzes the diversity of alien plant species in the Russian part of the Arctic (RA) based on the generalization of different publications. Alien plant species present in all regions of the RA, but compared with more southern biomes, their share in regional floras is relatively small and unevenly distributed, from 1-2% in the north of Yakutia and in the continental part of Chukotka to 22-27% on the Kola Peninsula and in the Bolshezemelskaya tundra. In general, the low species diversity of alien species in the RA is explained by two groups of factors. The first one includes socio-economic indicators: relatively late and still focal economic development of the region and, in general, low human migration activity here. The second one unites natural factors, among which the climate is of paramount importance. It has been shown that mainly plurizonal species with the northern border of their ranges in the boreal zone are introduced into the RA, but the direct donor regions are often not known when alien species are introduced. These species are clearly better adapted to a wide range of conditions, allowing them to survive in the harsh Arctic climate. By the way of invasion into the RA, unintentionally introduced species prevail, and the main vectors are transport, migration activity, in recent years - arctic tourism, as well as introduction with contaminated materials. The distribution of alien species is locally and mostly associated with settlements and industrial centers.

New records of alien plant species rare in the Russian Arctic (Murmansk region, NW Russia)

“…In Greenland, occurrences of established and casual alien plants are confined mainly to disturbed habitats in and near settlements (Daniëls 2015). This trend is also true for the Russian Arctic (Morozova and Tishkov, 2021). Murmansk is not the exclusion from the above trend.…”