Biodiversity of a boreal mire, including its hydrographic network (Shichengskoe mire, north-western Russia)

Abstract

The paper is based on the dataset whose purpose was to deliver, in the form of GBIF-mediated data, diverse materials on the biodiversity of a large mire, Shichengskoe mire (Vologda Region, north-western Russia), including its various mire sites and intra-mire water bodies. The dataset was based on our materials collected for two decades (from 2000 to 2021) in different parts and biotopes of the Shichengskoe mire and complemented by scarce data obtained previously by other researchers. The data contain materials on the diversity of Animalia (2886 occurrences), Bacteria (22), Chromista (256), Fungi (111), Plantae (2463) and Protozoa (131). Within the study period, the most detailed and long-term biodiversity studies were carried out for higher plants and invertebrates. On the other hand, the data on the composition of lichens, protozoa, algae, basidiomycetes, some groups of invertebrates and, to a lesser extent, lichens and vertebrates are far less comprehensive and require further substantial research efforts. The list includes occurrences from both the peatland (mire sites and mire margins different in typology) and the objects of the mire hydrographic network. In a standardised form, this article summarises both already published (mainly in Russian) and unpublished materials. The paper summarises the results of long-term research on the biodiversity of a boreal mire, including its hydrographic network. A total of 5869 occurrences were included in the dataset published in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF, gbif.org) for the first time. According to the GBIF taxonomic backbone, the dataset covers 1358 taxa, including 1250 lower-rank taxa (species, subspecies, varieties, forms) and 108 taxa identified to the genus level. Several species found in the Shichengskoe mire, mainly belonging to Bacteria, Chromista and Protozoa, have never been listed in GBIF for the territory of Russia before. The overwhelming majority of occurrences and identified species came from the territory of Shichengskiy Landscape Reserve. Due to our work, this Reserve is now the most studied regional reserve in the Vologda Region with respect to biodiversity. By the number of revealed species, it is close to two federal protected areas: Darwinskiy State Nature Biospheric Reserve and National Park "Russkiy Sever".

Inclusion of juvenile stages improves diversity assessment and adds to our understanding of mite ecology – A case study from mires in Norway

“…In comparison, in other mires, the number of species found was lower, although Sarcoptiformes (or its suborder Oribatida) were always the most diverse group. For example, in northwestern Russia, 60 species of Sarcoptiformes, 15 species of Mesostigmata, and three species of Trombidiformes were found (Philippov et al, 2021 ), in Ireland, 43 species of Oribatida and 14 of Mesostigmata were recorded (Wisdom et al, 2011 ), and in southern Germany, 52 species of Oribatida were noted (Lehmitz et al, 2020 ). In the latter study, the discovered species richness of Oribatida was higher than that of vegetation and beetles, but lower compared to the richness of spiders (Lehmitz et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Among mite species, characteristic of this subgenus was Platyseius italicus , an aquatic species often found in peatlands, both in bogs and fens, but also reported from other submerged habitats like streams and different water reservoirs (Bolger, Arroyo, & Piotrowska, 2018 ; Kaczmarek et al, 2006 , 2011 ; Kaczmarek & Marquardt, 2007 , 2008 ; Marquardt & Kaczmarek, 2009 ). Another species characteristic of subgenus Cuspidata was Cheiroseius bryophilus , a peatland specialist (Philippov et al, 2021 ; Salmane & Brumelis, 2010 ; Salmane & Spuņģis, 2015 ). Other species of this genus also prefer high levels of humidity, including Ch.…”

“…While the knowledge of Oribatida (Figure 1 ), the largest group of Sarcoptiformes, in mires has been constantly improving in recent decades (summarized by Mumladze et al, 2013 ; Seniczak, 2011 ), relatively few, scattered data are available about Mesostigmata (Bolger, Arroyo, & Piotrowska, 2018 ; Kaczmarek et al, 2006 , 2011 ; Kaczmarek & Marquardt, 2007 , 2008 ; Salmane & Spuņģis, 2015 ; Skorupski et al, 2008 ; Wisdom et al, 2011 ). Trombidiformes of mires (except for Hydrachnidia) are even less well known (Philippov et al, 2021 ; Willmann, 1933 ).…”

“…The vast majority of studies on mites in peatlands have only identified adults to species (Barreto et al, 2021 ; Donaldson, 1996 ; Lehmitz, 2014 ; Lehmitz et al, 2020 ; Markkula, 2014 ; Markkula et al, 2018 , 2019 ; Minor et al, 2016 , 2019 ; Philippov et al, 2021 ; Solhøy, 1979 ). Some studies, however, indicated the importance of including juvenile instars.…”

“…The vast majority of studies on mites in peatlands have only identified adults to species Donaldson, 1996;Lehmitz, 2014;Lehmitz et al, 2020;Markkula, 2014;Markkula et al, 2018Markkula et al, , 2019Minor et al, 2016Minor et al, , 2019Philippov et al, 2021;…”