ANALYSIS OF THE DISTRIBUTION RANGES OF THE SPHAGNUM RECURVUM COMPLEX SPECIES IN THE EAST EUROPEAN PLAIN AND EASTERN FENNOSCANDIA

Abstract

Sphagnum angustifolium, S. fallax, S. flexuosum belong to the Sphagnum recurvum complex. Previously, S. balticum had been included in this group, too. The species distribution ranges across the East European Plain and Eastern Fennoscandia were analyzed. The main results of the analysis are as follows. There is a significant overlap between the spatial ranges of the 4 studied species, but at the same time their ranges have some specific characteristics. Thus, Sphagnum fallax and S. angustifolium are distributed throughout the Forest zone with a high abundance, but S. angustifolium is far more abundant in the Tundra zone, while S. fallax has a low abundance in this zone. At the same time, the latter species has penetrated much farther south than S. angustifolium. S. flexuosum also occurs in most of the Forest zone, but at a moderate or low abundance. This species is almost absent from the Tundra zone. Its abundance is the highest in the region around the Baltic Sea, in the south of Forest zone. The geographical patterns of these three species are governed by climatic factors, such as relative humidity, precipitation and temperature during the growing season. The boundaries of the S. balticum range run parallel to the borders of the Last Glacial Maximum and the zone of maximum mire spread. The distribution of this species is also highly correlated with the values of climatic variables. Thus, the geographic pattern of S. balticum depends of the variation of both climatic and landscape factors. The maximum abundance of this species is observed in the Tundra Zone and in the north of the Forest zone. So, the greatest similarity is observed for the ranges of S. angustifolium and S. fallax, whereas those of S. balticum and S. flexuosum differ the most from the others, and are more specific.

Keywords

• biogeography
• species distribution range
• sphagnum
• climatic factors
• arealogical analysis