Preliminary chorological analysis of vascular plants flora in mountain tundra and Arctic mountain deserts in Khibiny Mountains (Murmansk Region)

Abstract

Percentage of bio-geographic elements of vascular plants was analysed in Mountain Tundra (MT) and the cold Arctic Mountain (goltzovy) desert (AMD) belts in Khibiny Mountains. Flora of MT (191 species) is richer than flora of AMD (62 species) more than three times. Arctic group of species in MT comprises 42 %, hypoarctic (26 %) and boreal together with polyzonal (32 %). In flora of AMD prevails arctic group of species (63 %), hypoarctic group is on the second place (23 %) and boreal (14 %). The ratio of latitudinal bio-geographical groups in MT corresponds to the hypoarctic type of flora, and in AMD — to the arctic type, that confirms the differentiation of treeless belts in Khibiny Mountains. Groups of species with circumpolar distribution prevail in the species lists of both treeless belts (45 % in MT and 55 % in AMD). Other longitudinal groups in MT include species with east-American-European (10 %), east-American-European-Asiatic (10 %), Euro-Siberian (Euro-Asiatic) (15 %), and European (10 %) distribution. In AMD species with amphi-Atlantic distribution comprise 25 %, species with Euro-Siberian (Euro-Asiatic) and European distribution have less share (8 and 3 %)