Algae and cyanobacteria in soils polluted with heavy metals (Northwest Russia, Murmansk region)

The analysis of algae and cyanobacteria in Albic Podzols affected by emissions of the copper–nickel plant Pechenganikel in the forest-tundra of the Arctic region was carried out. The main pollutants contained in the emissions and entering the soil are sulfur compounds and heavy non-ferrous metals. Algae and cyanobacteria were identified in soil samples collected in three zones differing in their distance from the pollution source: the zone of strong pollution (at a distance of 3 km southwest from the source of the emission), the zone of medium pollution (5-7 km), and the zone of weak pollution (16-25 km). In total, 61 species of eukaryotic algae and 2 species of cyanobacteria were found. In the studied soils, several species of algae were found with a high frequency, apparently resistant to unfavorable natural and anthropogenic factors: Chloromonas sp., Neocystis brevis, Parietochloris alveolaris, Pseudococcomyxa simplex, Stichococcus bacillaris, Interfilum terricola, Leptosira cf. obovata, Myrmecia bisecta, Nostoc muscorum. Algae from the Chlorophyta division predominated in all soils studied. Yellowgreen algae and diatoms were found only in the zone of strong pollution and were represented by a very small number of species. The presence of Microthamnion kuetzingianum, which is resistant to high acidity and heavy metals concentration, can be useful as an indicator of severe heavy metal contamination. Our study confirmed sensitivity of Vischeria magna to soil contamination with heavy metals. In long-term aspect, the species diversity of algae has increased by 35% in the soils influenced by the Pechenganikel plant in comparison with the data obtained 30 years ago, which probably indicates a certain decrease in anthropogenic load on the adjacent territories

Cyanomargarita gen. nov. (Nostocales, Cyanobacteria): convergent evolution resulting in

Two populations of Rivularia‐like cyanobacteria were isolated from ecologically distinct and biogeographically distant sites. One population was from an unpolluted stream in the Kola Peninsula of Russia, whereas the other was from a wet wall in the Grand Staircase‐Escalante National Monument, a desert park‐land in Utah. Though both were virtually indistinguishable from Rivularia in field and cultured material, they were both phylogenetically distant from Rivularia and the Rivulariaceae based on both 16S rRNA and rbcLX phylogenies. We here name the new cryptic genus Cyanomargarita gen. nov., with type species C. melechinii sp. nov., and additional species C. calcarea sp. nov. We also name a new family for these taxa, the Cyanomargaritaceae

Microfungi, algae and cyanobacteria in soils polluted with fluorine (Kola Peninsula, Russia)

The analysis of algal-mycological complexes in Albic Podzolic soils affected by emissions of the Kandalaksha Aluminum Smelter (KAS) was carried out. The number and biomass of microscopic fungi in the maximum fluorine-polluted zone (fluorine-content >1000 mg/kg) more than 2 times lower than in distanced areas and amounted to 17.3 thousants colony-forming units/g and 1.33 mg/g respectively. Altogether, 31 species of soil fungi were isolated. The species Penicillium trzebinskii and P. miczynskii dominated the zone of maximum pollution. P. glabrum, P. spinulosum, and Memnoniella echinata prevailed in the zones of moderate pollution and background. The part of opportunistic fungi in contaminated soil increased in comparison with the background soil. The reduction of dark-colored fungi biomass in contaminated soil was noted. In total, 56 species of eukaryotic algae and 7 species of cyanobacteria were found. Among green algae, the species from families Chlorophyceae and Trebouxiophyceae dominated in all plots. In the zones of maximum and strong contamination, 53 algae species were found including xanthophytes, which were absent in unpolluted areas. The number of viable cells in the litter of the maximum contaminated soils varied from 100 thousand to 1.5 million in 1 g of absolutely dry soil. The species composition of algae and cyanobacteria in these soils showed the characteristic features of the Arctic biological soil crusts