Development of permafrost-affected peatlands in the southern limit of the European Russian cryolithozone and their vulnerability to future warming.

Permafrost degradation due to climate warming is currently observed in the northeastern part of European Russia. Peat plateaus underlain by permafrost cover only about 20% of the Russian European cryolithozone but contain almost 50% of soil organic carbon stocks (SOC), which are considered to be vulnerable to microbial mineralization after permafrost thaw. The current study was performed at three key sites of peat plateaus located along the southern permafrost limit.

Long-term dynamics of plant communities after biological remediation of oil-contaminated soils in far north.

We studied the long-term dynamics of plant communities after bio and phytoremediation of oil-polluted soils. Nine plots located in European Northeast and treated using various bioremediation methods were monitored from 2002 to 2014. Geobotanical descriptions (relevés) of each plot were performed in 2006 and 2014, and Grime's theoretical CSR (competition-stress-ruderality) framework was used to assess the vegetation state and dynamics.