Algae, higher plants, and lichens of Petrozavodsk: species diversity

The urban flora of the region is an important and separate object of floristic studies. The purpose of the study is to analyze species diversity of the wide spread plants growing on the territory of Petrozavodsk: algae, mosses, lichens, and vascular plants. The research was carried out during the 1982-2012 period. Species composition of the plants and lichens within administrative boundaries of Petrozavodsk was studied. Taxa of the plants are regarded in their “broad sense” (s. l.) Urban ecosystem includes algae (at least 406 species), bryophytes (216 species), vascular plants (1086 species), and lichens (171 species), the total amount reaches about 2,000 species. They belong to 851 genera, 289 families, 134 orders, 42 classes, 18 divisions, three kingdoms (Bacteria, Plants, Fungi), and 2 upper kingdoms (Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes). The growth of 35 rare species on the territory of Karelia was registered (5 species of mosses, 26 species of vascular plants, 4 species of lichens). Development of the phenomenon characteristic of the city environment - urban concentration of species in the city ecosystem - is caused by heterogeneity of the urban environment, mosaic structure of the soil layer, and vegetation cover. The obtained data are used for monitoring phototrophic composition of the large taiga city ecosystem.