Seagrasses (Zosteraceae And Ruppiaceae) In Russia: Distribution, Diversity, Prospects For Further Research
Abstract
This work is dedicated to analysing the conditions conducive to the spatial succession of individual, extra-tropically persistent species. It also clarifies the distribution of seagrasses (Zosteraceae and Ruppiaceae) in different seas across three oceanic basins and the Caspian Sea, which is part of the inland drainage basin affecting the Russian Federation. A review of herbarium samples and literature on Russian seagrasses revealed five regions that differ in the number of Zosteraceae and Ruppiaceae species: the West Arctic and White Sea (3 species), the Russian section of the Baltic Sea (1 species), the Russian sections of the Black and Caspian Seas and the Sea of Azov (4 species), the south of the Russian Far East (9 species), and the north of the Russian Far East (2 species). The south of the Russian Far East is of particular interest as it serves as a refuge for some seagrasses. This is because they suffer from strong anthropogenic pressure in the main part of their range, which is located further south, whereas in Russia they experience no negative impact. In the Arctic, seagrasses have a wider distribution than was previously thought. This comprehensive study has enabled the development of new approaches to finding seagrass meadows in hard-to-access coastal areas of the Russian Federation, using remote sensing techniques and the assistance of citizen science volunteers.
Supporting agencies: The work of Anton Iurmanov and Maxim Kulikovskiy was carried out with financial support under the state assignment of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (theme 122 042 700 045-3). The work of Angelina Gnedenko was supported financially within the framework of the state assignment of the Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences FMWS-2024-0007 (1 021 051 703 468-8). We wish to thank the Centre for Expedition Assistance for organising the expedition and RUDN University’s Strategic Academic Leadership Program.
About the Authors
A. Iurmanov
Murmansk Arctic University; К.А. Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
st. Kapitana Egorova, 15, Murmansk 183038
st. Botanicheskaya, 35, Moscow, 127276
I. Popov
Saint-Petersburg State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
n. Universitetskaya, 7/9, Saint-Petersburg, 199034
A. Gnedenko
Institute of Geography Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
st. Staromonetniy, 29, Moscow, 119017
Y. Lebedev
RUDN University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
st. Miklukho-Maklaya, 6, Moscow, 117198
M. Kulikovskiy
К.А. Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
st. Botanicheskaya, 35, Moscow, 127276
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For citations:
Iurmanov A., Popov I., Gnedenko A., Lebedev Y., Kulikovskiy M. Seagrasses (Zosteraceae And Ruppiaceae) In Russia: Distribution, Diversity, Prospects For Further Research. GEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY. 2025;18(4):139-148.
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