Occurrence of bryophytes in Paramushir Island, northern Kuriles, Far East Russia (scientific paper)

Some differences in species composition between the region facing the Okhotsk Sea and Pacific Ocean on northern Paramushir Island (OCT. ПараМушир, lat. 51°N, long. 157°E), northern Kuriles, in far eastern Russia, and also the vertical distribution of bryophytes in vegetation dominated by creeping pine Pinus pumila and dwarf heath on the flank of Mt. Ebeko are reported. In the northern Kuriles, research on vegetation was difficult due to political circumstances after World War II. The northern Kuriles occupy a very important position as the halfway point at the vegetation zone, which extends from northern Japan (Hokkaido) to the Aleutian Islands and Bering Strait. Although the northern Kuriles are situated in the lower latitudes of the subarctic zone, dwarf shrub heath and alpine tundra vegetation are distributed at relatively low altitudes on mountain slopes. Most species observed on this island are distributed in boreal or alpine tundra vegetation, owing to shortage of insolation because many cloudy days with fog and drizzle in the growing season (maritime climate) influence the plant growth condition in this area