The diversity of Cyanoprokaryota from freshwater and terrestrial habitats in the Eurasian Arctic and Hypoarctic

The diversity and geographical distribution of cyanoprokaryotes in the Eurasian Arctic and Hypoarctic were investigated. We combined information from the literature and data from our own research in various parts of high-latitude regions. We collected and studied more than 1000 samples from terrestrial and freshwater habitats. The published data on cyanoprokaryotes include records from about 1500 locations. Both original and published data on biodiversity were used for the analysis. The data were submitted to the CYANOpro database (http://kpabg.ru/cyanopro/). A total of 603 species were recorded. In the Arctic zone, 482 species were found. The Eurasian Hypoarctic flora includes 428 species. The Murmansk region (359 species), Spitsbergen archipelago (314), and Bolshezemelskaya tundra (191) have the highest number of species among the studied territories. The flora is unevenly studied in different areas of the Arctic, and therefore, it is too early to suggest any significant specificity of the algal flora to particular areas.