Nataliya G. Panarina

The bryoflora of Ryazhkov Island (408 ha) has been supplemented by 9 new moss species (Anomodon viticulosus, Dicranum leioneuron, D. septentrionale, Drepanocladus polygamus, Fissidens adianthoides, Pseudoleskeella papillosa, Scorpidium cossonii, Sphagnum fimbriatum, S. subfulvum), the first of which is included in the Red Data Book of Murmansk Region [2025]. The number of species reached 148 (53 % of the reserve's bryoflora, 31 % of Murmansk Region). Anomodon viticulosus, Fissidens adianthoides, and Scorpidium cossonii are confined to rocky calcite veins and groundwater discharge sites. Currently, Ryazhkov is the most comprehensively studied small White Sea island (< 500 ha). Protection of rocky and wetland habitats is recommended during the development of tourist trails and scientific base infrastructure.

Medvezhiy Island is one of the largest islands in the central part of the Porya Guba Bay of the White Sea. In the 18th–19th centuries, the industrial development of silver ore deposits was carried out here, as a result of which the island landscapes underwent significant changes. Based on the comparison of literary information and work with archival documents, the course of historical events in the development of the mine has been established, the confusion in the chronology of the development of its facilities and the names of the mines has been eliminated. Field studies made it possible to establish the location of nine mines, clarify the time of their development, and restore their historical names: “Dai Bog Schast'ya”, “Dvuglavyi Orel”, “Strel'nikova”, “Kurt”, “Boyarynya”, “Nadezhda”, “Novaya”, “Stanellovskaya Kopushka”. We named the mine developed in 1773–1775 “Karamysheva”, in honor of the famous Russian mineralogist A. M. Karamyshev, who founded it. For all silver ore mines, in comparison with the literature data, the characteristics of the current state such as morphometric parameters, composition of dumps (if any) and the course of vegetation restoration processes are given. The conducted survey of the mines shows their gradual destruction. At the same time, the restoration of the island vegetation cover, especially forest vegetation, was noted; 14 protected species of vascular plants were recorded. It was shown that in the 18th-19th centuries, Medvezhy Island was of great importance for Russia as one of the first silver deposits in the country. Currently, it is a unique protected natural and anthropogenic complex, a monument to the history of the Russian mining industry and a bright historical and cultural landmark of the Kola North.