We describe the morphological features and the phylogenetic relationships of five morphologically similar strains belonging to the genus Coelastrella, which live in different ecological and geographical conditions of terrestrial ecosystems: in the Ural Mountains (Polar, Subpolar, and Northern Urals of Russia) and the Khentii Mountains (Russia and Mongolia). We analysed algal strains stored in the Culture Collection of Algae of the Institute of Biology, Syktyvkar, Russia (SYKOA Ch-045-09, SYKOA Ch-047-11, SYKOA Ch-072-17) and the Culture Collection of Algae at Herbarium of the Siberian Institute of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Irkutsk, Russia (IRK-A 2, IRK-A 173). By light microscopy, all samples were assigned to Coelastrella terrestris. However, the phylogenetic analyses based on the nucleotide sequences of 18S rDNA and ITS1-ITS2 showed that only one strain belongs to C. terrestris (IRK-A 173). Other samples were closer to C. oocystiformis (SYKOA Ch-045-09; IRK-A 2) and C. aeroterrestrica (SYKOA Ch-047-11). The strain SYKOA Ch-072-17 is probably a new species for the genus. These results confirmed the high phenotypic variability and the hidden diversity among the members of this green algal group.

The algae described in this paper appeared in enrichment culture from epiphytic mosses sample collected in southern Zabaikalie (Russia). This organism forms 2–8-celled and 3-dimensional packages of irregular shape. Vegetative cells are spherical, ellipsoidal and ovoid when solitary; cells with thin wall, thickening with age and occasionally with a unipolar manner. The cells and packages are devoid of a gelatinous matrix. There are akinete-like cells with sculptured cell wall. Sexual reproduction is ataktogamic. The results of morphologic and molecular phylogenetic studies allow us to attribute the alga to the genus Chlorosarcinopsis and show a high similarity with C. dissociata and C. bastropiensis. However, obtained data do not prove its identity to any known species of the genus.

For the first time, the flora of algae and aquatic lichens is studied in the sodium chloride mineral springs of the Northern Baikal region flowing from the Lower Cambrian salt-bearing formations. The

The article presents the results of studies of herbaceous plant communities in the Baikal basin, with the significant participation of the diazotrophic cyanoprokaryota Nostoc commune. The territory of the investigation is located at the foot of the Primorskiy range. There are developed mountain, typical steppe, and meadow communities on chestnut soils. A high content of carbonates was found in the soils, and the pH of the upper horizons varied from slightly acidic to alkaline. The composition of algae and cyanoprokaryota species living in and on soils has been revealed. In total, in steppe and meadow communities we identified 71 species from five divisions: Cyanoprokaryota – 27, Bacillariophyta – 4, Ochrophyta – 3, Chlorophyta – 34, and Charophyta – 3. 58 species have been found in steppe communities, 40 in meadow. A predominance of cyanoprokaryota and green algae was noted. The composition of the studied phototrophic species in steppe communities differed significantly from that of the meadow. In steppe communities Nostoc commune formed macroscopic colonies, and its biomass production was low (about 2 g/m2) comparable to that of a number of Asia arid territories. The N. commune biomass formation was higher on the mountain slope and at its foot, where higher density of soil composition, lower field humidity, as well as an increased content of calcium, magnesium, and sodium was found in soils. The N. commune biomass was reduced in the site at a distance from the mountain slope where the content of the above elements was lower. The regular sampling of macrocolonies had a negative impact on their renewal.

Filamentous green chaetophoralean algae are distributed mainly in aquatic ecosystems, less known from terrestrial habitats. Many of them have a complicated thalli and complex life cycles that make it difficult to determine these organisms by morphology. Description of new representatives of the Chaetophorales continues. In this study, we have explored the filamentous green alga IRK–A 341 from soil of the Baikal Region by light and electron microscopy along with molecular phylogeny. Based on the results of morphological, ecological, and molecular phylogenetic analyses (18S–28S rDNA, tufA), we described the studied alga as the new species, Barranca variabilis sp. nov. The study complements the data on the diversity of soils green filamentous algae, and their biogeography. For the first time, the data on the structure of the cell walls and the cell ultrastructure of Barranca were established. The information on the morphology of the reproductive and resting cells is updated.

Medicinal plant materials quality assessment of the Sanguisorba officinalis L. growing on the Kedrovsky coal mine dumps in Kemerovo region is given. The analysis of obtained burnet raw material quality indicators (moisture, total ash, insoluble in hydrochloric acid, quantitative content of tannins, heavy metals, radionuclides) showed that this vegetable raw material match with the requirements of PhI.2.5.0078.18 “Sanguisorba officinalis L. rhizome and roots”. Tannins average content in the burnet rhizomes and roots was 15.708 ± 0.307%, which is within the normal range (up to 14%). It was found that the heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Hg) content does not exceed the MPC adopted for medicinal plant raw materials (G.Ph.A.5.5.000.0009.15). The obtained indicators for the artificial radionuclides (Cs-137, Sr-90) content showed that their quantity in the raw material is also within the normal range and their actual content is several times less than the normalized one. From the point of radiological safety view the studied raw materials are not dangerous since they accumulate 0.36% Sr-90 and 0.42% Cs-137 from the levels established by regulatory documentation. Therefore, the burnet medicinal plant raw material harvested at the Kedrovsky open-pit coal mine on the territory of waste dump does not represent a danger to human health.