Tundra at Kevo, Finland

August 2023, bryological excursion to the tundra around Kevo subarctic research station. The area around kevo is still dominated by Betula pubescens var. pumila and Pinus forest. Tundra starts with just a few meters up the hill across Kevojärvi lake.

Jiesnnalvárri is a mountain peak ( ~ 300m) across the lake to the northwest of Kevo station. In the lower region, one can find mainly birch forest that gradually transitions to pine forest with the undergrowth consisting of Rhododendron tomentosum and occasional Juniperus communis. In the vicinity of the lake, there are a few small fens containing Sphagnum compactum, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum capillifolium and Drosera rotundifolia.

Towards the tree line there are some small areas of late snow and some ponds. The tundra extending above the treeline is mainly dominated by lichens, especially Flavocetraria nivalis, Alectoria ochroleuca, Sphaerophorus globosus, Ophioparma ventosa. Various small liverworts such as Gymnomitrion corralioides and G. concinnatum, Lophozia spp. are found here. Polytrichum hyperboreale was also found at the summit.

Tundra near Kevo (finish lapland) with Betula pubescens var. pumila, view towards Norway

Polytrichum hyperboreum at Áilegas.

Gymnomitrion corallioides

Tetralophozia setiformis

Common species at Kevo

Andreaea rupestris: Rocks in open tundra
Anthelia juratzkana: open soil at lake shore
Aulacomnium palustre: forest fen

Barbilophozia hatcheri: Between other mosses in forest
Diphyscium foliosum: Soil in open tundra, late snow area
Fissidens osmundoides: Lake shore
Gymnomitrion concinnatum: Soil in open tundra also roadsides
Gymnomitrion corralioides: Soil in open tundra
Hylocomium splendens: Pine forest at lake
Lophozia sp.: Open soils in pine forest
Nardia geoscyphus: Open soil near lake
Neoorthocaulis floerkei: Between other Bryophytes in heath
Oligotrichum hercynicum: Open tundra, late snow areas
Racomitrium lanuginosum: Rocks in open tundra
Schistochilopsis incisa: Open soil on path
Sphenolobus minutus: Between other Bryophytes in pine forest
Pleurozium schreberi: Pine forest
Polytrichum hyperboreum: Open tundra
Polytrichum piliferum: Open tundra
Polytrichum commune: Tundra, forest, fens
Polytrichum juniperum: Open tundra, heath
Sphagnum compactum: Forest fen
Sphagnum russowii: Forest fen
Sphagnum capillifolium: Open area in forest fen
Tetralophozia setiformis: On rocks in forest

Áilegas (or Ailigas) is located east of Utsjoki. A road leads through the birch forest that turns into tundra, to a transmission mast. The summit is plateau-like and the tundra is dominated by lichens and dwarf shrubs. The slopes consist mainly of bryophyte dominated Empetrum nigrum - Vaccinium myrtillus heath. The tundra at the summit area is much more dominated by shrubs compared to that of the Jiesnnalvárri and the lichens here seem to be more exposed to reindeer grazing. There are also some interesting vascular plants like Kalmia procumbens, Diapensia lapponica, Pedicularis lapponica, Lycopodium annotinum s. lat.. Close to the radio tower, there are interesting springs with mire vegetation dominated by Eriophorum angustifolium.