The botanical and paleoecological survey of Petuniabukta, Isfjorden, Svalbard began in 2008.  We focused on palaeocological development of vegetation and extracted five cores during the summer 2009. Via analysis of macrofossils, pollen grains and other proxies (eg. diatom analysis in lacustrine sediments, chemical composition, ¹⁴C dating... ) the development of current vegetation is studied. Our goal is to accompany both paleaecological and molecular methods to reveal these questions: How was the vegetation formed since the retreat of glacier? Is there any significant change in floristic composition? Are there any significant events in the record? How was the vegetation affected during the “Little Ice Age”?

In the analysis of lacustrine sediments we will focus on Tardigardes, which had not been studied in detail yet, especially in Arctic, but can provide valuable ecological information.

Comparison of DNA reveals biogeographical features, which are employed in polar areas. Strains of Cyanobacterial genus Phormidium from various polar (Svalbard, Ellesmere Island and Scandinavian Arctic - Abisko) and Antarctic (Antarctic Peninsula – King George and James Ross Island) regions and from temperate sites (mostly situated in Central Europe) were sampled, cultivated to unialgal strains and 16S rDNA and 16S-23S rDNA ITS were sequenced. We found just one rRNA type of Phormidium autumnale in Arctic, whereas two clades and several out-grouped genetic types in Antartic. In comparison with temperate regions where wide spectrum of Phormidium strains can be found according to 16S rDNA mutations, there are just a few types  of strains, which persistently live in Arctic and the Antarctic for millions of years.

According to the results of genetic variability of Cyanobacteria strains, also the preliminary results of past and current vegetation show stable  composition of species and very slow changes after its constitution.

The next goal of our project is to analyze ancient DNA from extracted cores. The results will bring comparison of present distribution of vascular plants and cyanobacteria with development of their composition at the Svalbard ecosystem during the Holocene.

This project is a part of a grant “Biological and Climate Biodiversity of the Central Part of Svalbard Arctic Archipelago“ funded by Ministry of education of Czech Republic (INGO - LA 341).