Biological Activity of Soils and Soil-Like Bodies in the Western Part of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation

Abstract A comprehensive study of the biological activity of soils, supra- and periglacial bodies, and their microbiome has been conducted to assess the contribution of microorganisms to the ecological functions of soils in the western part of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation and the Spitsbergen Archipelago. The methods of gas chromatography, luminescent microscopy, extraction of total soil DNA, and its quantitative real-time PCR were applied. The biological activity of soils was high only in the surface organic horizons and sharply decreased with depth and proximity to large glaciers. Intense anthropogenic impact reduced all parameters of biological activity. Judging by the large number of microorganism cells and a significant level of functional nitrogen cycle genes, the Arctic soil microbiome has a high adaptive potential to extreme environmental conditions, which allows soil microorganisms to perform their functions even under anthropogenic intervention.