Swamp sample Targeted loci. Swamp sample

The wide occurrence of regressive processes in the Northern Hemisphere bogs resulting in local termination of peat accumulation (due to replacement of peatforming plants by those not forming peat, mainly liverworts and lichens) makes it possible to speak, apartfrom ombrotrophic bogs, also of regressive ones (Bradis, 1972). Regressive processes result in degradation of the Sphagnumcover and formation of black regressive spots on peat bog surface. Analysis of the relevant literature suggested that the spots appeared asa result of impaired water regime and higher hydration of the bog surface; development of nitrogenaccumulating plants with nitrogen excess causing the elimination of the moss cover; exhaustion of mineral salts in the peat; and emission of gases, which partiallydisrupt the peat bed (Bakhnov, 1986; Foster and Fritz, 1987; Lopatin, 1997; Belyea and Lancaster, 2002). Bacterial communities of ombrotrophic peat are well-studied (Dedysh et al., 2006; Shcherbakov et al., 2013; Serkebaeva et al., 2013; Dobrovolskaya et al.,2014), unlike bacterial communities of regressive spots. The goal of the present work was to reveal the structural and functional organization of bacterial communities in regressive spots