Both reindeer management and several other land use factors explain the reduction in ground lichens (Cladonia spp.) in pastures grazed by semi-domesticated reindeer in Finland

Roles of intensive reindeer grazing and several additional land use factors in the reduction in ground lichens (Cladonia spp.) in pastures grazed by the semi-domesticated reindeer have been argued in Finland. Our analysis showed that several factors and processes explain the standing biomass of lichens (during 2005–2008) and the recent changes in this biomass (after 1995–1996) on lichen pastures located in the 20 northernmost herding districts in Finland. The higher the long-term reindeer densities on the lichen pastures the lower was the lichen biomass. The lichen biomass was also strongly affected by the grazing system; the lowest biomass values of lichens were measured in all grazing areas that were used in the snow-free seasons. The lichen biomass in pine forests less than 80 years old and in all mountain type lichen pastures was lower than that in mature and old pine forests. The lichen biomass also decreased as the proportion of arboreal lichen pastures within a district decreased and the proportion of human infrastructure increased. The aerial drift of heavy metals from the Kola Peninsula appeared to reduce lichens in a small north-eastern part of the study area. Increases in summer precipitation and winter temperatures increased the amount of lichens, but increases in summer temperatures and winter precipitation had the opposite effect. Reindeer densities, grazing system, pasture type and the previous abiotic factors were also associated with the reduction in lichen biomass between the inventories. We conclude that several local, regional and even global factors and processes affect the state of reindeer pastures in large and complex grazing ecosystems. Therefore, more comprehensive research and management strategies for the entire reindeer herding environment are needed.     

Assessment of seasonal variability of biomarkers in three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.) from a low contaminated stream: implication for environmental biomonitoring

In this study, wild three-spined sticklebacks were sampled every six weeks, between April and October, in a low contaminated stream. For all fish, physiological indexes, such as condition factor, hepato-, gonado- and nephro-somatic index were calculated to determine fish condition and reproductive status. Moreover, a set of biomarkers including biotransformation enzymes, oxidative stress parameters, neurotoxicity and endocrine disruption markers was measured. The results allowed to determine biomarker variability due to fish gender or sampling season. For example, 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity, glutathione peroxidase as well as vitellogenin and spiggin exhibited strong gender differences. Conversely, lipoperoxidation and acethylcholinesterase activity were characterised by a lack of gender and seasonal variation, and can be considered as more robust parameters for a field application. The present work allowed to establish practical guideline for biomarker measurements in wild sticklebacks and to define a reference system which can be used to analyze variations in future monitoring studies.     

Radiological effects on populations of Oligochaeta in the Chernobyl contaminated zone

A detailed investigation of 3 populations of Oligochaete species (Dero obtusa, Nais pseudobtusa and Nais pardalis) has been carried out in a contaminated lake of the close-in Chernobyl zone and in a control lake. Hydrochemical indices and concentrations of heavy metals, chloro-organic compounds and (90)Sr in bottom sediments have been measured. Absorbed doses were calculated on the basis of the results of radiochemical analysis and assessed directly with thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD). Stimulation of paratomous division (asexual reproduction) was found in one species of worm (D. obtusa), and activation of sexual reproduction in the two other species studied. An increase in the amount of cytogenetic damage in the somatic cells of worms from the contaminated lake was found and an attempt was made to assess the relative contributions of radiation and chemical exposure on the basis of analyses of inter-cellular aberration distributions and the types of chromosome aberrations observed in the cells.     

Land use influence on 137Cs levels in perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) and roach (Rutilus rutilus L.)

The environmental influence on Chernobyl-derived 137Cs levels in perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) and roach (Rutilus rutilus L.) was revealed using partial least-squares regression (PLS). The 53 environmental predictors used describe land use in catchment areas, various catchment area and lake characteristics, lake water chemistry, and fish stock composition. The study showed a profound effect of land use on the 137Cs levels in fish. Radiocaesium deposited on arable land was retained in the soil to a greater extent than was 137Cs deposited on wetlands, which more easily leached out to the lake ecosystems. The 137Cs deposition close to the lakes had a more pronounced effect on 137Cs levels in the fish than did more distant deposition. The radiocaesium bioavailability is mainly governed by lake water cation content, as hardwater lakes had significantly lower 137Cs content in fish. Resuspension of 137Cs contaminated sediments only had a limited influence on the observed levels in fish.     

Phenes of Woody Plants: Identification,Scaling, and Use in Population Studies (An Example of Pinus sylvestrisL.)

The methods of identification and scaling of phenes of forest plants are described. The phene identification consists of five stages. Specific features of studies at each stage are shown using identification of the phenes of seed color, cone color, and seed scale structure in Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestrisL.) as examples. The method of phene scaling is based on the comparison of phene frequencies in a bog and in adjacent upland populations of pine. At the boundary between the bog and dry land, the frequencies of population-level phenes change, whereas those of superpopulation-level phenes remain unchanged.     

A prognostic estimation of the area contaminated with alpha-emitting transuranium isotopes in Belarus following the Chernobyl accident

As a result of the Chernobyl accident, some regions of Belarus have been contaminated with the plutonium isotopes (238,239,240,241)Pu. Considering the importance of the environmental impact of the alpha-emitting radionuclides we have carried out a prognostic estimation of the area contaminated with (238,239,240)Pu and (241)Am (the latter being a decay product of (241)Pu) in Belarus. The calculations were made using measurements of (238,239,240)Pu activity concentrations in soil samples from about 600 settlements in the affected region, together with the estimated activity ratio A((241)Am)/A((238,239,240)Pu). The area contaminated with alpha-emitting transuranium isotopes predicted for the year 2006 has been compared with that estimated for 1986. The results show that by 2006, the area of inhabited districts where contamination with (238,239,240)Pu and (241)Am exceeds the threshold level of 740 Bq/m(2), will be 3.7 times larger, reaching approximately 3.5 x10(3)km(2). Of this, almost 20% will have a contamination level of 1850--3700 Bq/m(2).     

Effects of ecological factors on size-related traits in the ground beetle Carabus granulatus L. (Coleoptera,Carabidae)

Multivariate analysis of variation in the metric characters in the ground beetle C. granulatus has been performed. It has been shown that the beetle body size increases toward the center of its range, urbanization has a positive effect on all metric traits, but the effect of habitat vegetation has no definite trend. The structure of variation in the metric characters estimated by the principal components method depends on all ecological factors considered: the locality in the geographic range, level of anthropogenic influence, and degree of biotope openness.     

Species composition and quantitative representation of fishes in biotopes with the riffle minnow <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alburnoides bipunctatus</Emphasis>

Species composition of fishes was studied in rivers (capture sites) inhabited by the riffle minnow. In some localities, this species proved to occupy a leading position in the ichthyofauna, being obviously dominant. In small rivers, 16 species were caught together with it, including seven species regularly occurring in catches. The relative abundance of riffle minnow showed a moderate positive correlation with that of the gudgeon (0.568) and a nonsignificant negative correlation (?0.399) with that of the bleak. It is probable that the population dynamics of riffle minnow are determined mainly by natural intraspecific mechanisms rather than by water quality, which has changed only slightly in the rivers studied.     

Attitudes to coping with radiologically suspect or contaminated milk in the UK: a dairy industry viewpoint

The attitudes of the UK milk processing industry to a nuclear incident which resulted in milk supplies being suspected of being contaminated, or actually being contaminated, with radioactivity is examined. The factors influencing these attitudes are discussed, together with their implications. In the event of a nuclear incident in which part of the United Kingdom's milk supply is possibly contaminated, the milk processing industry will want to ensure that consumers and retailers maintain complete confidence in dairy products. As a consequence the industry will require that solutions are not adopted merely to avoid wastage of milk, or awkward milk disposal problems. In the early history of the BSE crisis the government wrongly assured consumers that beef was completely safe to eat. It will be necessary to ensure that any assurances that milk is safe, following a nuclear incident, are well founded.     

Effect of Illumination Conditions on the Reproductive Success of Epipactis helleborine (L.) Crantz (Orchidaceae)

Russian Journal of Ecology -     

Abnormal Cranial Variation in the Sable (Martes zibellinaL.) and the State of Environment

An abnormal cranial variation in the sable (Martes zibellinaL.) from the extreme Russian Northeast was studied. In the populations formed as a result of reacclimation, the proportion of animals with morphological cranial anomalies proved to be significantly higher than in the parental populations (from which the animals for reintroduction were taken). Probable factors responsible for this effect are discussed.     

Variability of the Flower Structure in European Starflower (Trientalis europaeaL.) in Natural Populations

Flower variability was studied in natural populations of European starflower (Trientalis europaeaL.). The results showed that the flower structure in this species is determined by two parameters: the multiplicity of primordia of flower components and the uniformity of flower meristem development. The frequencies of nonuniformly developing flowers differs depending on the habitat. It appears that both parameters are largely determined by random fluctuations.     

Effect of Earthworm（Pheretima sp.） Density on Revegetation of Lead/zinc Metal Mine Tailings Amended with Soil

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of earthworm density on the availability of nutrients and heavy metals in metal contaminated soils. Pb/Zn mine tailings were mixed throughly with a red yellow podzolic soil at the ratio （w/w） of 75：25. Earthworms （Pheretima sp.） were introduced to the mixture at four different densities, zero, three, six and nine individuals per pot planted with ryegrass （Loliun multiflorum）. The results indicated that earthworm activity significantly enhanced ryegrass shoot biomass. However, as denser earthworm population was introduced, shoot biomass tended to decrease. Earthworm activity significantly increased soil pH and availability of N, P and K in the tailings and soil mixture. There was a general tendency that uptake of Zn by ryegrass increased after earthworm inoculation, although the increase in extractable Zn in tailings and soil mixture was not significant. On the contrary, there seemed to be a lower uptake of Pb by ryegrass under earthworm inoclation, despite the fact that higher extractable Pb concentrations were observed. The present project indicated that the improved growth of ryegrass was due to improved nutrient availability and other soil conditions, by inoculation of earthworms at an appropriate rate. Further studies are needed to illustrate the relationship between metal availability and earthworm activity in the field.     

Effect of ecological factors on the seasonal growth of Alnus incana (L.) moench trees in Northern Karelia

Studies on speckled alder trees in an alder forest of grass-herb type in the northern taiga subzone of Northern Karelia have shown that specific features of the seasonal growth of shoots, leaves, and stems in these trees depend on a number of ecological factors, with air temperature playing the main role.     

Technogenic morphological variation of the pygmy wood mouse (Sylvaemus uralensis pall.) in the Urals

Methods of geometric morphometrics have been used to compare the ranges and directions of geographic and technogenic forms of variation in the morphology of the mandible in Ural populations of pygmy wood mice (Sylvaemus uralensis Pall.) exposed to different types of pollutants (radionuclides, fluorides, and toxic petrochemical products). The range of variation in the mandible morphology consequent to chronic radiation exposure in the zone of the Eastern Ural Radioactive Trace is commensurate to the range of geographic variation of the species observed in the Middle and Southern Urals. Unspecific manifestations of variation have been revealed, which apparently result from exposure to technogenic pollutants of different origin. A probable contribution of technogenic variation to rapid morphogenetic rearrangements in populations is discussed.     

Phenotypic variation of Gymnadenia conopsea (L.) R. Br. (Orchidaceae) in marginal populations on limestones in the northeast of European Russia

Individual, intra- and interpopulation, ecological, and geographic variation has been studied in G. conopsea populations on limestones of the Timan Range. The results show that the response of plants to deterioration of growing conditions manifests itself in a decrease in the values of individual morphometric characters and the strength of correlations between them. In the northeast of European Russia, this species is represented by two forms, G. conopsea (L.) R.Br. s. str. and G. conopsea var. alpina Rchb. f. ex Beck (?), with the latter being regarded as an extreme form of its ecological variation.     

Allozyme polymorphisms and heavy metal levels in the green-lipped mussel Perna viridis (Linnaeus) collected from contaminated and uncontaminated sites in Malaysia

It has been widely reported that heavy metal contamination in coastal waters can modify the allozyme profiles of marine organisms. Previous studies have recorded elevated metal concentrations in sediments and mussel tissues off Peninsular Malaysia. In the present study, horizontal starch gel electrophoresis was carried out to estimate the levels of allelic variation of the green-lipped mussel, Perna viridis, collected from one contaminated and three relatively uncontaminated sites off Peninsular Malaysia. Fourteen polymorphic loci were observed. In addition, the concentrations of cadmium, copper, lead, mercury and zinc were determined in the sediments and in the soft tissues of the mussels. Mussels from contaminated site, evidenced by high metal pollution indices (MPI) of the sediment and the mussel tissues, showed the highest percentage of polymorphic loci (78.6%), while those collected from the uncontaminated sites had lower MPI of the sediment and mussel tissue, and exhibited lower percentages of polymorphic loci (35.7-57.1%). The population from the contaminated site showed the highest excess of heterozygosity (0.289) when compared to that of the populations from the three uncontaminated sites (0.108-0.149). Allozyme frequencies at the phosphoglucomutase (PGM; E.C. 2.7.5.1) locus also differed between the contaminated and uncontaminated populations. Previous studies have shown that exposure to heavy metals can select or counter-select for particular alleles at this locus. The present results suggest that allozyme polymorphism in P. viridis is a potential biomonitoring tool for heavy metal contamination but further validation is required.     

Random Processes and Use of Space in the Common Shrew (Sorex araneus L.)

Russian Journal of Ecology - The proportion of jointly visited traps and the frequency of visits to the traps recorded during mark–recapture studies have been compared with the mathematical...