Specific Features of the Formation of Animal Species Communities in Technogenic and Urbanized Landscapes

The formation of the species composition and specific functional, physiological, and phenotypic features of populations in technogenic and urbanized areas was studied by analyzing murine rodents, amphibians, and soil invertebrates. It is shown that, against the background of decreasing total abundance and biomass of animals, their formerly continuous ranges become mosaic, with the locally increasing animal density and heterogeneity and specific population dynamics. Species diversity decreases; however, species alien to the natural ecosystems of the given territory appear. Changes in the strategies of reproduction and food resource use were revealed in the species communities of small mammals and amphibians.     

Distribution of the Forms of Heavy Metals in Natural Landscapes of Belarus

Studies on the distribution of the forms of heavy metals (HMs) in the humus soil horizon were performed in the Berezinskii Reserve and Braslavskie Ozera National Park. The ratios of active to inert HM forms (with trace values of the mobile form) in these areas proved to be similar and independent of the total HM content. The calculated coefficients of technogeneity (Kt and Xt) and mobility (Km and Xm) are proposed, which reflect the natural ratio between the forms of HMs in the Northern and Central lithogeochemical provinces of Belarus.     

南昌市街道灰尘重金属时空分布特征及健康风险评估

分析了南昌市夏季和冬季街道104个灰尘样品中的V、Cr、Co、Ni、Cu、Zn、As、Cd和Pb含量,并利用地积累指数（Igeo）计算其污染程度,并参考美国国家环保局(US EPA)推荐的健康风险模型评价灰尘重金属暴露的人体致癌和非致癌风险,通过主成分和相关分析识别南昌市灰尘重金属的可能来源。结果表明：南昌市街道灰尘中重金属Cr、Ni、Cu、Zn、Cd和Pb含量均显著高于江西省土壤背景值,而V、Co和As含量与江西省土壤背景值含量相近。重金属V、Co和As含量无显著季节差异,但冬夏季节含量的空间异质性较高,而Cu在季节和空间分布上均表现出显著的季节差异,其它重金属的高值区均分布在南昌市中心及老工业园附近;Igeo结果表明Cd、Cu、Zn和Cr的污染程度相对较高,而V、As和Co污染程度较轻;重金属3种暴露途径的风险排序为手-口暴露>皮肤接触暴露>呼吸暴露,其中儿童会遭受更大的非致癌风险。除了灰尘As和Cr对儿童的暴露在局部区域HQ和HI值大于1,其它重金属对不同人群的HQ和HI值均小于1。总体而言,南昌市灰尘重金属的致癌风险CR均在安全阈值范围内,大小排序为Cr > As > Co > Ni > Cd。南昌市灰尘重金属的来源广泛,其中As、Co和V主要来源于岩石风化,其它重金属元素主要来源于交通和工业等人类活动。 关键词： 街道灰尘;重金属;时空分布;健康风险;南昌市     

Zooplankton as an Indicator of the State of Lake Ecosystems Polluted with Mining Wastewater in the Kola Peninsula

The most informative characteristics of the zooplankton-community response to the effect of industrial wastewater from mines have been determined using water bodies of the Kola Peninsula as an example. It has been demonstrated that qualitative and quantitative characteristics of zooplankton depend on the degree of industrial pollution of a water body and adequately reflect differences in the conditions of zooplankton growth between the whole water bodies and their individual parts. The role of zooplankton as an indicator has been assessed and the possibility of including it in the system of monitoring of water objects has been substantiated.     

The State of Components of the Biota as an Indicator of Disturbances in Natural Ecosystems Exposed to Petrochemical Pollution

Russian Journal of Ecology -     

Heavy Metals in the Environment of the Middle Urals and Their Effects on the Organism

The kinetics of accumulation of essential and toxic trace elements (TE) in vitally important organs were studied in small mammals typical of the Middle and Southern Ural fauna. The results revealed a discrepancy between the increased uptake of Cd, Zn, Pb, and Cu by animals and the virtually constant concentrations of heavy metals (HMs) in their organs, which could be explained by the existence of special elimination systems activated upon excessive HM uptake. It is shown that HM accumulation in animal tissues is energy-dependent and species-specific, and the effects of highly toxic TE correlate with physiological processes.     

湖北九宫山甜槠群落结构与优势种的空间分布格局研究

通过对湖北九宫山国家级自然保护区甜槠群落建立的1ha固定森林样地进行植物群落调查,分析了样地内木本植物物种组成、区系成分、种群径级结构和空间分布格局,结果表明:(1)样地内木本植物(DBH≥1 cm)共有132种,隶属于42科78属,其中,杜鹃花科、壳斗科、樟科、蔷薇科、冬青科等是优势科,短柄袍、鹿角杜鹃、青冈、长叶石栎、甜槠等是优势种.(2)样地内植物科、属的分布类型均以泛热带分布类型为主,分别为30.95％和20.51％.(3)样地内所有木本植物个体的径级结构均呈倒"J"型,幼龄个体数量大,森林群落更新状况良好.(4)样地内木本植物个体的空间分布格局以聚集分布为主,部分优势物种在小尺度上呈聚集分布,而在较大尺度上则为随机分布.     

临沂水源地水库沉积物重金属分布、来源及生态风险评价

水源地沉积物重金属对生态环境和供水具有极大的潜在危害,一直是水资源保护研究中的热点科学问题.本研究选取临沂市3个水源地水库开展8种重金属(Cr、Cu、Cd、Ni、Pb、Zn、As和T1)的监测和研究,分析其污染及空间分布特征,利用地累积指数法和潜在生态风险指数法开展污染状况评价,并利用主成分分析法(PCA)和相关分析法对沉积物重金属进行源解析.结果 表明:3个水库沉积物重金属Cr、Zn和Pb均严重超过山东省土壤环境背景值;云蒙湖Cd轻度超标;许家崖水库沉积物重金属Cu严重超标.地积累指数法与内梅罗综合指数法评估结果显示,3大水库Zn为中度污染,云蒙湖Pb为偏中度污染,其余重金属无污染或污染较轻.生态风险指数法(RI)评估结果显示,跋山水库、云蒙湖、许家崖水库总体的RI平均值分别为52.05、59.75、61.92,三大水库均处于低度风险水平.统计分析表明研究区域沉积物中重金属主要来自自然源(36.5％)、农业生产(26.1％)、水产养殖(13.7％).     

Heavy Metals in Organs and Tissues of the European Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus): Dependence on Living Conditions

The distribution of Fe, Zn, Cu, Cd, Mn, Pb, and Ni in the organs and tissues (kidneys, liver, lungs, brain, heart, muscles, and feathers) of the European black vulture (Aegypius monachus) was studied. It was shown that heavy metals were not responsible for the mass mortality of these birds in southern Primorye in the winter of 2001–2002. The level of pollution with heavy metals of the range of European black vultures wintering in this region (northern China and western Mongolia) may be regarded as insignificant.     

乌兹别克斯坦阿姆河流域地表水体水化学及重金属污染特征

为了分析乌兹别克斯坦阿姆河流域地表水体水化学类型及重金属污染水平及其污染程度,对研究区水体水化学参数和15种金属元素进行了研究,采用内梅罗综合污染指数法对水体中6种重金属(As、Hg、Cd、Pb、Cr、Cu)的综合污染程度进行了评价.结果 表明:研究区地表水体水化学类型主要有3类:第Ⅰ类型为Ca-HCO3型,受岩石风化和大气降水共同控制,主要分布于近出山口区;第Ⅱ类型为Ca-Mg-SO4型,主要受岩石风化控制,分布于河流的中下游区;第Ⅲ类型为Ca-Mg-Cl、Na-SO4-Cl和Na-Cl型,受水体蒸发结晶作用控制,主要分布于河流末端区和城镇区.对应于水化学类型,金属元素浓度也存在明显的差异,第Ⅲ类型水体各金属元素平均浓度总体较高,而处于出山口附近的第Ⅰ类型水体金属元素浓度最低.重金属污染风险评价结果显示,第Ⅰ类型和第Ⅱ类型水体Pn平均值分别为0.28和0.18,为无污染水体,而第Ⅲ类型水体Pn平均值接近0.7,明显高于第Ⅰ类和第Ⅱ类水体,部分水体Pn值大于1,污染相对严重,明显受到人类活动影响.总体来说,乌兹别克斯坦阿姆河流域地表水体重金属污染程度较弱,处于低风险等级.水体污染分布特征与水化学类型空间分布基本一致,受到不同程度的人类活动影响.     

基于环境容量的县域农用地土壤重金属风险概率预警研究

《土壤污染防治法》的正式出台,标志着我国土壤污染防治工作由"现状治理"转向"风险预防",为此开展区域土壤重金属风险预警研究具有一定的理论与现实意义。以太湖沿岸某产粮县为研究对象,以2015年为基准年,运用重金属输入-输出通量模型和土壤环境负载容量法对研究区耕地土壤中的As、Hg、Cr、Cd、Pb 5种重金属15年(2030年)与35年(2050年)后的风险概率进行预警研究。研究结果表明:大气干湿沉降成为除As以外其他4种土壤重金属的主要来源,畜禽粪便、化肥投入与灌溉水也会在一定程度上影响土壤重金属输入;此外,研究区耕层土壤中As、Cr、Pb 3种重金属整体情况较为良好,Hg、Cd污染风险概率较高,主要分布在研究区中部的O镇、P镇。通过GIS技术与区域物质流通量模型的结合能够很好地对不同区域以及不同重金属污染类型的区域进行风险预警,这可以为土壤污染差别化管控策略的制定提供重要思路。     

湖北大冶铜绿山矿区蔬菜重金属污染特征及健康风险研究

为了解湖北大冶铜绿山矿山周围地区土壤、蔬菜中Cd、Cu、Pb和As的含量水平、富集能力及通过蔬菜摄入导致的人群健康风险,采用对应采样方法采集矿山周围土壤、蔬菜样品共104件,利用ICP-MS测定上述样品中Cd、Cu、Pb和As的含量,通过综合质量评价法、富集系数和目标危险系数对研究区土壤-蔬菜系统中重金属的污染状况、富集能力及人群暴露的健康风险进行了分析。结果表明:研究区土壤重金属污染严重,Cd、Cu、Pb和As平均含量分别达2.56、363.23、121.25和35.96 mg/kg,分别为湖北省对应元素土壤背景值的15.06、11.83、4.54和2.92倍,表现为以Cd、Cu为主的多种重金属共同污染。与《食品中污染物限量》（GB2762 2012）标准比较,蔬菜中Cd、Cu和Pb含量的样本超标率分别为40%、6%和2%,而As的含量均不超标。土壤-蔬菜系统中重金属的综合质量指数达9.76,为重度污染。蔬菜中重金属富集能力的排序为：Cd > Cu > As > Pb,叶菜类蔬菜对Cd、Cu、As和Pb的富集系数均高于非叶菜类蔬菜。研究区人群通过蔬菜摄入As的目标危险系数均大于1,存在As暴露的健康风险;成人和儿童食用蔬菜而摄入重金属的总体目标危险系数分别为1.71~3.98和2.20~5.10,儿童比成人遭受的健康风险更大,并且距离矿山越近,所遭受的健康风险越大。蔬菜中重金属的复合污染已使大冶铜绿山矿山周围居民面临潜在的健康风险。 关键词： 铜绿山;蔬菜;重金属;健康风险;大冶     

Spatial Distribution of Heavy Metals and <Superscript>137</Superscript>Cs in Spruce Forest Soil under Conditions of Regional Pollution

The influence of horizontal structure of spruce forest on the spatial distribution of acid-soluble Zn, Cd, Pb compounds and ¹³⁷Cs in the litter and the humus horizon of soddy podzolic soil has been studied in the territory with the regional background level of industrial fallout. It has been found that the distribution pattern of Zn in the forest litter is a result of biogeochemical processes. The litter in fern–wood sorrel microplots contains increased amounts of Zn and Cd, while the contents of Pb and ¹³⁷Cs are decreased. The distribution patterns of Pb and ¹³⁷Cs in the litter are positively correlated with each other, since both elements are deposited from the atmosphere, and similar mechanisms account for their redistribution in the spruce forest ecosystem.     

Plutonium in sheep faeces as an indicator of deposition on vegetation

In order to study the deposition on vegetation of plutonium arising from the testing of nuclear weapons and discharges from nuclear facilities, sheep faeces were collected from the South-west and North of England. The plutonium content of faeces has been shown to be a reproducible and sensitive indicator of deposition on herbage and, with this technique, plutonium discharged from the Sellafield Works of British Nuclear Fuels LImited can be detected 60 km from the site. On moorland pastures the concentration of ^239+240Pu in faeces, expressed as activity per gram of ash, is roughly equal numerically to the deposit of plutonium on 1 m² of vegetation.Some of the plutonium ingested by a grazing sheep is absorbed and the highest concentrations are found in liver. The liver of a sheep grazing on pasture where the ^239+240Pu concentration in faeces was about 2 pCi (74 mBq) g⁻¹ of ash, was found to contain <1% of the Generalised Derived Limit for mutton and offal, and the meat <0·001%.     

Developmental Disturbances in the Progeny of Sea Urchins as an Index of Environmental Pollution

The development of the progeny of Strongylocentrotus intermedius sea urchins collected in September 1999 at six stations of Peter the Great Bay (the Sea of Japan) was studied. No significant differences between the samples in the number of anomalies were observed at the earliest stages of embryogenesis (fertilization and the first cleavage division). The greatest deviation from normal development was observed in the progeny of sea urchins from station 1. The relationship between disturbances in the reproductive function of sea urchins and the level of heavy metal pollution of the Amur Bay ecosystem, as well as the usefulness of various indices characterizing the quality of the sea urchin progeny from the bioindication standpoint are discussed.     

Buffer boreal forests as an evolutionary phenomenon in the Pacific ecotone of Northern Eurasia

The results of landscape-ecological surveys in the Komsomolsk Nature Reserve (the Lower Amur region) have been used as a basis for empirical–statistical modeling of the spatial organization of floristic phratries and forest types that characterize the Amur sub-Pacific as part of the continental marginal part of the megaecotone. Trends in the evolutionary forest-forming processes are described. Mechanisms have been revealed for the origin of buffer forest communities, including spruce–broadleaf and nemoral fir–spruce forests of the Manchurian–Okhotian phratry. Forests of this phenomenal buffer flora are distinguished by extremely high parameters of structural and functional development and have reached the state approaching the evolutionary climax. The previously advanced concepts of the Pacific ecotone of Northern Eurasia as a focus of evolutionary processes in the continental biosphere have been confirmed.     

Sand winning in Dormaa as an interlocking of livelihood strategies with environmental governance regimes

In this article, the attempt is made to address regime interaction in environmental governance by emphasising human livelihood action as a causal factor in this interaction. The paper elucidates how governing human behaviour on environmental resources is a process of interaction between different environmental governance regimes. With a qualitative case study of sand winning in the Dormaa Municipality and Dormaa East district in midwestern Ghana, the article shows strategic ways landowners and sand vendors pursue and legitimise their livelihood, and in the process bring about interaction between a tax regime on sand winning and the customary property rights regime of the area. It notes therefore that regime interaction is not only caused by differences in the structure of institutions, but also through the ways humans act to pursue their livelihoods. Based on this, the paper highlights the need for consciousness towards livelihoods of people and how such livelihoods are pursued as important contexts within which regimes function and interact. In this way, environmental governance can be more responsive to the well-being of people.