Changes in the assemblage of necrophilous invertebrates under the effect of pollution with emissions from the Middle Ural Copper Smelter

Changes in the abundance and taxonomic and trophic structure of necrophilous invertebrates inhabiting mixed forests have been studied in the area polluted with the emissions from the Middle Ural Copper Smelter. It has been shown that the abundance of most taxa decreases by factors of 2 to 80 along the pollution gradient, but the trophic structure and composition of major groups vary insignificantly. Changes in the necrophilous assemblage can be caused by either direct (toxic) action of industrial pollutants or their indirect effect exerted through modification of habitats.     

Application of molluscs for radioecological monitoring of the Chernobyl outburst

Accumulation of radionuclides was studied in molluscs from the territories polluted by the Chernobyl outburst. In addition to radiochemical evaluation of (90)Sr, a simple method of beta-radiometry of shells was applied which allowed processing of extensive samples and mapping of contamination of large territories: the Dnieper drainage area and the Kiev administrative region. Pre-Hiroshima and pre-Chernobyl radioactivity was investigated in museum collections. Differences in (90)Sr accumulation in molluscs of different genera were demonstrated for freshwater and terrestrial snails, an especially high accumulation factor was found in Helix. Indices of relative accumulation were calculated treating Lymnaea stagnalis as a standard. All the measurements were recalculated to this standard in order to provide comparisons between sampling sites disregarding collected species and to reduce variance before mapping. Based on shell beta-activity measurements, the average accumulation factor for (90)Sr in Lymnaea compared to its concentration in the river water was about 5000, its transfer factor compared to the soil contamination was about 0.1 m(2) kg(-1), figures for (137)Cs were smaller by an order of magnitude. Inverse dependence between free calcium content in the environment and the transfer factor was demonstrated, as well as a difference in (90)Sr/(137)Cs ratio in molluscs collected on different tracks of Chernobyl pollution. Monitoring the biologically accessible and biologically active fraction of (90)Sr contamination, the shell beta-activity above 15 kBq kg(-1) indicates a dangerous level of contamination for the human population.     

Biogeochemical assessment of the urban area in Moscow

The biogeochemical and ecological assessment of the industrial city territory including urban soils and trees was carried out. Chemical (macroelement and microelement) composition of the city soils, morphological and biochemical properties of the linden leaves, possible impact of de-icing salts on soil and tree state, the correlation between the content of trace elements, and the S-containing plant compounds (phytochelatins) were included in the assessment. It was found that concentrations of trace elements in the soils near road with intensive traffic are changed from the soils, located at a distance of 40–50 m from the road. They have higher concentrations of As, Fe, Mn, Se, and Sr and lower concentration of Zn. The linden leaves from the roadside were characterized by the increase in As, Cu, Fe, Zn, and Cr and sharp decrease in the Mn and Sr concentrations. The analysis of soil water extracts showed a slight decrease of pH and low content of Ca, Mg, K, and Na for the distant sites. The phytochelatin test of linden leaves was weakly effective as well as asymmetry degree study of leaf lamina. The main differences were observed in the damage symptoms of leaves (chlorosis and necrosis) and the content of pigments (chlorophyll and carotenoids). The biochemical and ecological assessment of soils and trees showed relatively satisfactory ecological state of the investigated area in Moscow. The data obtained shows the weak local impact of the application of de-icing salts and automobile emissions.     

Studies on biological features of band pine forests in the intermontane Minusinsk Depression by methods of gradient analysis

The results of gradient analysis of band pine forests in the Minusinsk Depression are presented. Methods of DCA ordination and correlation analysis have been used to reveal specific features of phytocenotic diversity formation in forest communities growing in azonal habitats of this steppe depression and to test zonal and typological forest units for ecological integrity. The role of directly acting zonal and compensatory ecological factors and specific relationships between types of forest communities and ecological-topographic conditions in the main forms of relief are considered.     

Initial Stages of Recovery of Soil Macrofauna Communities after Reduction of Emissions from a Copper Smelter

Analysis of natural recovery of communities after reduction of industrial emissions is important for gaining an insight into their stability. However, there is obvious deficit in observations on the course of this recovery; in particular, no data on direct comparisons of the state of communities before and after reduction of emissions are available for soil macroinvertebrates. We have studied the structure of soil macrofauna communities at the level of supraspecific taxa in southern taiga spruce-fir forests in the region exposed to emissions from the Middle Ural Copper Smelter (MUCS; Revda, Sverdlovsk oblast). The data over three periods—high, reduced, and almost terminated emissions (1990–1991, 2004, and 2014–2016, respectively)—have been compared to test the hypothesis that the communities do not recover rapidly. The results partly confirm this hypothesis. On the one hand, the response of pedobionts to pollution at a qualitative level has remained basically unchanged: in each of the three periods, their total abundance (and that of the majority of groups) decreased abruptly as the MUCS was approached, with dominance shifting from saprophages to phyto- and zoophages. On the other hand, signs of recovery have appeared during the last period: the abundance of pedobionts has increased, and pollution-sensitive groups (earthworms, enchytraeids, and mollusks) have approached closer to the MUCS. This is most likely explained by decrease in the toxicity of metals due to normalization of soil pH. Rapid recolonization of defaunated territory may be accounted for by the presence in it of microsites with more favorable conditions, compared to the surrounding area, which allow low-mobile forms to survive beyond the boundaries of their main distribution area.

     

Strategy of Biological Reclamation of Chemically Polluted Ecosystems

The strategy of biological reclamation of ecosystems in the zones of chemical pollution with asymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (ADMH), a highly toxic propellant, is proposed. The strategy is based on the results of comprehensive studies on trends in the interactions of soils, plants, and accompanying microorganisms with ADMH at rocket stage drop sites and in specially established test areas, under natural and controlled conditions.__________Translated from Ekologiya, No. 3, 2005, pp. 193–200.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Ermakov, Panova, Stepanova.     

Effects of copper(II) ions and copper oxide nanoparticles on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Elodea densa</Emphasis> Planch.

Effects of copper ions and copper oxide nanoparticles on lipid peroxidation rate, activities of anti-oxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase), and photosynthesis have been studied in experiments with Elodea densa Planch. The results show that nanoparticles are more actively accumulated by plants. Both copper ions and nanoparticles activate lipid peroxidation (to 120 and 180% of the control level, respectively). Catalase and superoxide dismutase activities in plants treated with nanoparticles increase by a factor of 1.5–2.0. Copper ions suppress photosynthesis at a concentration of 0.5 mg/l, whereas nanoparticles produce such an effect only at 1.0 mg/l. The observed effects of different forms of copper on E. densa are discussed in a comparative aspect.     

The bioeffects of extremely weak power-frequency alternating magnetic fields

We report the results of a study of the influence of extremely-weak alternating magnetic fields (EW AMF) directed co-linearly to the static Earth’s magnetic field on the rate of regeneration in planarians and also on the rate of gravitropic response in the stem segments of flax. In particular we obtained the data on the dependence of the value of bioeffects on the amplitude (at fixed 60 Hz—frequency) and on the frequency (at fixed 1.6 μT—amplitude) of the alternating component. Our data show unambiguously that EW AMF substantially affect the properties of the biosystems. The experimental data may be approximated by the theoretical expression following directly from a general formula, derived in the theory of magnetic parametric resonance. Our data indicate that the nuclear spins of hydrogen atoms serve as the primary targets for the action of the EW AMF on the biosystems. The values of bioeffects of combined magnetic fields with extremely weak alternating component are completely determined by the parameter , where γ = 42.578 Hz/μT—gyromagnetic ratio of the nuclear spins of hydrogen atoms, and and f correspond to magnetic induction and frequency of the alternating magnetic component. The dependence of bioeffect’s value on —parameter is polyextremal: well expressed maxima are observed at and minor maxima at . The bioeffects are absent at , 3.8, 5.3, 6.7. At the values of the bioeffect changes its sign—activation of planarian’s regeneration starts to be replaced by its inhibition. The inhibition takes place for the range of the amplitudes from 10 to 140 μT. The observed change in the sign of the effect may result to the prevalence of the effects caused by the induction of the alternating currents in the test-system at relatively high —amplitudes. These results provide the basis for planning of the epidemiological studies and interpretation of the corresponding results.     

Structural Changes in the Carabid Fauna of Forest Ecosystems under a Toxic Impact

Changes in the abundance, species composition, and biomorphological structure of the carabid fauna were studied in birch and fir–spruce forests growing in a zone exposed to emissions from a copper-smelting plant in the Middle Urals. The dynamic density of carabids decreased and their species composition and the ratio of life forms changed along the pollution gradient, but the principle of organization of carabidocenoses and the structure of dominance in them remained undisturbed.