heavy metals

Morphological Variability and Biochemical Indices of Leaves in Coenopopulations of Aegopodium podagraria L. (Apiаceae, Apiales) under Various Levels of Soil Pollution with Heavy Metals

Authors: Savinov A. B., Erofeeva E. A., Nikitin Y. D.

The morphological variability, lipid peroxidation rate (LPR) and photosynthetic pigment content in the leaves of Aegopodium podagraria L. were studied in four coenopopulations growing in urban ecosystems whose soils were contaminated, to varying degrees, with heavy metals (HM): Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr. The increase of the HM level in the soil induced a decrease in the terminal leaflet size, the average number of phens (i.e. various variants of the leaf shape), and the chlorophyll content b in leaves but the percentage of rare phens increased.

Decreasing the Copper Ion Phytotoxicity Using Rhodococcus Biosurfactants

Authors: Litvinenko L. V., Tishchenko A. V., Ivshina I. B.

The effect of copper on the germination of seeds of several agricultural plants, namely, common vetch, white mustard and oats in the presence of Rhodoccocus-biosurfactants was studied. As a result of the conducted studies it was established that Avena sativa L. was the most stable plant to the action of copper, and Vicia sativa L. was a less stable plant. By the copper resistance degree, the plants used in the work could be arranged in the series: Avena sativa L. > Sinapis alba L. > Vicia sativa L.

INFLUENCE OF LEAD NITRATE AND ACETATE, WHEN INTRODUCED INTO SOD-PODZOLIC SOIL, ON ITS BIOINDICATIVE CHARACTERISTICS

Authors: Panova M. I., Pukalchik M. A., Uchanov P. V., Terekhova V. A.

The influence of two lead salts on the enzymatic activity dynamics (urease, dehydrogenase, the total activity of hydrolases, acid phosphatase, and peroxidase) at lead ion concentrations of 10, 100, 300, 500 and 1,000 mg/kg in a model 21-day experiment was estimated. A significant inhibitory effect of lead nitrate on the total activity of hydrolases, dehydrogenase and peroxidase at doses of 500 and 1,000 mg (Pb2+)/kg was observed, while lead acetate was characterized by predominantly stimulating effect.

SOIL STATUS ASSESSMENT IN URBAN AREAS BY CHEMICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGICAL METHODS

Authors: Olkova A. S., Berezin G. I., Ashikhmina T. Y.

The ecological status of soils in an urbosystem was assessed in terms of the total content of heavy metals, their mobile forms, petroleum products, integrated toxicity, and soil catalase activity. Parts of the functional transport areas of the city have turned out to be the most disadvantaged areas. A tendency of suppression of the ciliate motor activity and the growth indicators of watercress, reduction of the catalase activity in urban soils are observed.

PHYTOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF AMMONIUM HUMATE AT HIGH COPPER CONCENTRATIONS IN THE ENVIRONMENT

Authors: Kirdey T. A., Veselov A. P.

The influence of ammonium humate obtained from peat on the wheat plant tolerance to high CuSO₄ concentrations (100, 250, 500, and 1000 μM/l) was studied. Seeds were germinated on cop-per sulphate solution with and without the humate. Then the plants were grown on Hoagland’s solution in an artificial climate chamber. The humate protective action coefficient was estimated in two ways, namely: by dry weight changes and by copper ion content in comparison with the plants grown without humate.

BLOOD SYSTEM OF VOLES UNDER (CRICETIDAE, RODENTIA) INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION

Authors: Tarakhtii E. A., Mukhacheva S. V.

A complex of the blood system characteristics and the concentrations of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) in the liver of bank voles (Cl. glareolus) and red voles (Cl. rutilus) from background and industrial polluted areas were studied. Heavy metals were found to affect the structure of erythrocytes, the blood cell composition and concentration in the hematopoietic organs. The revealed differences between the blood system's responses of bank and red voles to pollution conditions are due to different levels of the pollutant accumulation in the body.

STRUCTURAL-FUNCTIONAL STATE OF THE SOIL MICROBIOTA IN CHEMICALLY POLLUTED ENVIRONMENT

Authors: Zhuikova T. V., Gordeeva V. A., Bezel’ V. S., Kostina L. V., Ivshina I. B.

The structural-functional diversity of main ecological trophic groups of soil microorganisms in the meadow soils of the Central Urals, anthropogenically contaminated with heavy metals, was studied. The growth of the total numbers of these microorganisms in technozems, in comparison with those in agrozems, is due to the higher abundance of ferric-reducing, denitrifying, nitrogen-fixing and sulphate-reducing bacteria; the increased cellulolytic activity, and the dependence of these characteristics on the soil toxic load.