Natural Resources, 2002, No.2

PRIRODNYE RESURSY (Natural Resources) Published by The National Academy of Sciences of Belarus & The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Protection of the Republic of Belarus, Minsk, Belarus

Number 2; 2002

CONTENTS

Water Resources

Summary: The decision of the problem of surface and underground water common use assumes the development of a mathematical model of the process of surface and underground water interaction. Usually evaluation of the estimate of surface waters influence on boarding area hydrogeology and influences of filtration streams on a river discharge are made separately. However such approach results in essential distortion of a real physical process especially when considering the systems of water intake of the underground waters located near to small water-objects, especial if the discharge of underground water in comparison with minimum (summer) discharge of a small surface water object. For the development of the mathematical model of surface and underground water it is proposed to use mathematical models of water movement in open streams and underground waters developed in the Central Research Institute of Complex Use of Water Resources (CRICUWR). These mathematical models are based on the Sean-Venan equations for description of surface water movement in open streams and Bussyneska equations for description of underground waters. Special software is developed and approved for these models. The main problems were related to association of two different mathematical models, numerical algorithm development including some software. For the decision of the common interaction of surface and underground water task iterative method is used. Information about water levels in each site of the river and in each moment of time are determined by parallel modeling of surface and underground waters. Calculation of water levels in a surface water-stream is carried out in the first stage. Calculation of geofiltration is carried out at the second stage. At the third stage modeling of surface water-stream is carried out again taking into account the values of geofiltration streams calculated at the previous stage. Finally, updating of water levels in the river is made. Then calculation of geofiltration and is again carried out up to achievement of stabilization of calculating surface water level. For approbation of integrated mathematical model the model of the site of the water intake was developed, which allows to take into account changes of water level in Svisloch and Tsna rivers as a result of reduction of their discharges at selection of underground waters. The prognoses of underground waters levels reduction and restoration and change of river discharge reduction in case of basic and compensation water intake use are made using this mathematical model. The effective mode of operation of the system is chosen enabling to retain the mode of drain in Cna river. The research has shown that the neglect of the factor of change of surface water level may result in a mistake in calculations of river discharge reduction up to 30 %.

N. S. Shevtsova, V. M. Zaitsev
CRITERIA OF RECREATIONAL ESTIMATION OF AQUWATORES OF LAKES OF BELARUS BY THE CONTENT OF HEAVY METALS. pp. 12-20

Summary: The article deals with the necessity of introduction of the information on heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Ni, Hg, Cd, As, Cr and Pb) into a system of complex estimation of recreational natural potential of Belarusian lakes. The data will enable to show the capabilities of lakes for secure implementation of rest. The differentiated criteria of the contents of heavy metals for contact and promysel views of rest are submitted in view of specificity of age and condition of health resting: for the population as a whole, for children and elderly people. The outcomes of classification of 760 inspected water areas of lakes of Belarus by the contents of Cu, Zn and Ni are given. It is established that to the purposes of contact recreation the indicated heavy metals do not fit: Cu - 23,1 %, on Zn - 20,0 % and on Ni - 16,4 % of water areas of lakes from a total number estimated. Such differentiation for promysel types of rest was not conducted because of the absence of applicable data of monitoring on ichiofauna and water bird. For safe est of the population on water objects of recreational designation the auithor proposes to extend the system of regular monitoring at the expense of observations el of the contents of the following heavy metals: Hg, Cd, As, Cr and Pb.

Biological Resources

Summary: The physical-chemical properties, enzymatic activity and biomass of microorganisms in soddy-pale-podzolic-super sandy soils of recreational woods nearby city Mogilyov are investigated. The reaction of influence of recreational load in the coniferous plantations of spruce-bilberry pine woods is characterized by rather high stores of biogenic elements, microbial biomass and potential enzymatic activity is revealed. The essential influence on microbiota and biogenous of soils renders recreational influence, which results in changes of the vegetative and soil characteristics of biogeocenoses. The change of phytomass of ground cover is the result of the decrease of green and consecutive degradation of phytocenosis. Among wood species the greatest degree of recreational digression was found for the coniferous biogeocenoses. The changes of the properties of soils under the influence of recreation are traced not only in humic, but also in podzolic and illuvial horizons of soil profile. The field research of the influence of recreational load was carried out in Lubushsky forestry nearby of Mogilyov in the territory of intensive attendance: places of mass rest, suburban highways and experimental station of Mogilev state pedagogical university. The coniferous plantations of I-II qualities of locality in spruce moss-grown and spruce - bilberry pine forests were investigated. Analysis of the results of physical-chemical properties of soils of recreational woods nearby Mogilyov, enzymatic activity of forest floor and soil horizons (catalase, dehydrogenase, invertase, phosphatase) and data on the number of bacteria, length of the mycelium of funguses and their biomass enabled to establish the mechanisms of interaction of enzymatic activity and recreational loads, and also to calculate the biogenic resources on one and a half meter layer of soil and potential activity of microbial-ferment systems. The physic-chemical properties determine the character and specificity of soil processes, where the factor of compaction produces negative reaction confirmed by negative correlation of the connections between density and chemical properties of soil. The potential stores of total and mobile forms of biogenic elements in account on one and a half meter layer of soil enables to reveal not only the difference for phylums of phytocenosises, but also to reveal the degree of digression and influence rate of recreational load. Enzymatic activity, composition and biomass of a microbiota determine the specificity of metabolic processes of the transformation of organic-minerala part of soil, where close correlation of connections between these indices and chemical parameters mark uniform character of metabolism of microbial-ferment systems. These indices enable to identify the level of influence of recreational load also on negative correlations with density of soils. The potential enzymatic activity determines the biogenic pool of coniferous plantations, where the spectrum of differences between them is intimately connected to excretion of the region digression of phytocenosis and territory with intensive recreational load.

J. A. Rupasova, V. A. Ignatenko, T. I. Vasilevskaya, N. N. Ruban, F. S. Pyatnitsa
THE INFLUENCE OF GEOGRAPHIC FACTOR IN PHENOL COMPLEX FORMATION OF HIGH BOG WHORTLEBERRY FRUIT WITH MINERAL NUTRITION OPTIMIZATION IN BELARUS. pp. 32-37

Summary: As a result of the comparative study of the pnenol compounds accumulation parameters in ripe high bog whortleberry fruit (Bluecrop sort) under identical field conditions with the application of N60; Р60; К60 in accordance with 8-variant scheme in the south and central parts of Belarus it has been established that the geographic factor exerts strongly pronounced influence not only on the content of these substances, but also on the degree of its modification while changing mineral background. It has been determined that the ripe fruit from the southern region differs from its analogues from the central region by a higher content of anthocyanin pigments (1,8 times), anthocyanins (1,5 times), leucanthocyanins (2 times), flavonols (1,5 times), tanning agents (1,4 times), and has a lower content of catechines (1,1 times) and phenol carbonic acids (1,2 times). The study has shown a considerable rise in the edaphic factor dependence of the content of leucanthocyanins (2,9 times), catechines (1,7 times), to a lesser extent - tanning agents (1,2 times) and anthocyanines (1,1 times). Besides, a slight weakening of this dependence at the level of flavonols (1,2 times) and phenol carbonic acids (1,3 times) has been noted. Irrespective of the choice of bog whortleberry cultivation regions, in most cases application of fertilizers promoted visible inhibition of bioflavonols biosynthesis in fruit, especially in the experiments with separate fertilizers application. Besides, in southern region this process had a more distinctive character in respect of flavonols, while in central region - in respect of leucantocyanins and catechines. A substantial activation of biosynthesis regarding tanning agents and phenol carbonic acids in fruit has been shown predominantly in the south region. The established inverse relationship of bioflavonoids, tanning agents and pnenol carbonic acids biosynthesis rate changes under the influence of the edaphic factor considerably loses its expressiveness while advancing to the north of Belarus.

O. V. Morozov
DISTRIBUTION AND PRODUCTIVITY OF RED BILBERRY IN BELARUS. pp. 38-49

Summary: The growing necessity to elaborate scientifically based measures for the rational use, protection and reproduction of the important component of lower level forest vegetation - red bilberry - requires conducting a thorough study of its resource potential and living condition in different parts of the natural habitat. Distribution and productivity of red bilberry have been studied in the following subareas: oak-darkneedle (Oshmyansko-Minsky Orshansko-Mogilevsky and West-Dvinsky regions), hornbeam-oak-darkneedle (Nemansko-Predpolessky and Berezinsko-Predpolessky regions) and wide-leaf-pine forests (Bugsko-Polessky and Polessko-Pridneprovsky regions) using 2 methodological approaches: 1. Route investigation, 2. Laying of permanent test areas. While advancing from the north to the south of Belarus, from its south-taiga to forest-steppe parts, the subarctic circumboreal species - original red bilberry approaches the southern border of its geographical habitat area, which reflects the berry-field condition. Bugsko-Polessky and Polessko-Pridneprovsky regions of the wide-leaf-pine forest subarea are characterized by a similar insignificant abundance of red bilberry with a little increase in the hornbeam-oak-darkneedle forest subarea, but in Nemansko-Predpolessky and Berezinsko-Predpolessky regions their distribution and productivity are moderate. At the same time it was discovered that there is practically no red bilberry population in some parts of oak-darkneedle forests (Orshansko-Mogilevsky region, Goretsk forestry). This does not seem to be the result of destructive successions of the present period but is conditioned by a historically formed combination of rather unfavourable growth conditions. Also, in south-taiga forests there were discovered some areas meeting the red bilberry growth conditions requirements, where, however, the negative influence of the anthropogenic factor resulted in berry-field degradation (Oshmyansko-Minsky region, Vileysky forestry). The results of the research lead to a conclusion that there is an element of geobotanical conditionality in the character of distribution and productivity of red bilberry population in Belarus. It has the greatest biogeocenotical and commercial importance in West-Dvinsky region(Rossonsky forestry) in the forests of which the nature conservation measures regarding red bilberry will be most effective.

I. P. Voznyachuk, N. L. Voznyachuk
STRUCTURE AND CONDITION OF THE GROUND LAYER OF VEGETATION - BIOINDICATOR OF THE STATE OF FOREST PHYTOCENOSIS IN TECHNOGENICALLY AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT. pp. 50-57

Summary: In this study we have analysed an indicator role of structure of ground layers of vegetation to determine the modern dynamic status and to predict the tendencies of forest phytocenosis development under the influence of Novopolotsk Oil Industry Complex pollution, one of the biggest in the North of Republic. Based on the data about structural organization of moss, herbaceous and small shrub layers in 500-m zones from forest edge we observed a considerable spatial reorganization of the structure of plant community, a change of spatial distribution of ground layers of plants and formation of a new living soil-cover with the dominance of synanthropic and nitrophilous components of plants which are alien elements to the primary spruce (Picea abies) and pine (Pinus sylvestris) forests. Comparative analysis of the results of studies carried out in 1990, 1995 and 2000 shows that the ground layer of vegetation reacts sensitively to the changes in the intensity of technogenic impact and characterizes the state of forest phytocenosis. The research has revealed trend, speed and most typical and common forms of ground vegetation dynamics. The character and degree of transformation of structure of moss, herbaceous and small shrub layers in the zone of technogenic impact depend on the distance to the sources of industrial pollutants, on the profile of polluting, as well as on the profile of works and on the specific structure of the plant community itself.

Nature Management

Summary: One of the main problems of nature management is that little attention is given to evaluation and rational use of so called ecological resources. Considering the concepts and developments of the different scientists we shall define ecological resources as a complex of natural objects, factors and phenomena ensuring maintenance of ecological equilibrium. In a broad sense of the word, the concept of ecological resources is close to the concept of renewable resources. Therefore as an object of social-economic estimation the ecological resources are divided into material resources and own ecological resources. The material resources are classified by types of products produced by ecosystems, own ecological resources, i.e. by their economic significance. Normative and territorial principle should constitute the basis of this estimation. The core of this methodology is the theory of rent. Overall ecological rent expressing all national economic effect from exploitation of ecological resources is made up from the economical and own ecological rents. The economical rent is determined proceeding from the market price of a product of nature management. The own ecological rent is counted on the basis of marginal nature protection costs. To compare the values of estimation of different kinds of resources is correct in the capital form, because the identical current rent can be reached by different costs. Accordingly, for all kinds of resources the factors of capitalization are determined, the value of which depends on conditions of reproduction of the capital. The capital estimation of the ecological resources of Belarus is given as the ecological capital. Estimating ecosystems only by their economic productivity, we shall receive the cost of wood, agricultural and water resources that is equal to 11,5 bln USD. However, after performing additional estimation of the ecological value of the resources we will have 14,5 bln USD. The difference is not the result of increasing the productivity of ecosystems. Higher estimate in this case expresses increasing of the demand of the society for the ecological values. According to the calculations of a cumulative estimate of ecological resources, the proportion of own ecological resources is 20%. It can also be interpreted that the full ecological-economic benefit granted by ecosystems of Belarus is 25% higher than the estimate due to economic benefit.

A. P. Goosev, A. S. Sokolov
INDICATION OF RECREATIONAL DISTURBANCES IN FOREST LANDSCAPE (ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE BELARUSIAN POLESSYE). pp. 69-74

Summary: In this work the results of studying the transformation of forest landscape of the Byelorussian Polessye as a result of anthropogenic stress (recreation activity) are shown. A connection is established between the characteristics of pine forest ecosystems and the level of recreational loading. Reliable indicators of recreational impact on conditions of pine forest ecosystems are the following: reduction of the number of natural renewal and underbrush; change and degradation of specific and ecological structure of vegetation; the share of damaged forest stands and dead wood; decrease of specific diversity of forest vegetation, change of projective covering of some species (reduction of mosses, increase of cereals and weed plants). Changes also occur in a soil circle. Correlation analysis was carried out that confirmed the assumption of connections between the level of recreational load and some characteristics of ecosystems. These connections have nonlinear character. Derivative associations are described which are formed as a result of recreational influence on the background association of pine forest of Polessye landscape. These associations correlate to the level of recreational load. That is why it became possible to reveal the correlation dependence between the specific structure of vegetation and the level of recreational load. So, the derivative association can be a complex indicator of the load. And the indication of the level of community is more reliable than separate parameters. The revealed indicators can serve for estimation of the level of recreational impact on wood ecosystems that quickly and reliably enables to detect disturbances and the state of wood landscape used in the recreational purposes and the environment as a whole.

T. Selivonchik
FEATURES OF ECOLOGICAL REHABILITATION OF WORKED OUT AREAS OF PEAT DEPOSIT "PTICH". pp. 75-79

Summary: The problems of ecological rehabilitation of anthropogenically damaged areas of peat deposit "Ptich" are considered. The deposit is presented by sites of low-bog peat, transition-bog peat and raised-bog peat. The production of peat for manufacture of briquettes was conducted on sites of a low-bog peat. The area of peat deposit that remained in its natural condition is used for agricultural purposes. As a result of amelioration and peat production essential anthropogenic transformations of the territory have taken place. They resulted in active dump of stocks of superficial and underground waters, downturn of the bog surface accelerated mineralisation of organic substance of peat, transformation of vegetation and fauna and introduction of a number of negative phenomena (fires, erosion, frosts etc.). On the basis of the carried out research it is offered to restore a hydrological mode for the development of processes of repeated bogging up on some woked out areas. This will result in the revival of basic biospheric functions inherent to a bog.

S. Golovaty, S. Savchenko, V. Savchenko, N. Volkova
HEAVY METALS IN SOILS AND PLANTS IN THE INFLUENCE ZONE OF MINSK. pp. 80-87

Summary: Minsk is one of the largest industrial centers of Belarus. It renders significant influence on ecological-geochemical state of adjacent territories. At the present stage one of the most dangerous contaminants of the environment are heavy metals. The soils and plants sensitively respond to their exuberant concentrations in the environment. The total content of Cr, Ni, Co, Cu, Pb, Zn, Sn, Ag in soils and plants was analyzed by the means of atomic-emission spectrometry and atomic-absorption method. Also, mobile compounds of Cd, Ni, Cr, Cu, Zn, Co in soils were evaluated as IM HCl extraction with an atomic-absorption ending. As a result of the carried out research, it was established that in the influence zone of Minsk the polyelement geochemical anomaly extended mainly in east and northeast directions. The contents of Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu and Ni in soils and plants of the area is higher than the average background values and in some cases exceed maximum tolerance levels for soils and plants. The main contaminant of soils is Pb, the contents of which everywhere exceed the background level. A similar distribution pattern has Zn, its maximum contents is 1,4 times higher than maximum tolerance levels. A smaller degree of contamination of soil is found for Cu and Cd. The contents of Ni exceed the background level. The concentration of metals in plants has more uniform character. Thus, the maximum levels of accumulation are characteristic for Cd and Pb, their contents in plants comes nearer to tolerance levels. Quite another character of contamination has floodplain of Svisloch lower than Minsk. In floodplain soils downstream the city linearly extended polyelement anomaly is found. Its length is more than 120 km. This anomaly is divided into two zones. The first zone extending for 90 km is characterised by the presence in floodplain soils of relict anomaly with low levels of heavy metals. Typomorphic contaminants are Ni, Cr and Cu. The intermittent propagation of heavy metal contents is observed from 90 up to 120 km below Minsk. In this area the average total concentration of Ni, Cr and Cu in soils exceed the background and maximum tolerance levels. The contamination of Zn, Sn, Ag is captured, a smaller degree for Pb. The mobile forms of metals make up 70 % of the total contents. Extremely high levels of metals in floodplain soils cause their accumulation in floodplain plants exceeding maximum tolerance levels. The metal anomaly in soils for Ni and Cu do not result in their accumulation by plants.

Protected Territories

Summary: The fauna of aquatic insects of the Biological Reserve "Sporovski" was investigated. 90 species of aquatic insects were found. It was concluded that a diversity of aquatic insect species composition is relatively high. Species rare in Europe - Haliplus obliquus (Fabricius, 1787), Nehalennia speciosa (Charpentier, 1840) and those first found in Belarus - Limnephilus binotatus Curtis, 1834 и Gerris sphagnetorum Gaunitz, 1947 are living there. Such a situation is conditioned by the fact that the wetland "Sporovski" is a complex heterogeneous system biotopic components of which play a different role in the maintenance of high species diversity for some taxonomic groups of aquatic insects. Between studied water bodies the flood mires are most significant for the maintenance of sufficiently high diversity of the fauna and a number of aquatic insects. The undamaged character of floodplains of the river Yaselda may explain such a situation. Finally, it is concluded that this study confirmed the importance and status of strict protected territory of the Biological Reserve "Sporovski". Of course, the species composition existing to date cannot be considered complete. One can suppose that further investigations could supplement significantly a list of species given in this paper, as well as to give additional data on their distribution in water-bodies of the Reserve. Studies of water insects were carried out under the international joint project of the republican organization "Protection of birds of Belarus", the Royal Society of Bird Protection (Great Britain) and the Program of UNO "Management of the main flood mires of Polesie for biological diversity protection" supported by the British Foundation "Darvin Initiative".

Education in Natural Protection

Summary: The priority direction for the national education development should be related to the improvement of ecological education. The necessity of the system of continuous ecological education is evident The system will unite organically preschool, school, professional, higher and postgraduate education. Such an education experience has been gained in the Republic, it is not broadly presented in the educational system, systemized or recommended for dissemination in all the educational institutions. Search of such innovations is difficult. Among the postgraduate education institutions only the Republican s Improvement Courses for the employees of the Belarusian Research Center "Ecology" train nature protection specialists. As a result of joint research and analytical work carried out by the scientists of the Belarusian State University, Belarusian State Technological University and National Education Institute Recommendations for improving the qualification rate of specialists, Standard Thematic Plan of training technical, natural and social specialists and Methodological Recommendations for introduction and adaptation of standard education programs were developed. The recommendation is intended to bring the postgraduate ecological education in accordance with modern requirements.

Scientific Communications

Summary: At present time in the Republic of Belarus there are four National Parks (NP). Two of them "Braslavskie ozera" and "Narochansky" are situated in the territory of Lace-land landscape area. In addition to NP a number of reserves were organized here including Gozsky, Porechsky and Sopotskinsky. This work is the first to study mycobiota in the protected territories of Lace-land landscape area. Inventory of species structure of the Russula fungi was done in the study territories. 24 species related to Lactarius and 51 species - to Russula were identified. In NP "Braslavskie ozera" 18 species were identified from Lactarius genus and 29 species from Russula genus, in NP "Narochansky" - 17 from Lactarius, 37 species and 2 varieties - from Russula. In the territory of Gozsky, Porechsky and Sopotskinsky reserves 14 species were found from Lactarius genus and 33 species and 2 varieties - from Russula genus. The species L. repraesentaneus Britz., L. violascens (Otto: Fr.) Fr., R. barle Quel., R. caerulea (Pers.) Fr., R. graveolens Rom. in Britz., R. farinipes Rom. in Britz., R. viscida Kudrn. and variety Russula turci var. amethystina Quel. were first marked for Belarus. It was established that maximum of the species diversity of the Russula fungi was registered in pine forests. The largest quantity of species from Russula genus is found here, although the species from Lactarius genus are noted more frequently in fir-wood. Rich species diversity of the specimens from Russula genus is the evidence of satisfactory forest condition in the protected territories of Lace-land landscape area.

Н. A. Autko, Zh. A. Rupasova, A. A. Autko
DEVELOPMENT OF SPICE AROMATIC MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE FAMILY LAMIACEAE DEPENDING ON THE METHODS OF CULTIVATION SEEDLINGS IN THE CONDITIONS OF BELARUS. pp. 106-108

Summary: As a result of the comparative study of biometrical and bioproductional parameters of above-ground organs of Origanum vulgare, Melissa officinalis, Salvia officinalis and Nepeta cataria of the 1-st year of vegetation cultivated by a usual and cassette method (the size of alveoles 18 and 65 см3), more active development of plants in the second case has been observed. It is shown that the degree of exhibiting advantages in the development of "cassette" plants is determined by the species affiliation.

I. Dovnar
POTENTIAL NITROGEN FIXING ABILITY OF MEADOW CLOVER. pp. 109-114

Summary: In vegetation experiments with rectangular plane vessels we have grown meadow clover "Vitebchanin" and barley "Gonar". We have defined the quantity of nitrogen acquired by clover from the air and absorbed from the ground by a difference method. It has been stated that the total quantity of nitrogen in green clover biomass can be accepted equal to the quantity of nitrogen acquired from the air. The observation of dynamics of dry substance and nitrogen accumulation in clover in field experiences has shown that accumulation of nitrogen acquired from the air strongly resembles the curve of dry substance accumulation by plants. Between these processes there is a dependence that is directly proportional. Thus, 22 mg of nitrogen from the air is required for the creation of one gram of dry substance. The potential ability of meadow clover to master nitrogen from the air is very high and in narrow-band crops reaches 45,5...83,1 g/m of the crop, that is much higher than the values obtained in continuous crops.