Natural Resources, 2002, No.4

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 4; 2002

CONTENTS

Water Resources

Summary: The article deals with the problems of recreational estimation of radiation safety for contact, non-contact and trade aspects of rest (Cs-137, Sr-90, radioisotopes Pu-238, 239, 240, 241 and Am-241) of aqueous ecosystem of water objects in Belarus and its components: surface waters, bottom depositions, aqueous ichthyofauna and also territories adjacent to water objects. Radioactive substances can come into human organism depending on the type of recreational use of reservoirs in the following ways: at contact types of rest - oral and epidermal; at non-contact - epidermal; at trade - by trophic chains: "water -- fish -- man" and "water -- bottom depositions -- bentos -- mammal/bird -- man". The definition of criteria of radioactive adaptability of water objects for specific types of rest is based on non-threshold medical-biological concept taking into account different degree of biological influence of Cs-137, Sr-90, radioisotopes Pu-238, 239, 240, 241 and Am-241 on living organisms, character of exposure and also indices of radioactive background before the Chernobyl accident. It is necessary to normalize the content of radioactive substances in reservoirs intended for recreation taking into account dominating paths of radionuclide entering human organism defined by the type of rest and degree of radio sensitivity of different age groups of people. It allows to distribute all the population of Belarus into two categories: a) adults - with normal radio sensitivity; b) children, persons of generic and declining age - with increased radio sensitivity. The radiological estimation of recreational suitability of water objects of Belarus was made for 17 model reservoirs, 11 of them are shallow weakly running lakes, 5 are water storages. Only reservoirs containing Cs-137, Sr-90, isotopes of Pu in amounts not higher than doubled background values can be considered safe for the radiosensitive population. The regulation of trade aspects of rest in aqueous ecosystems of closed type is stipulated by the fact that radionuclides were strongly involved in a trophic chain that became evident from considerable increase of radioactivity in ichiofauna and aqueous animals. As a result of radiological estimation of recreational suitability of the indicated reservoirs of Belarus potential use of the lakes for different types of rest was determined. This will enable to take measures for provision of their safe recreational use by the population.

Biological Resources

Summary: Eel culture in Belarus is associated with the development of eel cultivation in natural water bodies (pasturable eel culture based on fattening) on the basis of eel introduction into inland water bodies. The character of the culture is determined by commercial value of eel as game fish and by its role as a biological regulator of non-commercial fish number. More than 56 million exemplars of eel stocking material were introduced into 44 water bodies with the total area 48 500 hectares during 1956-2002 in Belarus. During this period total and annual catches of marketable eels have amounted relatively 953,8 and 20...45 tons. It was revealed that the absence of regular eels introduction into water bodies since 1988 and increase of wildcat eel catches caused decreasing catches of marketable eels tо 10-18 tons per year during 90's. The value of commercial return as an indicator of eel culture efficiency was 1...10% for different types of water bodies and for eels introduced in different periods. The value was influenced by some factors (stocking material quality, water bodies selection, mortality rate, fishery set-up, etc). Biologically properly justified commercial measure for eels was adopted by the Regulations of commercial fishing in Belarus in 1998. It aims to maintain eel stocks at optimal level, that is 50 cm, while eel-fishery during eels descent from water bodies is allowed without any size constraints. In Belarus there are 318 lakes with the area not less than 50 hectares, the total area of them is more than 91 000 hectares, They are perspective for pasturable eel culture. According to the prognosis the total eel catching can reach 90...450 tons under the condition of eel production from 1 to 5 kg per hectare per year in case introduction of stocking material will be regular and eel stocks protection from water bodies users will be appropriate. The prospects of industrial eel culture are considered. It has been shown that eel cultivation in special industrial farms with closed cycle water systems and industrial fish production technologies provide high efficiency and ecological safety. Along with growing of eel stocking material for introduction into natural water bodies it is possible to grow fish for industrial fish farms.

E. V. Kiselyova
SPRUCE IN THE POLLUTED AIR ENVIRONMENT OF MINSK AND MOGILEV. pp. 22-31

Summary: Forest park, air environment pollution, spruce, tree-ring growth, solar activity, climatic factors. In forest parks of Minsk and Mogilev spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst) spreadings were saved. The maximum age of separate trees is 125...135 years. The long-term course of variability of tree-ring growth of this age group as well as 95-, 80- and 60-year generations on loess loam edaphotope was studied. The low sensitivity of all age groups to the external factors of environment did not change with age. The reaction of spruce to change of electromagnetic radiation of the Sun is unstable and is revealed only in optimum climatic conditions. The greatest tree-ring growth in the 1920s-1950s is synphased to 35...40-year Loginov`s cycle of solar disk brightness. For the spruce spreading in Mogilev, except for the overstayed one, higher dependence of trunk efficiency on air temperature and precipitation during hydrological year and defoliated period is peculiar, in comparison with the spreading in Minsk. Pre-adaptation of 60's generation to a modern level of air environment pollution is accompanied by increase of absolute meanings of tree rings growth and annual amplitude of its indices variability. The level of air pollution in Minsk and Mogilev is not the limiting anthropogenic factor for spruce in the forest parks of these cities. Its tree ring growth changes in a natural mode.

O. V. Sozinov
COENOTIC POPULATIONS OF HELICHRYSUM ARENARIUM (L.) MOENCH IN THE CONDITIONS OF ANTHROPOGENIC LANDSCAPE . pp. 32-38

Summary: The object of the research is long-term grassy plant, a valuable medicinal species Helichrisum arenarium (L.) Moench. The purpose of scientific work was to study ecological and morpho-phytocoenotic characteristics of H. arenarium in conditions of anthropogenous landscape of Gozhevskoe sand deposits (Grodno region of Belarus) for determination of optimum growth and development conditions. Biological methods of populations and phytocoenology (the study of structure and structure coenotic populations) were applied on the basis of qualitative and quantitative attributes, composition and structure phytocoenosis. As a result of the research work the data was obtained for determination of optimum conditions of existence H. Arenarium. They are given for the conditions of lowered interspecies competition at strong or moderate infringements of alive over ground cover in conditions of low richness of soil at full light exposure in young forests up to closed crones, and also at the first stages of natural secondary succession. The character of light exposure, an aero-aquatic mode and phytocoenotic environment render greatest influence on ecologo-phytocoenotic characteristics of H. arenarium. H. arenarium is a spice with secondary type of life strategy: ecotopic patient with elements of ruderal strategy of life. H. arenarium in relation to ecological factors is heliophyte, mesotrophe, psammophyte, neutrophil, xeromesophyte. It is most rational to use it as a source of medicinal raw material in young not closed pine plantings in conditions close to synecological optimum that will raise the economic effect of used territory.

S. Zhadko
ECOLOGICAL AND FLORISTIC CHARACTERISTICS OF GRASSY VEGETATION OF GOMEL. pp. 39-45

Summary: For studying the variety of vegetation in Gomel and their ecological and floristic characteristics different territories were examined: lawns, squares and road lines, districts with multistoried houses, private areas, railway slopes, wastelands and lakes. There is a special complex of original conditions for growing vegetation on each of these objects. These conditions are connected with intensity of antropogenic impact. For example, lawns have more xerophites than other areas. The least diversity of species, a great number of short-term plants and a large number of oligothrophes and species of ruderal origin is characteristic of the districts with multistoried houses. The largest number of avtrophov and water-loving kinds of plants grow in the streets of private areas. High degree of biodiversity preservation in cities remained in wastelands and near railways Here we come cross the greatest number of species, we can also find rare and protected plants, there are a lot of medicinal plants. By the way, these areas can present a certain danger for distribution of ruderal and adventive kinds of plants. So, these territories need to be watched, examined and cared.

Ecologically Safe and Resource-Saving Technologies

Summary: The necessary precondition of transition to reserved water circulating systems in the mineral fertilizers is the increase of the waste water purification degree from fluorine. In this connection, in the present work the results of researches of thin purification of waste water from fluorine on the basis of carbon method are discussed. As a result of the study of different kinds of realization it has been established that the deepest purification degree is achieved on the basis of two-stage scheme of the basic purification without preliminary deposition before carbonization. The influence of the basic technological parameters on the degree of purification and chemical-technological properties of deposits is investigated. It has been established that one of the basic technological parameters determining the process of fine purification is the quantity of introduced lime milk. So for waste water of the Gomel chemical factory, the optimum quantity of lime milk in conditions of experiences was 80...100 kg on 1 000 m³ of drains. This corresponded to the value of pH neutralization 12...12,5. The minimal content of fluorine-ions corresponds to the value of carbonization pH equal 7,0...8,5. However, at pH less than 8,0 the significant deterioration of the basic chemical-technological properties of formed deposits is observed, therefore recommended value of carbonization pH is 8,0...8,5. The essential influence on efficiency of technological process renders carbonization speed. In particular, reduction of speed of CO2 submission results in the increase of the fluorine removal degree and improvement of chemical-technological properties of the obtained deposits. The results of production tests have confirmed the data of laboratory researches. In particular at the initial contents of fluorine in waste water during tests from 3 011 to 7 920 mg/l, the residual contents of fluorine changed from 0,22 up to 0,6 mg/l (in comparison with 20...25 mg/l under the working circuit). Practical realization of the developed method of fine purification of waste water will ensure an opportunity of stable functioning of reserved water circulating systems in manufacture of phosphoric fertilizers and will allow to prevent 'the fluoration' of other water circulating systems.

Nature Management

Summary: Radiocesuim distribution in soils of four geochemical landscapes: eluvial - watershed, transeluvial - terrace slope upper part, transaccumulative - slope lower part, accumulative - floodplain is discussed. Maximum concentration of Cs-137 (2,961...3,280 Bk/kg) was noted in the soil of eluvial landscapes, with a depth of the isotope migration being 26 cm. Its accumulation is associated with the biogeochemical and sorption geochemical barriers. Fe, Ca, Pb, Mn, Ni, Cr and Cu are accumulated simultaneously with Cs-137. The maximum concentration of Cs-137 is confined to the humus horizon of buried soils in the transition landscapes and in the upper part of relict horizons (geochemical barrier), where the Cs-137, Fe, Ca and Mn penetration increases. The lower part of the buried humus horizon is impermeable for Cs-137 migration and partly permeable for Fe, Ca, Mg, that migrate in soluble forms. Cs-137 is accumulated in the humus horizon of buried soils, that occur in the lower parts of slopes and are overlain by light deposits. Radiocesium is accumulated with Al, Fe, Ti, Ca, Mg and trace elements. By the value of a coefficient R9 the buried humus horizon is divided into the upper and lower parts. In the soils of accumulative landscapes radiocesium is accumulated in the sod of the central floodplain lows. In the elevated parts the radial migration is dominant and Cs-137 is accumulated in the humus horizons. Radiocesium is accumulated under the influence of different barriers in the river channel floodplain. A system of "watershed - floodplain" for Cs-137 is as follows: central floodplain low (6,045...1,955 Bk/kg) > watershed (2,961...3,280) > slope upper part (1,436) > central floodplain elevation (870...4,844), river channel floodplain (381 Bk/kg). Its accumulation in the humus horizons follows the pattern: central floodplain elevation (302...429 Bk/kg) > buried soils (1,055...1,941) > slope upper part (1,628) > river channel floodplain (424) > > watershed (52...270 Bk/kg). Soil differentiation in physical parameters and the organic matter content prevents complete removal of radioactive isotopes from landscapes. Soils of the central floodplain serve as lateral geochemical barrier. The maximum coefficient of lateral differentiation L is 4,3. Soils occurring at the slope foot are considered to be most dangerous. In eluvial landscapes Cs-137 migrates in the composition of soil particles. The correlation of the Cs-137 lateral and radial migrations was analyzed in detail with due account of some geochemical parameters and using special geochemical diagrams.

W. S. Anoshko, S. M. Zajko, L. F. Vashkevich, S. S. Bachyla
METHODS OF GEOGRAPHIC FORECAST OF DRAINED LANDSCAPE AND SOILS CHANGES. pp. 67-86

Summary: Methods of the forecast of drained landscape changes have been proposed. Results of the monitoring for many years and determination of main regularities in the change of landscape and soil along with large experience of the forecast of drained soil relief and other landscape compositions were taken as a basis for these methods. Average coefficients of changes of drained soils were calculated: mineral and antropogenic mineral postpeat soils, drained peat-gley (T more 0,3 m), peat-gley (T - 0,3...0,5 m), small depth of peat (T - 1,0...2,0 m), peat large depth of peat (T more 2,0 m). Values of coefficients are changing from (+1,0) to (-4,0). The positive coefficient (mith +) is common for antropogenic mineral postpeat and peat soils with a peat layer up to 0,5 m. Their areas increased. Peat soils with a peat layer more then 0,5 m have negative coefficients of changing. Their areas decreased. The formulas of calculation of coefficients of soil changes and for forecasting of soil types are given. The forecast of changing of drained NTC was worked out in the farm "Kornadz" (with the area more then 3 000 ha). The map for 1997 and the prognostic map for 2 015 were compiled. All prognostic NTC will be having law productivity. In 1997 they occupied sufficiently less area - 47%. The forecast shows that degradation of drained landscapes will be more abrupt due to the decrease of peat layer.

M. I. Struk
SUBURBANIZATION AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OF THE SUBURBAN TERRITORY. pp. 87-96

Summary: The investigation devoted to the grounds of the environment protection activity in the suburban territory in connection with development of suburbanization, was realized on two levels - regional and local. The state of the settlement system in Belarus in the evolution scale of settlement is shown on the former and the peculiarities of settlement and nature management changes on the latter. Dynamics of urban and rural population in Belarus during the period from 1960 to 2000 has bee considered. Tendencies to the growth of its concentration in cities and depopulation of rural regions have been revealed. Such changes in the population space distribution correspond to evolution stage of classical urbanization. In 1990s the signs of suburbanization stage appeared. The growth of city population was decreased, the rates of suburban territories development sharply increased. The negative changes of the nature management structure connected with the decrease of forest area took place. The stage of suburbanization in Belarus is standing on the initial phase of development. Its further development must cause the growth of nature management intensity in the suburban territory. Under such circumstances the ordering of space distribution of anthropogenic loads in the suburban territory is the priority task of the environment protection activity. In order to reach this it is necessary at first to carry out the efficient functional zoning of the suburban territory, in the second place, to introduce the effective regulation mechanism of nature management. The most constructive way to solve this problem would be to give the forest-park belt the status similar to the national park.

E. Antipin
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF INVESTIGATION AND EXPLORATION OF PETROLEUM IN PRIPYAT DEPRESSION. pp. 97-104

Summary: The exploration and prospecting of petroleum and gas-petroleum is accompanied by negative influence on geological environment. All technological processes connected with prospecting, investigation and production of petroleum bring in changes of geological environment. In the article questions of influence of chisel solutions on geological section of rocks are considered, the process of changing of physical properties of rocks in about boreholes zones is shown. More than 2 thousand deep boreholes are drilled on the territory of Pripyat depression. As a result of drilling and opening the top lithosphere layers different changes take place. A change in the intense condition of rocks in a file, formation of crack and cavities in rock, the fall of pressure in land stratum, degassing of rocks and waters, change of temperature field of rocks, formation of new minerals. When conducting oil drilling of works the chisel solutions consisting of superficial and underground waters enter various harmful chemical reagents, rendering negative influence on a soil cover. The physical-chemical properties of soil and underground waters, vegetative cover degrade, soil fertility in this territory falls. Geochemical contamination is the main source of pollution of geological environment. The process of production of petroleum is accompanied by entering into ecosystem of substances with different chemical properties. The polluting substances (petroleum and mineral wastewater) accompany all parts of the technological chain of oil-extracting manufacture. It promotes deeper pollution of natural components. So, in conditions of Belarus alongside with penetration of a firm phase of chisel solution into rocks of productive horizons, harmful influence such physical-chemical processes, as blocking action filter, formation of insoluble deposits of salts (MgSO4, NaCl, Fe(OH)3,Fe(OH)2) and processes, influence the durability of rocks. It is stressed in the paper that it is expedient to improve industrial technologies for production of petroleum with the purposes of reduction of their negative influence on geological environment, to take into account geodynamic processes, lithological features of rocks, etc. when developing the deposits. It is easier to predict negative ecological changes than to liquidate consequences.

Education in Natural Protection

Summary: In the recent years the interest to practical methods of environmental education continues to grow. It is reflected in many programs of developing environmental education in some Russian regions. Many teachers consider outdoor classes as an important element of education. Nevertheless, there are obvious differences between perception of nature by pupils of different countries and age, which should be taken into account when planning educational process. The data show that the school students of the fifth form pay their attention to the aesthetic and the cognitive value of nature. In the eighth form after the aesthetic value of nature follows the value of consumption. In the papers of American school students the aesthetic value also predominated; in the second place was the value of communication with nature. It is essential that no US students (in comparison with the students of Mari El, Russia) were found who stressed the value of consumption. The data testifies that such a difference can be observed due to difference between lifestyles and the ways of wildlife management. Though problems of inadequate behavior of school students towards nature are familiar to many teachers, not many special methods and techniques have been created which are focused on helping the child to get skills of environmental culture and to overcome some negative stereotypes of behavior in nature. Such stereotypes are called "stereotypes of urban behavior". Some examples of these stereotypes and possible ways of their overcoming are shown in this paper. These techniques are acceptable for a summer environmental camp. Working out the suggestions on perfection of work with children in the fields of environmental education the author uses three-year experience of methodical work in summer environmental camps, and four-year experience as a teacher of ecology at school and University.

Scientific Communications

Summary: An experimental research of the behaviour of oil spot held by boom was conducted using set of hydrodynamic flume. It was established that the oil spot can take two different shapes of in-line the profile oil spot: the shape of glut and the wave shape depending on the speed of water stream. The shape of the in-line profile depends on the speed of water stream and has big value during the study of oil loss behind the boom. It was established that oil loss depends on the speed of water stream, immersion depth of the boom and quantity of oil before the boom. As a result of using methods of the theory of dimensions, the empirical expression for determination of the critical immersion depth of the boom was obtained.

G. I. Sachok, H. A. Kamyshenka, V. I. Rybka
TYPOLOGIC DIFFERENCES OF THE EFFICIENCY FACTORS AND BIOGENIC CYCLING IN BELARUS MIRES GEOECOSYSTEMS. pp. 116-120

Summary: The concept of "typologically distributed estimation" is introduced to obtain and scientifically investigate parameters of some objects of various levels, covered by one or several hierarchic classifications. It is necessary for investigation of a number of homogeneous objects of various levels creating supersystem "Biogeocenotic Diversity of Belarus". Evaluation of stocks and flows of vegetable material and chemical elements is received by means of developped models. The differences in stocks and efficiency of layers, correlations of chemical elements in the composition of vegetable material an layers are revealed. The tendency of reducing wood layers stocks and growth of the role soil cover on the measure of reducing trophnosty geoecosystem is detected. Detailed evaluation of forest (closed) and grass (opened) mires has ben obtained.It is shown that the forest mires have twice greater phytomass stocks than opened ones. As to efficiency of general phytomass they are close to opene ones, but underground ones outstrip them, so as a whole evaluations are comparable. For above-ground forming this is approximately 5,0 t/ha per annum that is close to the zonal value of efficiency of ecosystems of the country.