Section

Ecology

Title

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY IN AN ADMINISTRATIVE CENTER AND AN INDUSTRIAL CENTER IN THE TERRITORY OF YAKUTIA BY THE LEVEL OF FLUCTUATING ASYMMETRY OF THE JAPANESE WHITE BIRCH

Сontributors

E.G. Shadrina, Professor, Institute of the Biological Problems of the Cryolithozone, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.,

Ya. L. Vol'pert, Research Institute of Applied Ecology of the North, North-Eastern Federal University,

V. Uy. Soldatova, Institute of Natural sciences, North-Eastern Federal University,

N. N. Alekseeva, postgraduate student, Institute of the Natural sciences, North-Eastern Federal University

Abstract

Bioindicational evaluation of environmental quality in the territory of Yakutsk and Mirny (East Siberia, Yakutia) has been performed. Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) value of leaves of the Japanese White Birch (Betula platyphylla Sukacz.) was examined. About 18,000 leaves were examined. In most samples collected in the territories of these cities, statistically significant increase in FA in comparison to undisturbed habitats was registered. Positive correlation between FA value and traffic load as well as total content of heavy metals in soil was found. In the territory of the administrative center (Yakutsk), motor transport was found to be the main source of pollution. Consequently, major streets, especially in the immediate vicinity of roadways, and crossroads with heavy traffic load suffer from pollution most. In the territory of the industrial center (Mirny) pollution spreads from technogenically disturbed areas to the residential area. Developmental stability abnormalities indicate deterioration of environmental conditions as a consequence of combined impact of negative factors arising from anthropogenically transformed environment.

Keywords

fluctuating asymmetry, Japanese White Birch (Betula platyphylla), environment fitness, bioindication, anthropogenic pollution, urbanized territories.

References

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