Terrestrial invertebrate population studies in the Chernobyl exclusion zone, Ukraine
| Autor: | David Copplestone, D. M. Stone, D. Jackson, G. M. Smith |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2005 |
| Předmět: |
geography
education.field_of_study Willow geography.geographical_feature_category biology Renewable Energy Sustainability and the Environment Health Toxicology and Mutagenesis Population Public Health Environmental and Occupational Health Biota Contamination biology.organism_classification Grassland Nuclear Energy and Engineering Agronomy Agricultural land Soil water Environmental science Safety Risk Reliability and Quality education Waste Management and Disposal Invertebrate |
| Zdroj: | Radioprotection. 40:S857-S863 |
| ISSN: | 0033-8451 |
| DOI: | 10.1051/radiopro:2005s1-126 |
| Popis: | The Chernobyl reactor accident in April 1986 released some 3-6.10 5 TBq 137 Cs and 2-4.10 5 TBq 90 Sr to atmosphere. About half of this was deposited within 20 km of the site, leading to extensive death of trees and other biota, and the establishment of a human exclusion zone. High levels of contamination remain in this zone. Nonetheless, birch (Betula spp.) and willow (Salix spp.) have recolonised the forest areas, while abandoned agricultural land has succeeded to tall grassland and scrub. This study summarises observations on invertebrate populations in sites with gamma dose rates varying from 0.1 to 140 µSv h -1 . Corresponding activity concentrations were 3.10 3 to 3.10 6 Bq kg -1 dw 137 Cs and 10 3 to 2.10 6 Bq kg -1 dw 90 Sr in the top 5 cm of soil. Sub-surface bait lamina penetration decreases with increasing concentrations of 137 Cs and 90 Sr in soil. At the highest levels of contamination there is also some loss of above-ground invertebrate diversity; although little change in total biomass. Trials on earthworms in soils from the region and matched soils spiked in the laboratory have proved variable. However, there is a non-significant indication of depressed growth rates in all contaminated regimes compared to control populations. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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