Koptsik G.N., Demidova A.N., Smirnova I.E., Koptsik S.V., Prilepsky N.G.
Response of pine forests to long-term air pollution at the northern tree line. Chapter 9

In: Pine Forests: Types, Threats and Management / C.T. Frisiras (Ed.).
New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc., 2011. (In Russian).

Annotation:

The current state of pine forest ecosystems exposed to long-term air pollution from the nickel-processing industry was investigated in the Kola Peninsula, north-western Russia. Air pollution has caused severe damage to vegetation due to direct injuries by sulfur dioxide and indirect impact, via soil and roots caused by input and release of heavy metals in acid environment or nutrient deficiency. The severe climatic conditions aggravate the ecological situation in this sub-Arctic region. Vegetation and soil studies were conducted on monitoring plots in pine forests with true mosses and lichens, Empetrum hermaphroditum and Vaccinium vitis-idaea in the grass layer developed on thin sandy acid podzols. Morphometric parameters of all dominant tree species and the population states were assessed. Indicator species of plants were detected. Composition and cover area of lichens was examined in detail depending on atmospheric and soil pollution including areas in the close vicinity to the smelter. Concentrations of nutrients and polluting metals were measured in unwashed pine needles, branches, stem bark and wood and compared with soil variables. All pine compartments tested show clearly elevated concentrations of heavy metals, especially nickel and copper. However, accumulation of nickel and copper in plants was significantly less than in soil humus layer indicating their ability to regulate metal uptake. In heavily air polluted areas, surface deposition of nickel, in addition to root uptake, seems to contribute significantly to the metal accumulation in plants. Multivariate analyses showed the changes in the species richness and phytomass to depend both on air pollution and natural factors. The ordination of major plant variables was highly related to soil properties, suggesting that content of heavy metals and nutrients is the best soil related predictor of ground vegetation diversity along the pollution gradient. Besides the direct effects of heavy metals and sulfur dioxide, nutrient and water imbalances of the topsoil as well as severe climatic conditions contribute significantly to the observed vegetation damage. Preliminary results outline the trends of changes of vegetation and soil state in comparison with the beginning of 1990s and 2000s including signs of a slight recovery related to the reduction in emissions during the past ten years.

For soil scientists, ecologists, biologists, biogeochemists and forestry specialists.

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