INFLUENCE OF ANTHROPOGENIC CHANGES ON THE BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF SOILS

The article discusses various types of anthropogenic impact on soil fertility. As well as measures to reduce the negative impact and restore biological activity.

Unraveling the impacts of meteorological and anthropogenic changes on sediment fluxes along an estuary-sea continuum

Sediment fluxes at the estuary-sea interface strongly impact particle matter exchanges between marine and continental sources along the land-sea continuum. However, human activities drive pressures on estuary physical functioning, hence threatening estuarine habitats and their ecosystem services. This study explores a 22-year numerical hindcast of the macrotidal Seine Estuary (France), experiencing contrasted meteorological conditions and anthropogenic changes (i.e., estuary deepening and narrowing). The hindcast was thoroughly validated for both water column and sediment bed dynamics and showed good capacities to simulate annual sediment budgets observed from 1990 to 2015. We aim at disentangling the relative contributions of meteorological and human-induced morphological changes on net sediment fluxes between the estuary and its adjacent coastal sea. Our results highlight that intense wave events induce fine sediment (≤ 100 µm) export to the sea but coarser sediment (≥ 210 µm) import within the estuary. Although intense river discharges induce mud export to the sea, moderate to large river discharges prove to support mud import within the estuary. Wave and river discharge events were less intense in 2005–2015 than in 1990–2000, reducing fine sediment export to the sea. The estuary deepening and narrowing due to human activities increased fine sediment import within the estuary, shifting the estuary from an exporting to importing system. We propose a conceptualization of mud flux response to river discharge and wave forcing, as well as anthropogenic pressures. It provides valuable insights into particle transfers along the land-sea continuum, contributing to a better understanding of estuarine ecosystem trajectories under global changes.

Forms of Copper in the Aspect of Anthropogenic Changes in the Profiles of Horticultural Soils in the Cities of South-Eastern Poland

The aim of the research was to show the changes taking place in soils as a result of the influence of anthropogenic factors in the form of intensive horticulture and pollution within the city. It was made on the basis of the distribution of individual fractions as well as available and total Cu forms in the profiles of garden soils located at houses and in the family allotment gardens in six cities in south-eastern Poland. The research took into account the granulometric composition according to which the cities were divided into two groups. The pollution assessment was based on the concentration indicator, Igeo, and indicators taking into account the forms available for plants: Cav/Ct and BF. There was no copper contamination with regard to legislation act and Igeo. The role of organic matter as an important component in copper in the humus horizons of soils in long-term horticultural cultivation has been considered. The content of all forms of copper was higher in humus horizon which also indicated the anthropogenic changes. Among the two groups of soils, a greater impact of the treatments used in horticulture on those made of sands was found in relation to the silty ones.

Unraveling The Impacts of Meteorological and Anthropogenic Changes on Sediment Fluxes Along an Estuary-Sea Continuum

Sediment fluxes at the estuary-sea interface strongly impact particle matter exchanges between marine and continental sources along the land-sea continuum. However, human activities drive pressures on estuary physical functioning, hence threatening estuarine habitats and their ecosystem services. There is an increasing societal need to better predict the potential trajectories of estuarine sediment fluxes resulting from natural and anthropogenic pressures, but the concomitance of human-induced and meteorological-induced changes makes the responses ambiguous. Therefore, this study explores a 22-year numerical hindcast, experiencing contrasted meteorological conditions and human-induced morphological changes (i.e., estuary deepening and narrowing), in order to disentangle the relative contributions of meteorological and anthropogenic changes on net sediment fluxes between a macrotidal estuary and its adjacent coastal sea. Our results highlight that intense wave events induce fine sediment (≤100 µm) export to the sea but coarser sediment (≥210 µm) import within the estuary. Remarkably, moderate to large river flows support mud import within the estuary. Over 25 years, the reduction of intense wave and river flow events reduces fine sediment export to the sea. In addition, the estuary morphological changes due to human activities increase fine sediment import within the estuary, shifting the estuary from an exporting to importing system. We propose a conceptualization of mud flux response to river flow and wave forcing, as well as anthropogenic pressures. It provides valuable insights into particle transfers along the land-sea continuum, contributing to a better understanding of estuarine ecosystem trajectories under global changes.

NATURAL FEATURES OF THE ORCHID REFUGIUM ON THE TERRITORY OF THE NATURAL PARK "SAMAROVSKY CHUGAS"

The article discusses the natural conditions and biological resources, landscape features of the key territory of the natural Park "Samarovsky Chugas", located in the city of Khanty-Mansiysk. An overview of geographical studies of this region is given. The main components that influence the formation of natural complexes of a specially protected natural area are characterized. Special attention is paid to the characteristics of vegetation and the processes of anthropogenic changes in the landscapes of this key area. The main ways of vegetation transformation caused by economic activity and changes in the nature of surface runoff are highlighted. The ecological and geographical conditions of the Orchid refugium are characterized. The article substantiates the need to allocate the studied area as a zone with a protected regime within the territory of a natural Park.