Influence of the Cement Dust on Ants Grouping (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Research of the influence of cement dust in zone of PJSC “Ivano-Frankivskcement” on the ants grouping was conducted. In this exploration was noticed that at the anthropogenic load disappears ants of the genus Formica, which are replaced by species of the genus Lasius and Myrmica. Analyzing the distribution of ants genera and species on experimental meadows, we found a direct correlation between the ants number and distance from the sources of cement dust (r=0.87 at p<0.05). The largest number of the ant species observed in the area of influence from the genus Lasius. Myrmica nests are found not closer than 1 km from PJSC “Ivano-Frankivskcement”, Formica nests are only in the control. Under the action of cement dust on biotopes, the ants display a non-adaptive reaction. The analysis of changes in the population density of the particular genera showed that the nests density of all genera is minimal on the meadows located near the sources of cement dust. With remoteness from the source of pollution, the density of colonies reliably increases (r=0,97 at p<0,05). Colonies of the genus Formica (F. fusca) registered only in control reached the density of grouping 1,5±1,1 nests at 100m the accounting route. For the forest biotopes, the nests density of the genus Lasius is higher in control by 1.8 times (3.1 nests/25 m2) than in the village (1.75 nests/25 m2). For other genera (Camponotus, Myrmica and Formica), an opposite reaction was registered. The nests density of F. fusca, which are registered only in the control, reached 2.5 ± 1.1 nests for 100 m the accounting route. With a decrease in the pollution degree, the proportion of underground nests increases (r=0,90 at p<0,05), the proportion of the dome nests decreases (r=-0,94 at p<0,05). At the same time, the size of dome on average decreases when removed from the source pollution. All nests registered in the most polluted zone consist of a mixture of cement dust and earths up to 45 cm high. About 75 % of all nests found were heavily overgrown. When excavating the nests the dome was as if cemented. Adaptation of the ants to the influence of cement dust differs from other influence types and is expressed in the fact that in technogenic territories nests are more often dome-shaped, smaller diameter and considerably higher nests than those located in the control zone. This is because the soil near PJSC “Ivano-Frankivskcement” is covered with a layer of the lime dust which reaches 5 cm. Lasius niger is resistant to various forms of the anthropogenic influence, which can be explained by the adaptive features of the forms ant nest.

The analysis of planktonic algae structure in the Volga and Kama rivers (Republic of Tatarstan)

The paper presents the results of a comparative analysis of planktonic algae structure in the Volga and Kama rivers at the confluence of the Kuibyshev reservoir. The author has also assessed the trophic state of the studied river sections in 2012. The hydrochemical regime of the Kuibyshev reservoir is heterogeneous and is determined by the chemical composition of the Volga and Kama waters, which differ in the ratio of ions and mineralization. The ionic composition of the Kama waters is often dominated by sulfates. The salinity depending on the season and water content of the year ranges from 168 to 674 mg/l. The Volga waters contain calcium bicarbonate and have a lower mineralization (120130 mg/l). The variability of the incoming water, the amount of runoff, the degree of volume drawdown within water bodies and groundwater inflows primarily affect the conditions for planktonic algae existence. In the phytoplankton of the Volga and Kama rivers (areas before their confluence in the Kuibyshev Reservoir), 123 taxa of algae were identified during the 2012 growing season. The waters of the Volga River have a higher species diversity (107 species). The phytoplankton of the Kama River is less diverse (76 species). In the seasonal dynamics of phytoplankton in the studied river sections, two peaks of abundance and biomass are observed by the middle of summer and at the end of it, when the maximum values of abundance and biomass are reached. The waters of the investigated sections of the Volga River is characterized by a complex of phytoplankton of blue-green, diatoms and green algae, while the Kama River is dominated by diatom phytoplankton. In summer and autumn the blooming of water in both rivers is due to the massive development of blue-green algae of the genera Microcystis, Aphanizomenon, Anabaena, Oscillatoria. The waters of the Volga and Kama rivers in 2012 during the study period corresponded to the mesasaprobic type and moderately polluted zone; the waters of the Kama River had higher saprobity indices. The trophic status of the rivers under consideration in the study area was mostly related to the eutrophic type; during the periods of maximum reproduction of blue-green algae to the hypereutrophic type.

Microfungi, algae and cyanobacteria in soils polluted with fluorine (Kola Peninsula, Russia)

The analysis of algal-mycological complexes in Albic Podzolic soils affected by emissions of the Kandalaksha Aluminum Smelter (KAS) was carried out. The number and biomass of microscopic fungi in the maximum fluorine-polluted zone (fluorine-content >1000 mg/kg) more than 2 times lower than in distanced areas and amounted to 17.3 thousants colony-forming units/g and 1.33 mg/g respectively. Altogether, 31 species of soil fungi were isolated. The species Penicillium trzebinskii and P. miczynskii dominated the zone of maximum pollution. P. glabrum, P. spinulosum, and Memnoniella echinata prevailed in the zones of moderate pollution and background. The part of opportunistic fungi in contaminated soil increased in comparison with the background soil. The reduction of dark-colored fungi biomass in contaminated soil was noted. In total, 56 species of eukaryotic algae and 7 species of cyanobacteria were found. Among green algae, the species from families Chlorophyceae and Trebouxiophyceae dominated in all plots. In the zones of maximum and strong contamination, 53 algae species were found including xanthophytes, which were absent in unpolluted areas. The number of viable cells in the litter of the maximum contaminated soils varied from 100 thousand to 1.5 million in 1 g of absolutely dry soil. The species composition of algae and cyanobacteria in these soils showed the characteristic features of the Arctic biological soil crusts.

Impact Assessment of Houseplants on Atmospheric Relative Humidity in the Residential Buildings of Udaipur, Rajasthan

Flora is the nature’s most precious gift to man. In ancient times, regard and love for flora was so great that this kindred relationship was extended even to houseplants. In this study, relative humidity level in the selected rooms, i.e., drawing rooms and dining rooms of the 10 west facing residential buildings along with the National Highway- 8 in polluted zone, of Udaipur Rajasthan was analyzed. Four varieties of foliage and succulent plants were kept in one, two or four suitable corners with four different habits, viz., Opened and Closed windows and fan in ON and OFF mode. To find out the existing relative humidity level, all the experiments were done without any houseplants on day 1 in selected rooms. The houseplants were kept on day 2 to judge the impact of houseplants on humidity level and again houseplants were removed on day 3 to know the retention of impact of houseplants. As a result, it was found that foliage plants were more effective than succulents in maintaining the level of relative humidity of the atmosphere.

Lichen indication air quality Skadovsk town

The results of the quality of the air in the Skadovsk town with using lichens are given. The aim of the paper was establish possible vectors flow of pollutants into the atmosphere of the coastal town and the comparison of the data after lichen monitoring with those given for other town in Kherson region. The map with different lichen indication zones as unpolluted, small polluted, middle polluted and very polluted are created. This map constructed after lichen mapping of the Skadovsk town with use of the index of air pollution (IAP). 41 species of the corticolous lichens were found in the Skadovsk town. This epiphithic lichen composition is similar to these Kherson city (44 species), Poltava (49 species), Ternopil (45 species), Ivano-Frankivsk (45 species) and Lutsk (37 species). Arthonia punctiformis, Flavoplaca flavocitrina and Strangospora ochrophora were reported for the first time for urban landscape of the Kherson oblast. The landscape structure of the Skadovsk town are provided. There are residential landscapes (6,8 km2, or 63 %), wasteland (2 km2, or 18,8 %), warehouse landscapes (1,1 km2, 9,8 %); garden park landscapes (0,5 km2 or 4,7 %); transport landscapes (0,3 km2 or 2,8 %), industrial landscapes (0,1 km2 or 0,8 %). We are used urban landscapes and lichen indication zones overlapping. This enables possible ranking of air quality in the town landscapes and to establish the possible sources of pollutions in their territory. The territory of the town was divided into zones with different air quality as a result of the calculation of IAP. The largest among isotoxic lichen indication zones is unspopolluted (5,6 km2 or representing 51,9 % of the town area), the small polluted is 3,2 km2 (or 29,6 %), the middle polluted is 1,9 km2 (or 17,6 %) and very polluted is 0,1 km2 (or 0,9 %). The lowest air quality registered in the transport landscape because 30 % of it areas are located in middle polluted zone. The highest air quality formed in the wastelands where over 96 % square are located in unpolluted and small-polluted areas. After the low level of the town industrialization, there are two main vectors of pollutants flow to the town air. At the first, there are emissions from heating systems, including complex multi-storey buildings in the town located along the street Sergievskaya, between Dzharylgachska and Nezalezhnosti streets. At the second, it is transport emissions. A dense network of highways, especially on how not restricted movement of large vehicles, formed the «skeleton frame» of middle polluted zone. The numerous of the high air quality markers (81,5 %) in Skadovsk town were found in unpolluted and middle polluted zones. The air quality on the territory of the Skadovsk town is rather high in comparison with Kherson (34 %), Nova Kakhovka (60,2 %), Kakhovka (77,9 %) and Beryslav (88,75 %). Instead, the air quality in residential landscapes of Skadovsk town is intermediate between these towns with unpolluted and small polluted zones in 75 % while in Kakhovka and Beryslav were 83,1 % and 81 % respectively, exceeding Nova Kakhovka (31,7 %) and Kherson (37 %).

Fractionation and Mobility of Lead in Klity Creek Riverbank Sediments, Kanchanaburi, Thailand

The sequential extraction method was employed to investigate the distribution and chemical fractions of lead (Pb) in Klity Creek sediments, Kanchanaburi, Thailand with the main objective to define the lead mobility in sediment and potential bioavailability in relation to sediment contamination levels. Samples were collected from a total of twelve sampling sites distributed from upstream of the polluted zone until the final downstream point at Srinakarin Reservoir. The results showed that the background value of total lead concentration in the sediments from this area was higher than those reported from other locations in Thailand. Sequential extraction results revealed that lead was mainly associated with the reducible fraction especially in the polluted zone in the vicinity of the ore dressingplant. This is different from the distribution of lead fractions upstream and downstream of the polluted area, i.e. reducible fraction was the major component upstream whereas strongly dissociated fractions (oxidizable and residual) were the major components for the downstream samples (at Srinakarin Reservoir). A significant amount of the lead fraction in the study area was rather mobile, suggesting it as readily available to living organisms. Most samples exhibited a medium risk level with Risk AssessmentCode (RAC) values of more than 10%.

Effects of Thermal Discharge from a Coastal Power Plant on Phytoplankton in Zhanjiang Bay

Effects of thermal discharge from a coastal power plant on phytoplankton community were determined in subtropical Zhanjiang Bay. Two sampling transects were chosen up and down the Zhanjiang Plant in the Zhanjiang Bay, Nine stations were located along the two transects, which were divided into four zones. Monthly boat cruises were undertaken in the bay at spring up here, tide ebb slack, neap rise open and neap tide ebb slack respectively, during the period April-October 2012. Species diversity (H') showed a distinct increasing gradient from the most thermally polluted zone to the healthy zone. The more distinct gradient occurred at spring tide. Species diversity fluctuated during April-October 2011 and four sampling tide times with no visible patterns. Evenness showed indistinct gradient from the heated water source to the control zone, and fluctuated during April-October 2011 and four sampling tide times with no visible patterns. Species richness, cell count and Chl a concentration at mixed and healthy zones were significantly higher than that at heated zones, with the maximum value recorded at mixed zone, and showed seasonal and tidal changes with no obvious pattern.

Uncertainties on the Extension of a Polluted Zone

Data collected during the sampling of polluted sites are mainly used - through an exploratory and variographic analysis, to characterize to characterize the concentration level and the spatial variability; - at fixed support, to estimate the concentrations in order to map the pollution. Kriging gives also the standard deviation of the estimation error, making it possible to delimit the zones in which the estimation is considered to lack in precision. If a proportional effect is present the map of error standard deviation has to be corrected to take into account the increase of spatial variability with the local concentration mean.