Biogeochemical assessment of the urban area in Moscow

Abstract

The biogeochemical and ecological assessment of the industrial city territory including urban soils and trees was carried out. Chemical (macroelement and microelement) composition of the city soils, morphological and biochemical properties of the linden leaves, possible impact of de-icing salts on soil and tree state, the correlation between the content of trace elements, and the S-containing plant compounds (phytochelatins) were included in the assessment. It was found that concentrations of trace elements in the soils near road with intensive traffic are changed from the soils, located at a distance of 40-50 m from the road. They have higher concentrations of As, Fe, Mn, Se, and Sr and lower concentration of Zn. The linden leaves from the roadside were characterized by the increase in As, Cu, Fe, Zn, and Cr and sharp decrease in the Mn and Sr concentrations. The analysis of soil water extracts showed a slight decrease of pH and low content of Ca, Mg, K, and Na for the distant sites. The phytochelatin test of linden leaves was weakly effective as well as asymmetry degree study of leaf lamina. The main differences were observed in the damage symptoms of leaves (chlorosis and necrosis) and the content of pigments (chlorophyll and carotenoids). The biochemical and ecological assessment of soils and trees showed relatively satisfactory ecological state of the investigated area in Moscow. The data obtained shows the weak local impact of the application of de-icing salts and automobile emissions.

Holes in the spinous processes of woolly mammoth vertebrae: spatial and temporal distribution, and the causes of pathology formation

“…This non-contagious disease is usually associated with a deficiency in the geochemical landscapes of Ca, Mg, Na, K, P, Co, Cu, I and Se, and often with an excess of Sr and Ba; this leads to disruption of Ca and P metabolism in the animal (e.g. Chepurov et al, 1955;Kovalskiy, 1974;Zatsepin, 2001;Ermakov and Tyutikov, 2008). Some scholars also suggested the poor mineral diet of mammoths at the MIS 3/MIS 2 boundary and disrupted calcium and phosphate metabolism as the main cause for the formation of this pathology.…”

“…Studies of cattle, horses and other mammals, including humans, indicate that highly productive animals (primarily lactating individuals) are susceptible to osteolysis, osteomalacia, fibrous osteodystrophy and other bone pathologies. This can be explained by a disturbance of the water-salt balance in the body due to a deficiency of vital macro-and microelements in food and drinking water (Logginov, 1890;Chepurov et al, 1955;Kovalskiy, 1974;Urazaev, 1978;Ermakov and Tyutikov, 2008). Destructive bone changes (including perforations) of large herbivores, associated with mineral deficiency, are increasingly being recognized for wild animals.…”

Assessment of soils and green stands in the recreational areas with different land-use history in New Moscow

“…Таким образом, история землепользования становится одним из основных факторов, влияющих на физико-химические и микробиологические почвенные свойства, а также состояние растительности рекреационных зон урбанизированных территорий, что особенно заметно для одного из крупнейших современных проектов урбанизации -Новой Москвы [28][29][30][31][32][33]. Разнообразие и структура растительного покрова являются важными элементом города для изучения, так как влияют на функции и свойства экосистемы [34][35][36][37].…”