Heavy Metals Content in Herpetobiontic Arthropoda on the Territory of Landfills of the Kharkіv City

Abstract

Purpose. To determine the contamination level of biotic components of the ecosystem of municipal solid waste landfills in the Kharkiv region by sensitive to anthropogenic changes herpetobiotic arthropods. Methods. The species composition of herpetobiotic arthropods was determined by the Barber's traps method. The occurrence of species was evaluated according to the method of A.V. Selikhovkin. The content of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni) in the ash obtained from herpetobionts was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Results. The research is the first link of the accumulation of heavy metals by mosquitoes as a component of trophic chains. The species composition of herpetobiotic arthropods was determined - 21 species from 15 families. On the territory of Rogan landfill 15 species from 12 families, and Dergachv -12 species from 8 families. The zoning of the territory according to the degree of landscape transformation was carried out and the structure of the species composition of herpetobionts according to the zones was determined. The basic regularities of zonal differentiation of species in technogenic disturbed territories are determined. As a result of assessing the occurrence of species in the study areas, 7 dominant species were identified at two landfills, in the bodies of which the content of heavy metals was determined. The landscape conditions and ecological situation influences the species composition of the herpetobiontic fauna in a direct way, which confirms the monodominant nature of the species on both landfills. Conclusions. Zonal accommodation and the number of studied fauna on two landfills is different, that indicates their high sensitivity to various environmental conditions. Multiple indicators of heavy metals in the organisms of invertebrate’s organisms indicate the potential safety of these animals on the landfills for their consumers.