Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Litters of Urban Stands as an Indicator of the Intensity of Biological Cycling in a Megapolis (by the Example of Bitsevsky Park, Moscow)

  • GENESIS AND GEOGRAPHY OF SOILS
  • Published:
Eurasian Soil Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The intensity of biological cycling in urban park stands is assessed based on the following characteristics of the structure and functioning of forest litters: total litter stock, the stock and share of detritus in the L horizon, stock and share of easily degradable components (EDCs) in the L horizon, ratio of the stock in the L horizon to the total stock in underlying horizons, ash content in L horizon, and EDC ash stock and its share in the total ash stock in the L horizon. The study has been conducted in the Bitsevsky Park under spruce, birch, and linden stands. The examined urban stands considerably differ from the natural ones in the composition of the living ground cover, which contains meadow and weed–ruderal species, suggesting an anthropogenic impact. The urban stands differ from the natural ecosystems by an increased intensity of biological cycling, which is indicated by total stocks and shares of detritus, EDCs, and ash of EDCs in the L horizon. Under urban conditions, the litter of coniferous stands is simple in its structure, thin (no thicker than 4–5 cm), and contains more ash in its individual components (over 10%), which reflects a considerable contribution of the mechanical migration of solid particles of different origins. In the majority of characteristics, the litter of deciduous urban stands is less different from the analogous natural litter as compared with the litter of coniferous urban stands. Correspondingly, the litter under spruce stands may act as an indicator of anthropogenic impact on urban ecosystems. In general, the characteristics of biological cycling associated with the specific forest litter features suggest an increased intensity of biogenic migration as compared with the analogous natural phytocenoses. This should be taken into account when predicting the development of green urban landscapes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 5.
Fig. 6.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. N. I. Bazilevich and A. A. Titlyanova, Biotic Cycle on the Five Continents: Nitrogen and Ash Elements in Natural Terrestrial Ecosystems (Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 2008) [in Russian].

  2. V. A. Bgantsova, V. N. Bgantsov, and L. A. Sokolov, “Impact of recreational forest management on soil,” in Natural Aspects of Forest Recreational Use (Nauka, Moscow, 1987), pp. 71–85.

    Google Scholar 

  3. L. G. Bogatyrev, “Classification of forest litters,” Pochvovedenie, No. 3, 118–127 (1990).

    Google Scholar 

  4. L. G. Bogatyrev, V. M. Telesnina, O. V. Semenyuk, and A. I. Benediktova, “The dynamic of the morphology and chemical properties of forest litter during natural postagrogenic reforestation and its effect on the ground cover,” Moscow Univ. Soil Sci. Bull. 75, 101–108 (2020).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Influence of Recreation on Forest Ecosystems and Their Components (Institute of Forest Science, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 2004) [in Russian].

  6. A. S. Gorbunov and P. A. Tsvetkov, “Natural reforestation in the recreational pine forests of the green zone of Krasnoyarsk,” Khvoinye Boreal’noi Zony, No. 2, 244–248 (2009).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Yu. I. Drobyshev, Candidate’s Dissertation in Biology (Moscow, 2000).

  8. A. N. Zhidkov, “Transformations of the landscape and soils in the Bitsevsky Forest Natural Park,” Lesn. Vestn., No. 5, 117–121 (2016).

  9. Ph. I. Zemskov, Candidate’s Dissertation in Biology (Institute of Forest Science, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 2021).

  10. L. M. Kavelenova, A. G. Zdetovetskii, and A. Ya. Ognevenko, “On the contents of ash elements in leaves of arboreal plants in urban environment under forest-steppe conditions (by the example of Samara city),” Khim. Rastit. Syr’ya, No. 3, 85–90 (2001).

    Google Scholar 

  11. B. M. Kaplan and G. A. Polyakova, “Ground elder in park plantations,” Lesn. Khoz., No. 4, 31–32 (1998).

  12. V. V. Kiseleva, V. D. Lomov, V. I. Obydennikov, and A. P. Titov, “The history of development and the current state of the pine forests of Alekseevskaya Grove,” Lesovedenie, No. 3, 42–52 (2010).

    Google Scholar 

  13. L. L. Shishov, V. D. Tonkonogov, I. I. Lebedeva, and M. I. Gerasimova, Classification and Diagnostic System of Russian Soils (Oikumena, Smolensk, 2004) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  14. V. A. Kuznetsov, Candidate’s Dissertation in Biology (Moscow, 2015), pp. 1–26.

  15. I. P. Lazareva and R. M. Morozova, Specific Recreational Degradation of Soils in Karelia (Karelian Branch, Institute of Forest, Petrozavodsk, 1987) [in Russian].

  16. A. B. Lysikov and T. N. Sudnitsyna, “The influence of recreation on soil of deciduous plantations of the Serebryanyir Bor experimental forestry,” Lesovedenie, No. 3, 47–56 (2008).

    Google Scholar 

  17. O. E. Marfenina, E. M. Zheveleva, O. V. Ofitserova, M. S. Rozina, and Z. A. Zarifova, “Influence of recreation loads on the properties of brown forest soils,” Vestn. Mosk. Univ., Ser. 17: Pochvoved., No. 3, 52–58 (1984).

  18. E. G. Mozolevskaya, “Factors of disturbance of forests in Moscow and suburbs and their significance,” in Influence of Recreation on Forest Ecosystems and Their Components (Institute of Forest Science, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 2004), pp. 4–37.

    Google Scholar 

  19. A. A. Nitsenko, “Analysis of ecological structure of vegetation cover,” Bot. Zh. 54 (7), 1002–1013 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  20. G. A. Polyakova, Flora and Vegetation of Old Parks of the Moscow Region (Nauka, Moscow, 1992) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  21. L. E. Rodin and N. I. Bazilevich, Dynamics of Organic Matter and Biological Cycle of Ash Elements and Nitrogen in General Types of Global Vegetation (Nauka, Moscow, 1965) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  22. L. P. Rysin, “Recreational forest management: scientific and practical aspects,” in Proceedings of the Scientific Conf. “Forest Biological Studies of the Northwestern Taiga Zone of Russia: Results and Prospects” (Karelian Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Petrozavodsk, 2007), pp. 83–94.

  23. L. P. Rysin, A. V. Abaturov, L. I. Savel’eva, P. N. Melankholin, G. A. Polyakova, and S. L. Rysin, Dynamics and Stability of Recreational Forests (KMK, Moscow, 2006) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  24. V. S. Savenko, Geochemical Aspects of Sustainable Development (GEOS, Moscow, 2003) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  25. S. Yu. Samsonova, Candidate’s Dissertation in Geography (Moscow, 2013).

  26. A. P. Sapozhnikov, “Forest litters: nomenclature, classification, and indexation,” Pochvovedenie, No. 5, 96–105 (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  27. O. V. Semenyuk, L. G. Bogatyrev, and M. A. Vaganova, “Characteristics of litters in parks of historical landscapes by the example of the Arkhangelskoe Museum-Estate,” Byull. Mosk. O-va. Ispyt. Prir., Otd. Biol. 122 (5), 37–49 (2017).

    Google Scholar 

  28. O. V. Semenyuk and M. A. Vaganova, “Characteristics of vegetation cover as an important part of comprehensive soil-ecological studies of the historical parks,” Byull. Mosk. O-va. Ispyt. Prir., Otd. Biol. 121 (4), 32–42 (2016).

    Google Scholar 

  29. O. V. Semenyuk, V. M. Telesnina, L. G. Bogatyrev, and A. I. Benediktova, “Structural and functional organization of forest litters as indicators of biological cycling intensity in urban forest stands (an example of Moscow),” Eurasian Soil Sci. 54, 738–749 (2021).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. O. V. Semenyuk, V. M. Telesnina, L. G. Bogatyrev and A. I. Benediktova, “The features of urban ecosystem litters according to type of planting care,” Moscow Univ. Soil Sci. Bull. 76, 46–53 (2021).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. V. M. Telesnina, O. V. Semenyuk, and L. G. Bogatyrev, “Features of forest litters in conjunction with ground cover in the forest ecosystems of Moscow oblast (based on the example of the Chashnikovo Educational-Experimental Soil-Ecological Center),” Moscow Univ. Soil Sci. Bull. 72, 151–160 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. V. M. Telesnina, O. V. Semenyuk, L. G. Bogatyrev, and A. I. Benediktova, “Features of the groung cover and forest litter of artificial lime plantations depending on the nature of care,” Moscow Univ. Soil Sci. Bull. 73, 45–52 (2018).

  33. A. A. Titlyanova and S. V. Shibaeva, Litters in Forest and Herbaceous Ecosystems (Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 2012) [in Russian].

  34. O. G. Chertov, Ecology of Forest Lands (Nauka, Leningrad, 1981) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  35. Urban Ecology (Nauchnyi Mir, Moscow, 2004) [in Russian].

  36. Yasenevo District: Past and Present (Moscow, 1997) [in Russian].

  37. J. Bae and Y. Ryu, “High soil organic carbon stocks under impervious surfaces contributed by urban deep cultural layers,” Landscape Urban Plann. 204, 938–953 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2020.103953

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Š. Bavec, M. Gosar, H. Biester, and H. Grčman, “Geochemical investigation of mercury and other elements in urban soil of Idrija (Slovenia),” J. Geochem. Explor. 154, 213–223 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2014.10.011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. M. Beroigui, A. Naylo, M. Walczak, et al., “Physicochemical and microbial properties of urban park soils of the cities of Marrakech, Morocco and Toruń, Poland: human health risk assessment of fecal coliforms and trace elements,” Catena 194, 673–677 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2020.104673

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. J. Curiel, D. D. Yuste, D. Flores-Rentería, D. García-Angulo, A. M. Heres, C. García-Angul, M. Petritan, and I. C. Petritan, “Cascading effect associated with climate-change-induced conifer mortality in mountain temperate forests result in hot-spots of soil CO2 emissions,” Soil Biol. Biochem. 133, 50–59 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2019.02.017

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. R. Dehbandi and A. Aftabi, “Geochemical provenance of soils in Kerman urban areas, Iran: implications for the influx of aeolian dust,” Aeolian Res. 21, 109–123 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aeolia.2016.04.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. R. Huang, T. Lan, X. Song, and J. Li, “Soil labile organic carbon impacts C:N:P stoichiometry in urban park green spaces depending on vegetation types and time after planting,” Appl. Soil Ecol. 163, 926–958 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2021.103926

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. S. S. Kaushal, K. L. Wood, J. G. Galella, et al., “Making ‘chemical cocktails’—Evolution of urban geochemical processes across the periodic table of elements,” Appl. Geochem. 119 (3), 104632 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2020.104632

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. K. Killham, Soil Ecology (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 1994).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  45. V. A. Kuznetsov, I. M. Ryzhova, and G. V. Stoma, “Transformation of forest ecosystems in Moscow megapolis under recreation impacts,” Eurasian Soil Sci. 52, 584–592 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229319050065

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. M. Liddle, Recreation Ecology: The Ecological Impact of Outdoor Recreation and Ecotourism (Chapman Hall, London, 1997).

    Google Scholar 

  47. Q. Liu, R. Yin, and S. Scheu, “Nitrogen addition and plant functional type independently modify soil mesofauna effects on litter decomposition,” Soil Biol. Biochem. 157, 76–81 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2021.108340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. R. Liu and D. Wang, “C:N:P stoichiometric characteristics and seasonal dynamics of leaf-root-litter-soil in plantations on the loess plateau,” Ecol. Indic. 127 (1), 107772 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107772

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. C. Lu, D. J. Kotze, and H. M. Setälä, “Evergreen trees stimulate carbon accumulation in urban soils via high root production and slow litter decomposition,” Sci. Total Environ. 774, 129–145 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. R. L. Melliger, H. P. Rusterholz, and B. Baur, “Ecosystem functioning in cities: combined effects of urbanisation and forest size on early-stage leaf litter decomposition of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.),” Urban For. Urban Greening 28, 88–96 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2017.10.009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. V. Pecina, M. Brtnický, T. Baltazár, et al., “Human health and ecological risk assessment of trace elements in urban soils of 101 cities in China: a meta-analysis,” Chemosphere 267, 129–215 (2021).https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.12921552

  52. J. P. Seco Pon and M. E. Becherucci, “Spatial and temporal variations of urban litter in Mar del Plata, the major coastal city of Argentina,” Waste Manage. 32 (2), 343–348 (2012).

  53. O. V. Semenyuk, V. M. Telesnina, L. G. Bogatyrev, A. I. Benediktova, and Ya. D. Kuznetsova, “Assessment of intra-biogeocenotic variability of forest litters and dwarf shrub-herbaceous vegetation in spruce sand,” Eurasian Soil Sci. 53, 31–43 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229320010135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. J. Tang, W. Wang, J. Feng, et al., “Urban green infrastructure features influence the type and chemical composition of soil dissolved organic matter,” Sci. Total Environ. 764, 144–240 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. T. A. Trifonova and O. N. Zabelina, “Changes in the biological activity of heavy-metal- and oil-polluted soils in urban recreation territories,” Eurasian Soil Sci. 50, 483–490 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229317040147

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. W. Wang, K. Hu, and J. Tao, “Mechanical fragmentation of leaf litter by fine root growth contributes greatly to the early decomposition of leaf litter,” Global Ecol. Conserv. 26, 456–464 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01456

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. D. Xu, B. Gao, S. Song, and W. Peng, “Release risk assessment of trace metals in urban soils using in situ DGT and DIFS model,” Sci. Total Environ. 694, 624–653 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.133624

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This study was supported by the State budget (research project no. 121040800321-4 “Indicators of Transformation of Biogeochemical Cycles of Biogenic Elements in Natural and Anthropogenic Ecosystems”) and the Development Program for the Interdisciplinary Scientific and Educational School with Lomonosov Moscow State University “The Future of the Planet and Global Changes in Environment”.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991, Moscow, Russia

    O. V. Semenyuk, V. M. Telesnina, L. G. Bogatyrev & F. I. Zemskov

Authors
  1. O. V. Semenyuk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. V. M. Telesnina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. L. G. Bogatyrev
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. F. I. Zemskov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to O. V. Semenyuk.

Ethics declarations

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Translated by G. Chirikova

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Semenyuk, O.V., Telesnina, V.M., Bogatyrev, L.G. et al. Litters of Urban Stands as an Indicator of the Intensity of Biological Cycling in a Megapolis (by the Example of Bitsevsky Park, Moscow). Eurasian Soil Sc. 55, 710–721 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229322060114

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229322060114

Keywords:

Search

Navigation