Abstract
We investigated changes in the community structure of spruce (Picea obovata and P. fennica) forests in the Northern Taiga Region of Russia along a point-source atmospheric deposition gradient of heavy metals on the Kola Peninsula. Study sites were selected in ecologically analogous forest stands at increasing distances from the nickel smelter in Monchegorsk. The heavy metal load at each site was estimated by quantifying metal concentrations in the snow cower. Concentrations of heavy metals in soil, litter and vegetation increased along the gradient of increasing atmospheric deposition. All measured indexes of forest vitality, including species richness and abundance, vertical distribution, and understory structure were adversely affected by pollution.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aamlid, D.: 1992, Lichens of Birch Stems in South-Varanger, Norway, in Relation to Air Pollution, Norwegian Forest Research Institute, Ås-NLH, Norway.
Bruteig, I.: 1984, Epifyttisk lav som indikator på luftforureining i Aust-Finnmark.Hovedfagsoppgave, Univ. i Trondheim, Trondheim, Norway (in Norwegian).
Chernenkova, T. V.: 1995, Lesovedenie. Russia V. 1, 57–65 (in Russian).
Doncheva, A. V.: 1978, Landscape in the Zone of Technological InfluenceForest industry, Moscow, 98 p. (in Russian).
Gorskov, B. B.: 1990, The Influence of Industrial Atmospheric Pollution on Pine Forests of Kola Peninsula, Nauka, Leningrad, pp. 152–162 (in Russian).
Gytarsky, M. L., Karaban, R. T. and Nazarov, I. M.: Effects of Air Pollutants on Terrestrial Ecosystems in the Border Area Between Russia and Norway, Proceedings of the First Symposium, Svanvik, Norway, SFT: TA-854/1992. Oslo.
Helle, T. and Kojola, I.: 1992, The Lapland Forest Damage Project – Interim Report, Kauhanen, H. and Varmola, M. <nt>(eds.)</nt>, Finnish Forest Research Institute, Rovaniemi. Research Paper 413, pp. 106–114.
Kabirov, R. R.: 1993, Aerial Pollution in Kola Peninsula, Kola Scientific Centre. Apatity, Russia, 163–198.
Kalabin, G.: 1991, Ecological Situation in the Pechenga Region, Report, INEP, Kola Scientific Centre. Apatity, Russia.
Keys to lichens of U.S.S.R.: 1978, Volume 5, Abramov I. I. <nt>(ed.)</nt>, Nauka, Moscow, 304 p. (in Russian).
Meland, I. and Juntilla, O.:1992, Element Content in Cladina stellaris (Opis.) Brodo, C. mitis (Sandst.) Hale and Culb, and Cetraria nivalis (L) Ach. From South Varanger, Northern Norway.Extended abstract. University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway.
Mikkola, K. and Ritari, A.: 1992, The Lapland Forest Damage Project – Interim Report, Kauhanen, H. and Varmola, M. <nt>(eds.)</nt>, Finnish Forest Research Institute, Rovaniemi. Research Paper 413, pp. 106–114.
Rak, L. D.: 1985, Biological Characteristics of Boreal Forest Forming Trees in European Part of the U.S.S.R. in Areas Affected by Industrial Pollution, Ph.D. dissertation, Minsk State University. 03.00.16. Minsk, 20 p. (in Russian).
Ramenskaja, M. L. and Andreeva, V. N: 1982, Keys to Higher Plants of Murmansk Area and Kareliya, Mineeva, N. A. <nt>(ed.)</nt>, Nauka, Leningrad, 432 p. (in Russian).
Savich-Lubitskaja, L. I. and Smirnova, Z. N.: 1970, Keys to Leaf-Mosses of U.S.S.R., Abramov, I. I. (ed.), Nauka, Leningrad, 825 p. (in Russian).
Sivertsen, B., Makarova, T., Hagen, L. O. and Baklanov, A. A.: 1992, Air Pollution in the Border Areas of Norway and Russia, Summary Report, 1990-91. NILU OR: 8/92, Oslo.
Stepanov, A. M.: 1988, Heavy Metals in the Environment and Nature Conservation, Ledovskaya, Yu. V. and Guseva, E. A. <nt>(eds.)</nt>, Moscow State University Publishing, Moscow, pp. 308–311 (in Russian).
Stepanov, A. M., Vircavs M. V. and Avens A. X.: 1985, Geochemistry of Technogenesis, Saturin, A. N. and Kopteva, G. I. <nt>(eds.)</nt>, Irkutsk State University Publishing, Irkutsk, 3, pp. 144–148 (in Russian).
Tømmervik, H., Johansen, B. E. and Pedersen, J. P.: 1995, The Science of the Total Environment 160/161, 753.
Tømmervik, H., Johansen, B. E. and Pedersen, J. P.: 1992, Use of Multitemporal Landsat Image Data for Mapping of the Effects of Air Pollution on Vegetation in Kirkenes-Pechenga Area in the Period 1973–1988, NORUT Report 2024/1-92, Tromsø, Norway, 32 pp.
Tømmervik, H., Johansen, B. E. and Pedersen, J. P.: 1991, IGARSS '91, Remote Sensing: Global Monitoring for Earth Management, 1991 International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, V. I. Helsinki University of Technology Espoo, Finland, Helsinki, pp. 45–48.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chernenkova, T.V., Kuperman, R.G. Changes in the Spruce Forest Communities Along a Heavy Metal Deposition Gradient on Kola Peninsula. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 111, 187–200 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005028626357
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005028626357