Accumulation and Migration of Trace Elements along Trophic Chains in Ecosystems of the Chatkal Biosphere Reserve (the Western Tien Shan, Uzbekistan)

Abstract

Concerning the involvement of living matter into the global matter and energy flows in the biosphere, migration of substances along trophic chains in natural ecosystems is a factor of greatest functional significance. As the internal structure of ecosystems is based on stable trophic connections through the matter and energy flows, the pattern of migration and accumulation of substances in the trophic links of ecosystems may serve as an indicator of ecosystem stability (Krivolutskii and Pokarzhevskii, 1990). In other words, the constancy of the rate of matter and energy flow and accumulation in the trophic chains of an ecosystem characterizes its state as stable. This primarily concerns the ecosystems of background areas. In this context, it appears important to perform comparative studies on the migration and accumulation of substances in the trophic chains of natural ecosystems unaffected by the anthropogenic impact. The main purpose is to reveal both the general pattern of these processes on the biospheric scale and specific regional or local features of the input and accumulation of certain substances and elements in the trophic links of individual ecosystems.