Significant Anthropogenic Impact Research Articles

Mosses as bioindicators of air pollution with potentially toxic elements in the Burabay State National Natural Park, Kazakhstan.

The Burabay State National Natural Park is a national park of the great natural and historical values located in the north of Kazakhstan, which has been exposed in recent years to significant anthropogenic impact. The moss biomonitoring was performed in the Borovoye resort community, an important tourist destination in the national park, to identify the level of air pollution. Mosses collected at 29 locations were subjected to neutron activation analysis to determine 36 elements and additionally to ICP-OES to detect the level of Cu and Pb. Factor analysis was applied to check if there are any associations between identified elements and to link them with possible emission sources. According to contamination factor and pollution load indices the investigated area belongs to three classes of pollution: unpolluted, suspected and moderate. Potential ecological risk index calculated for selected elements revealed harmless risk to human health. The level of element obtained in Burabay State National Natural Park was compared with the data available for other national parks.

Adaptation of Fildes Peninsula Lakes (King George Island, East Antarctica) to climate change and anthropogenic impacts

The load on the Antarctic oases has been recently increasing, with intensive research carried out by various countries and ecological tourism developing. This leads to an increase in the impact on the aquatic ecosystems of the lakes and streams in addition to the warming climate and glacier melting. This paper presents findings from a study of the Fildes Peninsula (King George Island) lakes’ aquatic ecosystems in the summer period of January–February 2020. In addition to results of hydrological and hydrochemical studies, the paper provides data from measurements of the self-cleaning ability of representative oasis lakes, as well as greenhouse gas fluxes from the lakes surface. The water level of the streams decreased 5 times over the summer season, and the water discharge — 10 times. The streams flowing from the glacier have the fullest water. The lakes have a neutral reaction, sometimes weakly alkaline; they are well aerated: the average value of dissolved oxygen in water is 85 %, occasionally supersaturation of up to 137% was observed. The concentration of nutrients in the water has amplitudes that are considerable for Antarctic oases lakes. A significant correlation can only be observed between nitrates and phosphates, and also between the water turbidity and the nutrients’ concentration. Maximum turbidity is observed in lakes with abundant content of bacterial mats. Most of the lakes have hydrochemical type II sodium chloride waters. The assessment of the lake self-cleaning ability using the ratio of destruction and organic matter production showed the general ability of ecosystems to cope with external (natural) pressures on ecosystems, but not in all cases. Eutrophication of the lakes and stream valleys is also noted. Carbon dioxide (CO2) absorption was observed in most of the streams and lakes, in some of them — methane (CH4) absorption as well. However, CH4 is generally emitted from the surface of the lakes. The largest values are recorded for small lakes located on glacial moraines and in places where ornithosoils are present. The agreement of the findings from the hydroecological studies of the Fildes peninsula lakes with those presented earlier by other authors makes it possible to conclude that there is a certain resistance of the lakes to climatic changes, but one can already talk about a significant anthropogenic impact on the freshwater oasis ecosystems.

Significant anthropogenic impact on the mountain vegetation of Southeast China commenced ∼1 kyr BP, lagged behind similar changes in the lower Yangtze River basin and coastal plains by 2000–4000 years

Human impact on the coastal plain of Southeast China has been well studied over late Holocene timescales; however, an understanding of anthropogenic impact in mountainous regions is still lacking. In this paper, we present records of vegetation, fire, and human impact, spanning the past 4000 years, with a resolution of ∼40 years, obtained from an upland peatland in Southeast China. The results reveal that climate change (dominated by the evolution of the East Asia Monsoon) was the most critical factor controlling vegetation before 1.0 cal kyr BP, while human impact gradually emerged as the primary driver after 1.0 cal kyr BP in the mountains of Southeast China. As such, the record of anthropic impact in mountainous regions lagged behind the signal from the coastal plains by some 2000–4000 years. As the population migrating from northern China dispersed into the mountainous regions of Southeast China, demand for agricultural land promoted slash-and-burn cultivation and the destruction of broad-leaf forest.

Assessment of the content of heavy metals in the snow cover and hair in children

Introduction. Environmental pollution leads to the need for regular monitoring and analysis of the content of toxic elements in the components of the environment and biosubstrates of the population to determine the degree of contamination of the territory, their accumulation in the body and assess the risk of health disorders.
 Materials and methods. Samples of snow cover were taken from eleven different sections of functional zones, and 52 hair samples were examined in two groups of children in different schools of the city. Determination of the content of water–soluble heavy metals and arsenic (HMAr) was carried out by atomic absorption method on the AAC-240 DUO “Agilent Technolgies” device.
 Results. In the snow cover of individual functional zones of Svirsk, a significant excess of Cu, Zn, Mn, Cd, Pb, and As content was found in comparison with background values in the range of 2–11 times. Indicator elements (Mn, Cr, Zn, Cd, As) reflecting the specifics of increased accumulation of HMAr in the hair of children in different areas of the city were identified. Strong correlations (r = 0.78–0.83) were established between the content of HMAr in the snow cover near schools and in the hair in the examined groups of children.
 Limitations. The assessment of content of HMs in the snow cover and in the hair in children population was evaluated without determining the accumulation of elements in the soil and migration to plant cultures.
 Conclusion. The revealed high levels of accumulation of HMAr in the snow cover and hair in children in Svirsk, due to the significant anthropogenic impact of emissions from industrial enterprises, motor vehicles, and residential households, indicate the tension of the environmental situation in the city and the need to implement a set of measures to improve it.

Assessment of water quality of Shlinsky reservoir by hydrochemical indicators

The paper presents the main results of assessing the water quality of the Shlinsky reservoir for the period 2015-2019. Based on the analysis of hydrochemical data obtained by standard chemical methods, according to 22 indicators. Monitoring of the reservoir water quality until 2021 was carried out by the Dubna Ecoanalytic Laboratory. The Shlinsky reservoir is located on the border of the Tver and Novgorod regions, is part of the Vyshnevolotsk water system. The reservoir provides releases for the needs of energy, water transport and improvement of water supply in Moscow. As a result of the study, priority pollutants were identified, the water quality of the reservoir was assessed based on the results of calculating the water pollution index (WPI) and the specific combinatorial index of water pollution (SCIWP). It is shown that there is no significant anthropogenic impact on the ecosystem of a water body. The water quality of the reservoir is assessed as "moderately polluted" water (according to the value of the water pollution index) and slightly polluted - polluted water (according to the value of the specific combinatorial index of water pollution).

SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL FEATURES OF WATER CHEMISTRY CHANGES IN THE QUATERNARY UNCONFINED AQUIFERS OF THE DNIPRО RIVER BASIN

The article deals with the chemical composition of uppermost aquifers water in the Dnipro River basin. Its study is necessary not only in connection with the implementation the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive methodological documents in the groundwater monitoring, but primarily because of water supply from these aquifers to rural areas. Unconfined aquifers water is characterized by a complex and heterogeneous chemical composition due to natural and anthropogenic factors. Natural hydrochemical zoning is distinctly visible on the territory of the Dnipro basin. A number of chemical elements and compounds in the water are contained in concentrations exceeding the standards for drinking water established by the State sanitary norms and rules 2.2.4-171-10 “Hygienic requirements for drinking water intended for human consumption” in the natural state. In addition, unconfined aquifers are subject to significant anthropogenic impact, as they are unprotected from pollution. Comparison of the data on total dissolved solids (TDS) and anionic composition of groundwater obtained during hydrogeological surveys in the period 1965–1975 and 2009–2013 on three sheets of the hydrogeological map (scale 1:200,000) in different sub-basins of the Dnipro River showed the widespread deep changes in groundwater chemical composition. In addition to a significant anthropogenic pressure, groundwater is significantly affected by climatic factors. Over a forty-year period, TDS in the north of the Dnipro basin increased by 50 %, in the central and southern parts – twice, due to an increase in the content of sulfates and chlorides. Within the analyzed areas in the Middle and Lower Dnipro sub-basins, nitrate pollution of unconfined aquifers is almost widespread. Thus, in a large area, waters of these aquifers are unsuitable for drinking water supply due to the excessive content of chemical elements and compounds of natural and anthropogenic origin. Therefore, one of the priorities of the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine should be the transfer of the rural population to water supply from protected confined aquifers and the improvement of sanitary conditions in rural areas.

Migration Features and Regularities of Heavy Metals Transformation in Fresh and Marine Ecosystems (Peter the Great Bay and Lake Khanka)

Peter the Great Bay and Lake Khanka are among the most important structural and industrial fishing parts of the Far East coastal ecosystem, which are used by a number of countries such as Russia, China, Korea, Japan, etc. At the same time, the active use of water resources, as well as industrial activities deployed on the coastal part of these reservoirs, are accompanied by a constant flow of pollutants into the water area. Among them, one can include heavy metals; their entry and migration are currently not fully controlled. There exists an important scientific and ecological task to study the features of heavy metal migration and transformation in natural objects. Bottom sediments act as a substrate for hydrobionts and, at the same time, serve as accumulators of pollutants, so that they can be used as the main component of the coastal-shelf ecosystem. The geochemical assessment of the behavior of heavy metals in the bottom sediments of Ussuri Bay and Amur Bay (Sea of Japan) and Lake Khanka (Xingkai) has been performed. Qualitative and quantitative elemental compositions of the bottom sediments have been established by means of the inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), and X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF), whereas a correlation with the concentration of elements in seawater above sediments has been provided. The main phases of anthropogenic components as well as their relationship with an increased content of heavy metals have been established using X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). Average values of the concentration of elements in the bottom sediments of Peter the Great Bay decrease in the following row: Fe > Cu > Cr > Zn ≥ Pb > Mn > Ni, and for Lake Khanka: Pb > Cu > Mn > Fe > Cr > Zn > Ni. Here, the excessive contents of Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Pb in sea bottom sediments by 6, 32, 7, 3, and 4 times as compared with background values are the result of the formation of a large amount of carbonate and iron-oxide phases. At the same time, it was shown that, during the transition from the estuarine (coastal) area of river flow to the central (closer to the outlet to the ocean), the concentration of biogenic metals (Ni, Zn, Pb, Cu) generally decreased 2–4-fold along the profile, which was associated with the formation of their hydroxides and carbonates in the area of mixing of freshwater and seawater followed by that of complex compounds or absorption. A significant anthropogenic impact is observed in the lake sediments, which is demonstrated by the excess of Pb concentration by 6700 times, as compared with the Clarke number of the lithosphere. The non-uniform distribution of heavy metals along the core profile has been established, which is related to different contents of aluminosilicate and iron oxide phases in the form of hematite and magnetite. The sedimentation rate has been established by means of granulometric and radiometric analysis and equaled to 0.45 mm/year in Ussuri Bay, 1.6 mm/year in Amur Bay, and 0.43–0.50 mm/year in Lake Khanka. By calculating the distribution coefficients of heavy metals in the ‘water–deposits’ system, some features of migration and accumulation of individual elements have been established. To assess the potential pollution of the marine areas, the geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and the pollution factor (Kc) have been calculated. In comparison with the maximum permissible concentrations of the Russian Federation (MPC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), and environmental protection agencies of China and Japan, Peter the Great Bay has an excess of Mn—2-fold, Fe—2-fold, Zn—3-fold, whereas in Lake Khanka, the situation is even less favorable, in particular, the excess of Mn is 79-fold, Fe—35-fold, Cu—2-fold, Zn—3–4-fold, which is clearly determined by the closeness of the water basin and the lack of water exchange. In comparison with the lithosphere Clarke number, the sediments of both water basins, as well as the coastal soil of the lake, are enriched with Pb and depleted with Cr, Ni, and Zn. The highest values of Igeo in both water basins have been observed for Pb, and equaled 12–16 in Peter the Great Bay and 6000 in Khanka Lake. Based on the data obtained, the areas with the greatest pollution caused by natural and anthropogenic factors have been identified.

Space–Time Variations of Fish Communities from the Belbek River

This paper presents the results of studying the species composition, diversity, and dynamics of fish communities from the middle reaches of the Belbek River, one of the small rivers of the Crimean Peninsula, which is actively used to eliminate the shortage of water supply in recent years. The river is currently exposed to significant anthropogenic impact. Trends of change in the structure of the fish community with the economic development of the river have been observed and the main forms of negative environmental impact have been identified. A deterioration in the structure of aquatic communities and a sharp decrease in their diversity have been recorded over a short time period. A decrease in the abundance and a deformation of the population structure of native fish species (Crimea shemaya Alburnus mentoides, Crimean barbel Barbus tauricus, and Salgir gudgeon Gobio krymensis) are also observed. The determining influence of hydraulic engineering and hydrotechnical measures on destructive processes in aquatic ecosystems is shown.

Geoecological conditions of oil and gas fields of the unallocated subsoil fund of the southern industrial zone of the Yamal Peninsula

The paper presents the results of geoecological studies on the territory of the Rostovtsevsky and Nurminskoye deposits. It has been established that during the exploration work in the period from 1985 to 1995, the landscapes of the southern industrial zone of the Yamal Peninsula were subjected to significant anthropogenic impact. Subsequently, self-restoration of natural-territorial complexes in the area of drilling sites practically did not occur. There is a significant landscape-ecological difference from the background territories.

QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF NATURAL WATERS IN TERRITORIES IMPACTED BY THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY

Background. The study area is one of the main regions of the Russian Federation, where intensive development and production of hydrocarbons are carried out. They are directly accompanied by a very significant anthropogenic impact on the environment in general, and on water bodies in particular. The article, based on the analysis of chemicals concentration in surface waters, bottom sediments and coastland soil, gives an assessment of water bodies quality on the territory of the oil and gas industry.
 Purpose. The purpose of the study is to assess the quality of surface waters, benthic ecosystem and coastland soil of water bodies on the territory of oil and gas fields of the Middle Ob region.
 Materials and methods. On the basis of chemical analysis, concentrations of chemical elements were determined in samples of surface waters, bottom sediments and coastland soil of water bodies. Based on the concentration of chemical elements in a particular environment, the index of surface water pollution was determined by the calculation method, the state of the coastland soil and the benthic ecosystem was assessed.
 Results. The calculation of the integral assessment of water quality shows that the studied water bodies range from moderately polluted to extremely polluted. Quality deterioration of the benthic ecosystem is observed in most of the studied water bodies.
 Conclusion. The study of the environmental condition of water bodies by the quality of surface waters, bottom sediments and the coastland soil shows the negative anthropogenic impact of the oil and gas industry on the studied water bodies.

Identification of Unique Lakes of Different Origin by Machine Learning Methods

At present, more than ever, the issue of developing criteria for selecting lakes for inclusion in the lists of protected areas, as well as assessing natural ecosystems that have undergone significant anthropogenic impact and require special attention from environmentalists, has become relevant. However, peer review of each individual ecosystem requires significant research and economic resources. Taking into account the area of Russia and the inaccessibility of some regions, it becomes almost impossible. For preliminary assessments and narrowing the search for candidates for protected areas, cameral methods can be used. One of them includes various methods for identifying anomalies in databases of morphometric, hydrochemical, hydrological, and hydrobiological characteristics of lakes. This paper discusses some machine learning methods aimed at identifying anomalous values for lakes of karst, volcanic and glacial origin. The main goal of this study is to find optimal mathematical methods for establishing the uniqueness of a particular lake ecosystem. The paper considers test samples of lakes obtained on the basis of the WORLDLAKE database. The following methods were used in the analysis: 1) local outlier factor, 2) isolated forest, and 3) one-class support vector machine. The features of the application of various methods depending on the morphometric origin of lake basins are revealed. The resulting anomalous objects were compared and then subjected to expert evaluation for their unique properties in various parameters. The expert assessment confirmed that most of the identified lakes can be considered unique, taking into account other features that characterize lake ecosystems.

Quantitative Holocene palaeolandscape reconstructions in the Beloslav Lake area using pollen data, modelling and simulation approach

Pollen records from lacustrine core Bel-1 obtained from the Beloslav Lake (Northeastern Bulgaria) were used to reconstruct the past vegetation and to simulate past landscapes. Numerous 50 km by 30 km landscape simulations were performed at different time windows in the past. Eleven of them were chosen as significant for vegetation dynamics, human impact, and landscape evolution. Comparison of actual and simulated modern vegetation composition showed similar results, which proved the reliability of models. Quantitative reconstructions in the region of the Beloslav Lake showed a clear trend of decreasing forest landscapes at the expense of agrarian ones. Simulated landscapes based on quantitative reconstruction of vegetation coverage reflected a more significant anthropogenic impact and openness than those shown by pollen percentages.

Features of the formation of the econetwork structure in the central Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

As a result of global trends of climate change, in conditions of significant anthropogenic impact on the environment, which is one of the most urgent threats with a long-term negative impact on the environment and the economy, the transformation of natural landscapes and the impoverishment of their biological diversity is taking place. Therefore, the transition from classic nature conservation areas to eco-networks is the need of the hour. Because the eco-network is a conceptually integrating idea of preserving the natural environment. A study was conducted of the Halytskyi-Slobozhanskyi and Yuzhno-Buzskyi ecocorridors, which unite exceptionally important landscape, floristic and coenotic key territories that are components of the national eco-network of Ukraine. The plant cover of the studied ecocorridors is characterized by a significant number of rare and endemic species, most of which are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine. On the basis of the biocentric network structure, the flora complexes of the longitudinal and transverse ecocorridors, which territorially belong to the agrolandscapes of the Central Forest-Steppe of Ukraine, were analyzed. It has been established that the key areas of the eco-network are Maslivska, Berezivska, Chornogrebelska, Bugo-Desnyanska, from the point of view of migration and dispersal of species. Halytskyi-Slobozhanskyi and Yuzhno-Buzkyi ecological corridors are characterized by a low cyclicality index (α<1) with the possibility of further development of ecocorridors (β>1). The low degree of alternative choice of migration paths is shown (γ<1), which is a consequence of the high level of economic development of the territory. For the investigated ecocorridors, the β-index revealed the presence of several cycles (β>1), but this is not optimal for the distribution and migration of species.

Syntaxonomy of restoration vegetation in quarries in Central Polissya

Syntaxonomy of restoration vegetation in quarry sites in Central Polissya of Ukraine, including 25 classes, 36 orders, 62 alliances, 116 associations, and two unranked communities, is presented. Based on the frequency of occurrence of vegetation plots, we have identified typical and atypical environments in existing and abandoned quarries. The classes Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, Artemisietea vulgaris, Phragmiti-Magnocaricetea, Plantagenetea majoris, and Epilobietea angustifolii were found to be the most common. Predominance of the grassland stage in vegetation restoration under significant or moderate anthropogenic impact is demonstrated. The environmental factors and features of seed dispersal affect the mode and tempo of vegetation restoration in disturbed habitats of open pit mining. Meadow vegetation is predominant on the plateau around the zone of active production; herbaceous and woody plants penetrate the slopes simultaneously. Steep vertical outcrops of crystalline rocks for a long time remain uninhabited by higher vascular plants. Plants grow exclusively in the crevices of crystal blocks filled with loose rocks, soil, and small organic residues. On the slopes of loose sedimentary rocks, the meadow stage is not gradually transformed into the phanerophyte stage. The rate of vegetation restoration depends on the slope angle. Such successions form large ecotone areas due to numerous unfilled ecological niches in the quarry ecosystems. These areas are most vulnerable to the penetration of invasive plant species.

Intensive human impacts drive the declines in heterogeneity of diatom communities in shallow lakes of East China

Anthropogenic eutrophication in aquatic ecosystems has had significant negative effects on biodiversity and human wellbeing. Improving our understanding of the ways in which biological communities respond to eutrophication underlies biodiversity conservation, and diversity metrics like species richness and evenness are often used to assess environmental impacts on biodiversity. However, such studies mainly consider overall gain and loss, ignoring species replacement in community succession. This paper combines paleolimnology and network science to propose a heterogeneity index (H) to measure community successions by linking long-term changes in community structure with environmental stress. Eight lakes of different types in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River Basin (MLYB) were selected, and we focused on diatom communities to reconstruct their ecological trajectories after significant anthropogenic impact. The combined results suggested that human impacts have caused eutrophication in each lake since the 1950s, but led to different degrees of impact on the diatom communities. In hypereutrophic lakes, diatom assemblages shifted to high-nutrient tolerance and the proportions of epiphytic-benthic species decreased, while in mildly eutrophic lakes, a switch to mild-nutrient tolerant assemblages occurred in planktonic and epiphytic-benthic species with no change in epiphytic-benthic proportions. The H of diatom communities declined in hypereutrophic lakes, but changed little in mildly eutrophic lakes after the 1950s. Meanwhile, no regular changes in diversity indicators such as richness, evenness and the Jaccard-index occurred with lake eutrophication. The ordered species turnover in nutrient-enriched diatom communities may account for the discrepancies in H and the above indices, such as ordered epiphytic-benthic species being replaced by higher nutrient-tolerant and planktonic species with no necessarily attendant reduction in species richness. By quantifying the alteration of species associations without being influenced by species diversity, the H index effectively reveals the succession of diatom communities, and can therefore serve as a complementary indicator of biodiversity.

PYROLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FOREST EDGES UNDER INTENSIVE RECREATIONAL LOADS

-The increase in fires in urban landscapes causes adverse and sometimes irreversible changes in forest ecosystems. The modern solution is to find the places of primary fires and the most dangerous areas. The purpose of this study was to find dependences between the forest typological features of forest stands and their fire danger. To fulfil this purpose, a systematic analysis of forest fire danger and phytoindication were performed. The composition of the flora of edge biotopes was figured out using the route geobotanical method. The article analyses forest fires that occurred in urban forests of Kyiv during 2014-2021. Primary ignition locations have been identified. It was proved that fires often occurred on the forest edges, as well as along highways and railways. Among the standard indicators of fire danger (number and area of forest fires), the method makes provision for establishing the fire frequencies in the same forest area. This indicator allows figuring out the most dangerous areas from the pyrogenic standpoint. It was found that the simple edge is characterised by a minimal taxonomic composition in the ground vegetation and its projective cover of up to 20%. The grass tier stabilises the environment and mitigates the effects of extreme natural phenomena. The vegetation cover of an elementary and multicomponent edge is one of the barriers that can stop surface fires. Taxonomic diversity, especially of deciduous species, determines the pyrological features of forest edges. Analysis of the flora of marginal biotopes showed that oligotrophs, xerophytes, and xeromesophytes predominate among the species of simple edges. The share of ruderal elements in the ground vegetation was 36%, which indicates a significant anthropogenic impact and synanthropisation of the flora of the edges. These processes adversely impact the conservation of typical species but have a fire-retaining effect. Analysis of forest fires dynamics under intensive recreational loads allows substantiating the vectors for fire safety improvement, choosing a strategy for ensuring fire safety, and increasing the economic and social efficiency of fire prevention measures. It is proved that the forest edge is one of the decisive factors in the fire behaviour arising from a nonwooded area. The formation of multicomponent edges will help minimise the risks of fires

RESEARCH OF HEAVY METALS IN THE ATMOSPHERIC AIR OF GOYGOL DISTRICT AS A BIOINTICATOR

RESEARCH OF HEAVY METALS IN THE ATMOSPHERIC AIR OF GOYGOL DISTRICT AS A BIOINTICATOR

Integral indicators of the state of tree plantations as an indicator of the state of the environment on the example of the city of Buzuluk

This paper discusses integral indicators of tree plantations in urbanized areas. The role of flora for the urban environment and possible ways of influencing it from the side of human economic activity are shown. The peculiarities of green spaces formation and their change under the influence of anthropogenic load were the reason for the analysis of integral indicators of tree plantations of the city of Buzuluk. To conduct the study the methodology of a comprehensive assessment of the state of the natural environment was used according to integral indicators of the state of tree plantations according to E.G. Mozolevskaya. The paper presents the results of plantings categories analysis, indicators of plantings state, which allowed to identify resistant species in parks and squares of the city of Buzuluk to anthropogenic pollution. The study was conducted at six sites (parks and squares) of the city, exposed to significant anthropogenic impact: Trinity Park, Nikolsky Square, Friendship Alley, Square (Park) Victory Square, L.N. Tolstoy Square, central Buzuluk Square. Based on the work done, a conclusion was made about the satisfactory ecological condition of the parks and squares of the city of Buzuluk. The results obtained confirm the need to revise approaches to landscaping of this urbanized territory, which should be based on the increasing factor of anthropogenic load and ecological and biological characteristics of plantings. In the future this will make it possible to predict the development of the ecological situation of the studied territory, which is an important condition for the ecologically balanced development of the city.

Trace Metal Concentrations in Surface Water Along the Yangtze River in Chongqing, China: Urban Discharge Impacts.

Urban rivers are suffering from a significant anthropogenic impact. In this study, eight trace metals were investigated in surface water along the Yangtze River in Chongqing, China. The decreasing trend of trace metals was observed in water as Sr > Li > Mo > As > Cu > Ni > Cr > Co. Multivariate statistical analysis identified two source types that accounted for 77.17% of the total variance. As, Co, Mo, and Sr were mainly originated from geological sources, while Cr, Cu, and Ni were influenced by anthropogenic activities. Moreover, the average contents of Cr, Cu, and Ni exhibited a significant increase close to the city compared to the sites that are far away from the city, which was identified by various urban rivers. This study suggested that Cr, Cu, and Ni could be regarded as anthropophile elements, which could be a promising indicator for tracing the urban activities.

The content of heavy metals in the water of Lake Gusinoe (Western Transbaikalia) and its tributaries

Investigation of the transformation of substances in the basin of the Selenga River, the main tributary of Lake Baikal, due to anthropogenic impact under conditions of global climate change, is especially important for Lake Baikal which is a World Natural Heritage Site and the main source of fresh drinking water not only in the region, but also in the world. One of the key research objects in the Selenga River basin, which is subject to significant anthropogenic impact, is the ecosystem of Lake Gusinoe. This study presents the results of analysis of the physical and chemical parameters of the water mass of Gusinoe Lake basin. for the period from 2017 to 2020. Thus, the results on hydrochemical indicators for a long-term period of research of the lake show changes in the chemical composition of water and the concentration of main ions. In 2020, the content of almost all metals was higher than in 2017-2020, which may be due to the rise in the level of Lake Gusinoe and groundwater that began in 2019 and continued in 2020, as a result of rain floods that caused flooding of the coastal territories and the entry of pollutants into watercourses and the lake.