No 6 (2023)

The content of C, N, P and the N:P and C:N ratios in plant leaves were studied in four alpine phytocenoses of the northwestern Caucasus to find out 1) how much the species found in them differ in chemical composition from random samples from the local flora; 2) how important the values of these characteristics are for dominance; 3) how phylogenetically conservative they are. The leaves of plants of alpine heaths and variegated fescue meadows contain less, and leaves of geranium-kopec meadows and alpine carpets contain more nitrogen compared to a random sample. Dominants of productive geranium-penny meadows contain more nitrogen than non-dominant species; for other communities, the opposite dependence is noted. Components of all communities, except alpine carpets, contain less phosphorus in their leaves compared to a random sample. The dominant species of alpine heaths contain less, and geranium-penny meadows contain more phosphorus in their leaves compared to non-dominant species. The C:N ratio in leaves is higher than random in species of alpine heaths and variegated fescue meadows and lower in other communities. The dominant species have higher C:N ratios compared to the others in all communities, except for geranium-penny meadows. The N:P ratio was higher than random in species of all communities except variegated fescue meadows. All characters except the C:N ratio have significant phylogenetic signal.

This review focuses on the issue of metal antagonism in soils contaminated by multiple metals as a result of industrial emissions. Building upon previous findings in aquatic ecosystems, the potential of zinc to mitigate copper toxicity in more complex soil systems is explored. A range of studies investigating the role of zinc in reducing copper toxicity to plants and microorganisms in soils contaminated by copper mining in central Chile are examined. The mechanisms underlying metal interactions in soils, including the terrestrial biotic ligand model and the intensity/capacity/quantity concept, are thoroughly discussed. Furthermore, the review underscores the pressing need for future studies to enhance our understanding and develop effective strategies for mitigating copper toxicity in industrially contaminated soils.

The concentrations of heavy metals Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb in the leaves of Betula pubescens were analyzed at 10 sites along the pollution gradient near the Middle Ural copper smelter. The studies were carried out during the period of moderate emissions (2009) and after their reduction to a minimum (2019). Leaf samples were collected in early and late summer. Cu and Cd showed a strong negative correlation with the distance to the smelter. The interannual differences are most pronounced for Pb, the concentration of which significantly decreased in 2019 at the sites closest to the smelter compared to 2009. In both years, the concentrations of metals in the leaves increased towards the end of the growing season.

Based on the data of 2014, the response of invertebrate communities in floodplain and steppe meadows to emissions from the Karabash Copper Smelter (the main pollutants are SO2 and heavy metals) was assessed. When approaching the smelter, the phytomass of forbs decreases (2–7 times) and the proportion of graminoids increases (from 36–45 to 53–85%) in the phytocenoses of both meadow types. The abundance of invertebrates changes similarly in meadows of both types: the total abundance decreases (by 1.4–2.9 times), while the abundance of all trophic and most of the large taxonomic groups does not change. The taxonomic structure of invertebrates in floodplain meadows changes only in the impact zone, whereas in the steppe meadows – already in the buffer zone. This result partially confirms the hypothesis put forward that the response to pollution in floodplain meadow communities is less pronounced than in steppe meadow communities.

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