One of the global problem of modern ecology is the influence emissions of acid-forming gases on water and aquatic ecosystems is considered in the book. Analysis of methods and criteria of an assessing acidification of water, the results of research in various countries of the world including Russia is presented. Tendencies of the historical development of the process of acidification and restoration of water quality are shown with a decrease of atmospheric pollution by sulfur and nitrogen oxides. Along with the generalization of research in the world, the book is presented by the results of original research by the team of authors in recent decades on the territory of the European part of Russia and Western Siberia in latitudinal geographical zonality. The relationship of natural factors with technogenic acids entering on the catchment is found during the development of the process and during the period of decries of acids deposition. New data on the conjugate behavior of elements of the chemical composition of waters (humic acids, heavy metals) are presented in an acidified water.
Particular attention is paid to the results of studying scale-temporal patterns, the processes of restoration of lakes after acidification, and the development of predictive scenarios of changes in the chemical reactions in waters with a decrease and (or) increased loads. An analysis of changes in the physiological functions of fish organisms in the acidified water and the structural and functional organization of aquatic ecosystems are given.
An algorithms of calculating critical loads of acid-forming substances are proposed, an estimates of exceedance of loads in the European territory of Russia and in Western Siberia are developed.
This book reports the results of an extensive investigation of water chemistry in the small lakes of European Russia and Western Siberia along a climatic gradient. It was demonstrated that small lakes unaf fected by any direct contamination can be used as indicators of natural geochemical conditions of water for mation, as well as global and regional fluxes of airborne pollution and climate warming. A novel concept was developed for withinand betweenzone variability in water chemistry over vast areas of tundra, taiga, forest, and steppe, and contributions of natural and anthropogenic factors to its formation under presentday con ditions were estimated. A proposed predictive scenario showed that climate warming will result in an increase in water salinity in southern regions and ubiquitous phosphorus enrichment in terrestrial waters; the hydro logic and geochemical conditions of water formation in northern Siberia will change significantly in response to permafrost thawing. Zonal features in the development of anthropogenicallyinduced processes in terrestrial surface waters (acidification, eutrophication, and metal enrichment) were determined. It was demon strated that, in addition to naturally acidified lakes with high contents of humic acids, acid lakes of anthro pogenic origin occur over the whole humid region discussed here, and acidification processes were charac terized for each subregion. The trophic status of lakes and limitation of their bioproductivity with respect to nutrients were estimated. The concentrations and distribution of trace elements were analyzed in terrestrial waters from various climatic zones of European Russia and Western Siberia, and the first estimates were obtained for the mean concentrations and coefficients of migration of a wide range of elements in terrestrial freshwaters. We distinguished a group of metal (Mo, As, U, Bi, Sb, Cd, Ag, Se, Re, Pb, Cd, W, etc.) the enrichment of which in natural waters results from their global dispersion in the environment. Experimental results and natural observations are presented on the processes of metal ion complexation with humus sub stances, and sequences of their increasing activity in competing for organic ligands were derived. Data are presented on the speciation of metals depending on natural water chemistry in the tundra, taiga, and steppe zones. The pioneering investigations on the geochemistry of natural waters allowed us to substantiate new regional norms for water quality.
The book is devoted one of basic directions in water sciences — to understanding of water chemistry formation of surface water under global air pollution and geochemical transformation of watersheds. It is based on generalization of results of large-scale researches of small lakes in the European territory of Russia (from zones of tundra to arid), not subject to direct anthropogenic impacts. The estimation intra- and interzonal variability of water chemistry, the contribution of natural factors and airborne pollution to water chemistry formation is given. Zone features of antropogenno-caused processes are defined: acidification, eutrophication and enrichments of waters by metals. The contribution of the natural and anthropogenic factors defining the mechanism acidification of waters is considered. The estimation of the trophic status of lakes and limitation on nutrients of productivity of lakes is given. Clarks of large group elements is established and elements water migrations are presented. On the large dates on enrichment of waters by metals owing to their global dispersion is proved. Representation about existential variability of water chemistry is generated and modern direction of its changes are defined. With use of the known data in a science about scenarios of possible climate warming, the prediction of water chemistry in different climatic ecoregion is given.
Meaning and basic principles of ecotoxicological investigations, their practical importance for water qualification are formulated in this book. Besides, features of basic classes of toxic agents, ways of their migration into water systems, their cycle and interaction with natural and other anthropogenic factors are described here. Process of metabolism of toxic agents and elements in organisms, mechanisms of their toxicity elimination are considered in this work. Basic molecular-cellular and physiological disorders of fish under the impact of toxic agents in natural basins are evaluated. In addition, regularities of toxicosis development of fish and basic diseases of fish under conditions of water contamination with industrial effluents are described here. Regularities of changes of populations and water ecosystem communities associated with selective affect of toxic agents and additional power consumption for detoxification are detailed in this work. Role of evolutionary pre-adaptaion and biological combustion mechanisms in maintenance of homeostasis of organisms, population level and communities are also considered in this work. Set of criteria for evaluating water quality and ecosystem «health», based on revealed regularities of cascade changeability of ecosystem organization levels (from quality of environment to organisms, populations and communities) is substantiated. Practical approach to determination of critical anthropogenic levels of multypollution for water ecosystems of different geographical zones exposed to toxic contamination, is described in this work.
In the book the legitimacies of distribution, behavior, and ecological after-effects of raising regional and global levels of metal contents in water are given. The original results of the trace element content in lake and river waters in different climatic zones of the territory of the European part of Russia were presented, the representation about main processes determining regularities of their dispensation in natural waters, forms of migration and behavioral characteristic in terms of water acidification and eutrophication of reservoir was formed. The legitimacies of metal bioaccumulation in fish organisms depending on metal characteristics, their concentrations and different abiotic factors of water environment were shown. The characteristic of main ecotoxicological properties of metals and metalloids was given.
The book is devoted to one of global problems of modern environment — to influence of acid emissions on fresh waters. The analysis of methods and criteria of water acidification and results of research on a problem worldwide including the European part of Russia is given. Mechanisms of formation of acidity of waters and features acidification of lakes, the rivers, underground waters are considered. It is shown, that combination of several factors contribute to declines of pH and Acid Neutralization Capacity (ANC) of water. In forest landscape, organic acids contribute much to the pH depression. In the coastal tundra zones, «salt-effect» acidification predominates. The acidification is responsible for the release of the trace metals from soil and rock as well as for causing redistribution between different chemical species. General pattern for metals is an increase of ionic form as pH decreases. Tendencies of historical development of process and restoration of quality of waters are shown at change of a level of atmospheric pollution by sulfur and nitrogen oxides. Effects of acidification on aquatic ecosystems are analyzed on the basis of analytical synopsis of relevant data. Major active agents influencing aquatic organisms and main trends in reorganization of microbial, phyto- and zooplanktonic, benthic, and fish communities in an acidified environment are described. A generalized concept of changes in the ecosystems caused by acid precipitation and the accompanying factors is formulated. These changes include the reduction of biodiversity of all structural elements due to disappearance of species sensitive to acidification, modification of trophic structure, and a decrease of fish stock. The analysis of fish physiological function change in acidification medium is given. Methodical approaches and concrete methods of calculation of acid critical loads and its exceeded in the various countries are given.
In the book the long-term researches of anthropogenic ecosystem modification of Imandra lake are generalized. The rich deposits of mineral and fossil natural resources are situated on watershed of Imandra lakes (Murmansk oblast, Russia). Pollution of Lake Imandra began in the 1930s, reaching a peak in the 1980s. Their operations have immediate and vast consequences for the ecological systems, which are particularly vulnerable in arctic region. Regularities water quality formation and sediments under multipollution (copper-nickel smelter, mining, nuclear power station and domestic sewage) are revealed. Records of water chemistry, phytoplankton, zooplankton and fish communities have been done. The understanding of reaction of organism, transformations of populations and reorganization of communities under impact long term sublethal dozes of toxic substances in the lake is given. The main fish pathologies are described. Three periods of arctic ecosystem modification are considered. Firstly, background (reference) conditions within the lake have been established to determine lake conditions prior to anthropogenic influences. Secondly, a period of ecosystem degradation due to anthropogenic inputs of toxic metals and nutrients has been described. Finally, evidence of lake recovery due to recent decreases of toxic metals and nutrients has been explored. During the contamination there was a decrease in arctic species and in biodiversity. During the last 10 years pollution has decreased and the lake has been recolonised by arctic water species. In accordance with Odum’s ecosystem succession theory, this book demonstrates that the ecosystem has transformed to a more stable condition with new defining parameters. This illustrates that the recovery of arctic ecosystems towards pre-industrial reference conditions after a reduction in anthropogenic stresses occur, although a complete return to background conditions may not be achievable. Criteria and methods of monitoring arctic water ecosystem are offered.