Institute of Problems of Industrial Ecology of North of Kola Science Center of Russian Academy of Sciences, Apatity, Russia:

L. G. Isaeva, Head of Laboratory, e-mail: isaeva@inep.ksc.ru
T. A. Sukhareva, Senior Researcher

This article considers the status of berry small shrubs in the area of influence of copper-nickel combine “Severonickel” (Monchegorsk, Murmansk Oblast). The researches were carried out in small shrub and green moss spruce forests and small shrub and lischen pine forests at permanent quadrates, located at the distance of 5, 7, 8, 10, 13, 25, 28, 31, 33, 48, 100, 260 and 270 km from the combine. Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.), cowberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) and crowberry (Empetrum hermaphroditum Hager.) were the research objects. Samples of leaves were taken in 1991–1993 and in 2005–2007 with 5-fold replication in inter-crown spaces at the end of vegetation period. In 1991–1993, cowberry leaves were collected with 5-fold replication and were united into a mixed sample. Cowberry and crowberry leaves of this year were separated. Samples of berries were collected in August–September of 2004–2006. Samples of berries from virgin forests of western part of Murmansk Oblast were collected by 40 km × 40 km at 21 spots. According to this, 63 samples were totally collected. Besides, berries were collected from 3 berry stationaries of Lapland State Nature Biosphere Reserve, where berries, collected from 10 stationary spots, were united into one sample. Atomic-absorption spectrophotometry method was applied for the determination of metals (Ca, Mg, K, Fe, Mn, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cd, Pb, Co) in leaves and berries. At the same time, S and P were determined using the colorimetric method. There was carried out the analysis of space and time dynamics of elemental composition of leaves and berries of small shrubs in the process of technogenic degradation of northern-taiga forests after reduction of emission load. It was shown that heavy metal concentrations in berries and leaves of small shrubs are increased according to the pollution gradient. Leaves have higher heavy metal concentrations than berries. Highest Ni and Cu concentrations were found in bilberry leaves, when highest Cu concentrations were found in crowberry berries. During the research period (1991–2007) there was revealed the reduction of heavy metal concentrations in berries and leaves of wild small shrubs.

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