Disturbance and recovery of vegetation at the sites of nuclear accidents in arctic Yakutia

• Published in: Linnaeus Eco-Tech
• Main Authors: Koroleva, Tatjana, Petrovsky, Vladislav, Khitun, Olga
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Linnaeus University 2007
• Subjects: Release of radionuclides; radioactive contamination; Yakutia; northern taiga; vegetation; recovery; Arctic; taiga; Siberia
• Online Access: https://open.lnu.se/index.php/eco-tech/article/view/2323; https://doi.org/10.15626/Eco-Tech.2007.063

Two peaceful underground nuclear explosions conducted in the middle of 1970-s in theMiddle Siberia were followed by accidental release of radionuclides into the atmosphere. Thecondition of vegetation within the impacted area was examined in 2002. The study showedthat norn1alization of radioactive situation and recovery of damaged vegetation did not happenduring this period. Radioactive contamination resulted in either total or partial elimination ofthe vegetation. Four zones according to the degree of disturbance were distinguished. Patternsof recovery are shown: some local shrubs are the most active colonizers, whereas reestablishing of larches occurs very slowly. Low rates of recovery can be explained by ratherbad natural condition for reproduction of larch, by presence of dead lichen cover whichprevents gern1ination of seeds and possibly low microbial and fungal activity caused byradiation, Removal of heavily contaminated forest litter and sawing of local grasses and herbsmay accelerate the rate of vegetation recovery. Two peaceful underground nuclear explosions conducted in the middle of 1970-s in theMiddle Siberia were followed by accidental release of radionuclides into the atmosphere. Thecondition of vegetation within the impacted area was examined in 2002. The study showedthat norn1alization of radioactive situation and recovery of damaged vegetation did not happenduring this period. Radioactive contamination resulted in either total or partial elimination ofthe vegetation. Four zones according to the degree of disturbance were distinguished. Patternsof recovery are shown: some local shrubs are the most active colonizers, whereas reestablishing of larches occurs very slowly. Low rates of recovery can be explained by ratherbad natural condition for reproduction of larch, by presence of dead lichen cover whichprevents gern1ination of seeds and possibly low microbial and fungal activity caused byradiation, Removal of heavily contaminated forest litter and sawing of local grasses and herbsmay accelerate ...