Effects of air pollution from a nickel-copper industrial complex on boreal forest vegetation in the joint Russian-Norwegian-Finnish border area

The effect of air pollution from the Petchenganickel industrial complex, northwestern part of the Kola Peninsula, on forest vegetation was studied by combining three dormant monitoring networks in Finland, Russia and Norway, comprising a total of 21 plots that were revisited in 2004. Chemical compos...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Boreal environment research 2009, Vol.14 (2), p.279-296
Main Authors: MYKING, Tor, AARRESTAD, Per A, LINDROOS, Antti-Jussi, RØSBERG, Ingvald, SALEMAA, Maija, TØMMERVIK, Hans, VASSILIEVA, Natalia, DEROME, John, BAKKESTUEN, Vegar, BJERKE, Jarle W, GYTARSKY, Michael, ISAEVA, Ludmila, KARABAN, Rodion, KOROTKOV, Vladimir, LINDGREN, Martti
Format: Article
Language:English
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The effect of air pollution from the Petchenganickel industrial complex, northwestern part of the Kola Peninsula, on forest vegetation was studied by combining three dormant monitoring networks in Finland, Russia and Norway, comprising a total of 21 plots that were revisited in 2004. Chemical composition of precipitation was monitored during 2004–2005, and indicated continuing high deposition of heavy metals and SO2 in the border area. The cover of epiphytic lichens on the trunks of downy birch (Betula pubescens) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) was severely affected by pollution, and there was also a consistent negative effect on the abundance and richness of lichens and bryophytes on the forest floor in a more limited area. The effects of pollution on crown condition and stand growth were weak or absent. This study is an important reference for evaluating the effects of the planned renovation of the smelter in Nikel.
ISSN:1239-6095
1797-2469