Vol 30, No 1 (2022)

The article gives a phytosozological assessment of natural monuments of regional importance in the Penza region, based on a number of phytosozological criteria that characterize the vegetation cover and their ecological state. The assessment is based on such criteria as the degree of study of the vegetation cover of the territory, the demonstration (reference) value, the area occupied, the anthropotolerance of the vegetation cover, the coenotic diversity of the territory, the total number of species diversity of vascular plants, the number of species listed in the Federal and regional Red Books, the degree transformation and recovery potential. The assessment used is of interest as a test express system that allows you to quickly assess the dynamics of the main qualitative and quantitative indicators of natural complexes. On the territory of the Penza region, located mostly on the western slope of the Volga Upland, and geobotanically located within the forest-steppe zone, in order to preserve biological and landscape diversity, 90 natural monuments of regional significance were identified on an area of 627.4 km2, which is 1.44% from the territory of the region. The highest concentration of natural monuments is noted in the north-east of the region, the most elevated and wooded part of the region. The largest area of more than 40 thousand hectares was noted in the Vyshe-Moksha botanical-geographical region. The largest number of monuments, of which 70% are botanical, are noted in the Prisursky botanical-geographical region with an average rating score of 62.2. The maximum score was noted at the natural monument Ardymsky Shikhan. The largest number of hydrological monuments of nature are located in the Zasursky and Prisursky botanical and geographical regions, which is associated with the location of the Sura River basin in these regions. The largest number of zoological monuments is located on the territory of the Vyshe-Moksha botanical-geographical region. The results obtained are necessary to determine the dynamics and directions of the processes of conservation and restoration of the composition of the flora and fauna of unique communities of regional natural monuments, as well as to increase the level of representativeness and ecological status, which in the future will allow monitoring changes in ecosystems.

The calculations of the global warming dynamics were made taking into account the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions according to the recommendations of the Paris Agreement. Based on the analysis of thermodynamic parameters of the climatic system during the last glacial and pre-industrial periods of the Earth’s history, the functions of the maximum global warming temperature dependence on the mass and volume concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere were obtained. The mass of greenhouse saturation of the atmosphere by anthropogenic greenhouse gases and the corresponding maximum global warming temperature have been determined. With unrestricted emission of the three major greenhouse gases, the maximum temperature they can provide is 9.2 °С. With annual global emission reduction by 2060, global warming will continue until about 2108 with a global temperature increase up to 3.1 °С.

One of the urgent problems of ecology is the environmental pollution of the northern regions with toxic elements and their negative impact on human health. The analysis of the content of lead, cadmium and mercury in the body of aboriginal and visiting residents of the Northeast of Russia was carried out. The balance of essential (calcium, zinc) and toxic (lead, cadmium) elements was considered. Statistically significant differences in the content of cadmium and lead in aboriginal residents and Caucasians were noted. Among the Evens, the median of cadmium exceeded that of the Koryaks, Chukchis, and Caucasoids; the value of the median of lead among the Chukchis was lower compared to that in other ethnic groups. There were no statistically significant differences in the content of mercury between Koryaks, Evens and Chukchis, as well as between aboriginal residents and Caucasians. There are no critical levels of mercury in the body of aborigines. The median mercury in the hair of the Koryaks, Chukchis and Evens did not exceed the biologically acceptable level - 0.5 µg/g. Among aboriginal residents, the highest percentage of samples with mercury content in the range from 0.5 to 1.0 µg/g (background level) was noted in 33.8% of Evens and 30% of Koryaks; among the Chukchi, this figure was 8.6%. Elevated levels of mercury in some aboriginal people may be due to the high proportion of fish and seafood containing methylmercury in the diet. The proportions of toxic metals (Pb, Cd) in relation to their essential antagonist elements (Ca, Zn) indicate that toxic elements do not disrupt the biochemical processes controlled by the corresponding essential elements. Thus, the study area of the Northeast of Russia, in terms of toxic load on the population, can be attributed to territories with a relatively favorable environmental situation.

Approaches to the preservation of natural, cultural and historical heritage are shown on the example of the administrative district. Along with the existing list of objects of natural and cultural heritage, it is proposed at the regional level to identify historical cultural landscapes, including villages with preserved ethnic culture and their natural environment, and to classify them as heritage sites. Landscape planning capabilities of ecological balance zones and tourist and recreational systems are shown on the example of the Neverskinsky District of the Penza Region. Historical cultural landscapes together with fragments of wildlife are attributed to the ecological framework of the countryside, which can be used as a tourist and recreational area.

Preliminary results of the evaluation of transport pollution of the RUDN University campus (Moscow) and adjacent forest park are presented. These objects are under the conditions of intensive road and highway impact. The assessment of the load is carried out on the basis of data from the environmental monitoring system in operation since 2017, information from the accounting of vehicles on highways, using specific emission indicators (established experience). The territory is considered as a representative experimental ground for studying and modeling the flows of various types and forms of pollutants in the “atmosphere - soil - plants” system, as well as greenhouse gas flows. Such a variety and density of materials make it possible to reliably identify areas of influence of traffic flows on the territory and simulate the migration of pollutants. The focus is on tire wear products, asphalt, as well as engine emissions: solid particles and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The results obtained indicate a significant level of load and generally correspond to modern estimates of total transport loads in Moscow.