Impact of utilization of munitions to forest ecosystems

Abstract

The article highlights the impact of ammunition at military ranges on the natural environment of disposal. The results of complex studies are presented (soil, vegetation, small mammals) for two sites: in the Krasnoyarsk forest-steppe (N. 1), where in 2013 the disposal of projectiles was completed and in Kansk subtaiga (N. 2), where the disposal of projectiles continue. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the interdisciplinary consideration of the issue using instrumental research methods and satellite data. It was found that under the influence of explosions, a belligerative landscape is formed, funnels are formed, which are filled with water. As a result of the removal of soil (soil and underlying parent rocks) during explosions, the structural organization and physical properties of soils change at a distance of up to 15 m from the edge of the funnel. The authors note that the formation of communities takes a long time and begins from the pioneer stage as result of shedding of the walls an erosional succession type occurs in the blast craters. The direct impact of explosions is manifested as internal hemorrhage and impaired kidney in small mammals. An indirect effect is manifested in a change in the biotope: loosening the soil and the formation of reservoirs at the bottom of the craters, contributes to the formation of local settlements of tundra voles Microtus oeconomus Pallas. According to the results of the research, the parameters and spatial confinedness of disturbed by the explosions habitats were determined, which is necessary for the organization and monitoring of this anthropogenic impact. This problem has been little studied and requires further research.

Keywords

• military polygons
• soil
• vegetation
• small mammals