Scientific publications

The effect of industrial pollution on the state of herbaceous vegetation and soil nematode communities depending on the distance from the Kostomuksha Mining and Concentration Plant (MCP) was studied. The number of vascular species (most significantly forbs) and the aboveground biomass of herbaceous communities decreased towards the MCP. At the same time the percent cover of some species of the families Poaceae and Fabaceae increased closer to the enterprise. Emissions from the MPC have also impacted the soil nematode fauna in the biotopes under study. The greatest changes in the nematode community structure were observed at a distance of 0.5 km from the plant. We observed a decrease in the fauna taxonomic diversity and maturity index, and the absence of omnivorous nematodes in this area. However, the total nematode abundance increased due to a rise in the number of nematodes obligatorily or facultatively connected with plants. The meadow herbs parasite Paratylenchus nanus was found to dominate in the fauna.