Ecological and geochemical evaluation of ecosystems of the Curonian Spit (Russia)

ABSTRACT

This paper presents the results of the quantitative content of metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Mn, Sr, Ni, Ca, Fe, Br, Rb) in the leaves of the flora dominants of the main ecosystems of the Curonian Spit (foredune, palve area, large dune ridge). The heavy metal content in the upper layer of sandy soils, forest ecosystems (palve area) and large dune ridge was analysed. In the accumulative horizon of soils, the heavy metal content did not exceed the sanitary standards (MAC (maximum allowable concentration)/TAC (tentative allowable concentration)), and their concentration was significantly lower than the similar level in urbanised territories which allows for taking their contents into account as a baseline for the Kaliningrad region. From the ecological and physiological points of view, the content of heavy metals in the studied plants is not toxic, and is typical of the accumulation features in plants.

KEYWORDS:

• Curonian Spit
• metals
• soil
• plants
• bioaccumulation
• phytoremediation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Russian Academic Excellence Project at the Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University.