Yorkina N. Ecotoxicological and bioindicative assessment of the state of urban systems of the city of Melitopol

Thesis for the degree of candidate of biological sciences in specialty 03.00.16 - ecology. Khmelnitsky Melitopol State Pedagogical University, Melitopol, 2017. The thesis presents the results of ecotoxicological and bioindicative assessment of the state of the environment and of the biota of the urban system of Melitopol. It has been established that the number of zoophages is increasing on anthropogenically transformed sites, and homogenization of the prismatic composition of the main groups of mesopedobionts with domination of individual species is observed. In the alkaline soils of the functional zones of the urban system, the prevalence of calciphylls - centipedes, mocriacs, gastropods, is noted, which allows them to be used to indicate the level of alkalization of soils. As the indicators of the state of surface watercourses in the city of Melitopol, L. stagnalis and V. viviparus were chosen. Indicator species of ?-mesosaprobic malacofauna reflect the toxic effects of zinc, lead, cadmium and chromium ions. Based on the vitality indicators of epiphytic lichens in different functional zones of the city of Melitopol, areas with different degrees of atmospheric air pollution were identified. A comparative analysis of ecotoxicological and bioindicative assessment indicates that the vitality indicators of epiphytic lycenobiota, soil mesofauna and hydrobionts can be used as an operational and low-cost method for studying the ecological state of urban systems of a similar type, as well as timely detection of signs of ecological problems in urban areas.