Paradoxes of modern geoecology

Six paradoxes of modern geoecology as a science are described: the many-sided manner of understanding the content of geoecology, the absence of definite and, especially, of generally accepted theoretical problems of geoecology, the ambiguous attitude of researchers-geoecologists to the necessity of studying the state of biota, the insufficiently considered problem of the inter-disciplinary manner of geoecology, and different points of view on the problems of studying the effects of natural and anthropogenic factors on ecosystems. The causes of these paradoxes are formulated, and the main methods for overcoming them are indicated.     

ANTHROPOGENIC CHANGE IN THE LANDSCAPES OF HIGHLAND ECUADOR*

ABSTRACT. The anthropogenic nature of Andean ecosystems is discussed in the framework of tree‐line dynamics in selected sites in Ecuador. Indicators of human impact are evidence of the need for a scientific understanding of neotropical mountains that is better in tune with the special conditions of tropical Andean environments. Tropandean systems are neither tropical ecosystems nor midlatitude regions, and lessons from ecologically damaging activities in those ecosystems cannot be transferred readily to Tropandean systems. Better research from the ethnobiological and ecological fronts is needed if we are to comprehend the intricate functions of neotropical mountains, particularly the cloud‐forest belt, which is regarded as the most threatened ecosystem when considering sustainability scenarios.     

Heavy metals in soil of the Baikal biosphere reserve （in connection with degradation of fir forests of the northern macroslope of Khamar-Daban Range）

The Baikal biosphere reserve （Khamar-Daban Range, South Pribaikalye） demonstrates withering of fir forests, progressing from 1970＇s. As to possible reasons of this phenomenon concerned, there are many viewpoints; the main among them is the technogenic influence of the Baikalsk pulp and paper plant （BPPP） and Irkutsk industrial center （IIC） on forest ecosystems. Geochemical characteristics of the snow cover within the Baikal reserve, investigated by us earlier indicate that degradation of fir forests at present does not result from the transfer of industrial emissions from BPPP and IIC to places of growing fir forests. Aimed at further revealing of reasons of fir forests withering, we investigated the chemical composition of soil （as a substratum feeding trees） in the Baikal biosphere reserve. We studied brown mountain-forest and alluvial-turf soil predominating in the reserve, which are characterized by weak differentiation profiles, in places （at the slope＇s bottom） by significant （up to 2.5-3 m） thickness. Samples of 250-300 gr. were collected from the genetic soil horizons distinguished visually and roughly by the thickness. Total contents of heavy metals （HM）-Cu, Cr, Ni, Zn, Co, Mn, Cd, Li, Rb, Sr, their mobile modes of occurrence （m/m）, extracted by acetate-ammonium buffer with pH=4.8 were determined. We also measured the concentrations of metals in the insoluble （fixed） residue （FR） obtained after extracting their mobile modes by atomic-absorption （Perkin-Elmer -503 spectrometer） method. The analytical error by this method does not exceed 10 %.