RU2161802C2 - Method for applying radiation monitoring of ecological systems in the field of radioactive territory pollution indication concerning animals being objects of hunting with examination of hoof animal winter defecation (taking and preparing samples) - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: environment protection; ecology. SUBSTANCE: method involves calculating the number of hoof animals in population by collecting and preparing winter defecation samples for making radioactivity analysis. The procedure has to stages one of which is field stage and the other one is laboratory stage. The field stage involves accounting the defecations and taking samples during one week after middle April snow melts. One sample preparation requires 1.2 h time. To make accounting, permanent routes are determined 1 km per 100 ha of hunting area comparable to winter routes. The routes are fixed on geobotanic map of sanitary protection zone in 1:10000 scale. Accounting is carried out on a 3 m broad strip, that is, 1.5 m on both sides of the accounting operator. The route being 6600 m long, the accounting strip area is 19.8 ha large. The route being 11000 m long, the accounting strip area is 33.0 ha large. When passing a route through, all excrement heaps are recorded and distance and reference objects are marked on the map every 100 m. All routes being gone through, counting is carried out. The number of heaps per area unit is determined by dividing the total number of defecations recorded by accounting area that is equal to route length multiplied by three. Excrement samples are collected concurrently with excrement heap accounting which number is determined by hunting area type. At least two samples are taken in every type of hunting area. Excrements are taken in the amount of 200 g into paper package, marked and left in the laboratory when the route is finished. Sample code, date and place of sampling are fixed in a working diary. Rind and plant branches samples are taken in the places of gnawing in the amount of at least 0.5 kg, put into paper packages, marked. When the route is finished, the samples are left in the laboratory. Sample code, date and place of sampling, plant type, sample type (rind, branches and so on) are fixed in a working diary. The taken samples of excrements and food are prepared according to standardized method. Sample code and type, date and place of sampling, absolute dry weight, ash mass are recorded in the working journal. EFFECT: enhanced accuracy in following radionuclide migration in nutrient chains; provided control on radioactive pollution. 3 cl

Description

 The method relates to the field of ecology and is intended for monitoring radioactive contamination by measuring the activity of radionuclides in winter bowel movements of ungulates.

 It is known that forest communities act as accumulators of radionuclides from global fallouts, which creates an increased radiation background for forest inhabitants [1, 2]. Forest products, including animals, with an increased content of radioactive substances in it can be a significant source of human exposure [3]. Monitoring of wild animals includes monitoring of ecological and population characteristics with mandatory consideration of the radiation factor. Tracking the size and structure of the animal population is based on taking into account traces of life. Winter route tracking of tracks in the snow is a methodological foundation for assessing the population density of land by commercial animals. The adaptation feature of ungulates, manifested in a seasonal change in feed, has led to the formation of other tracers - a special type of excrement. The biology of animals made it possible to develop a methodology for recording their numbers according to the number of bowel movements [4, 5]. In places of feeding, herbivores leave droppings. In winter, when ungulates feed on branch food, their excrement looks like dense brown nuts. The number of piles of excrement depends on the individual characteristics of the animal, wintering conditions, feed reserves, etc., but on average it has a constant value for the species, for the moose 13-14 piles per day. For the middle zone of the Russian Federation in the temperate zone, it is customary to consider the duration of the period of branch nutrition and the excretion of “winter” excrement for 200 days (from the moment of falling leaves and until the appearance of grass cover). The number of bowel movements excreted by one elk is 2800. When excrement counts, it becomes possible to trace the migration of radionuclides in the link of the food chain: soil - plants (branches, bark) - elk - excrement. The residues that make up the litter determine the qualitative composition of the feed and the content of radionuclides in it.

 A known method of radiation monitoring of ecosystems by bioindication in the environmental monitoring system of a city or region [6]. It consists in the selection and preparation of samples, followed by radiometric analysis.

 The new method consists of two stages: field and laboratory. The field phase includes the collection of bowel movements and sampling. The laboratory phase includes the preparation of samples for analysis. The field phase is carried out for one week immediately after the snow melts in mid-April. On average, 1.2 hours are allotted to prepare one sample. For sampling, permanent routes are laid at the rate of 1 km per 100 hectares of land, comparable to winter routes. Routes are mapped. The cartographic basis is a geobotanical map of the territory on a scale of 1: 10000. Accounting is carried out on a tape 3 m wide, i.e., 1.5 m on both sides of the meter. With a route length of 6600 m, the area of the accounting strip is 19.8 ha, and with a length of 11000 m, the area of the accounting strip is 33.0 ha. During the passage in the work diary, all heaps of excrement are recorded, and distances and landmarks are recorded every 100 m. After going through all the routes, they make calculations. The number of piles per unit area is determined by dividing the total number of counted bowel movements by the accounting area, which is equal to the length of the route in meters times three.

 Sampling is also new. Sampling of excrement is carried out parallel to the counting of heaps of excrement, the number of which is determined by the number of types of land. For each type of land take at least two samples. Excrement in the amount of 200 g is taken into a paper bag, labeled, at the end of the route, it is handed over to the laboratory. The sample code, date and place of sampling are entered in the work diary.

 Sampling of feed is carried out during the passage of routes. Traces of the feeding activity of the animals taken into account are recorded: gnaws, burrs on the bark of aspen, mountain ash, bird cherry, willow and other hardwoods. At the sites of the bites, samples of bark and plant branches of at least 0.5 kg are collected, put in a paper bag, marked. At the end of the route, they are handed over to the laboratory. The sample code, date and place of sampling, type of plant, type of sample (bark, branches, etc.) are entered in the work diary. Samples of excrement and feed are prepared for radiometric and spectrometric analysis according to standard methods. The cipher and type of sample, date and place of sampling, absolutely dry mass, ash mass are entered in the work journal.

LITERATURE
1. Aleksakhin PM, Naryshkin M.A. "Forest radioecology: results, objectives and research prospects." // Modern issues of forest science and forest biocenology. M .: Science. 1984. S. 184-216.

 2. Aleksakhin P. M., Naryshkin M.A. Migration of radionuclides in forest biogeocenoses. M .: Science. 1977.

 3. Sokolov V.E., Ilyenko A.I. Problems and tasks of animal radioecology. / Problems and tasks of animal radioecology. M .: Science. 1980. C.3-13.

 4. Sorokina A. Accounting for ungulates. // Hunting and hunting. 1977. N 12. S. 38-39.

 5. Chervonny VV Experience accounting elk excrement in large areas. // Counts of game animals in large areas. - Pushchino on the Oka. 1969.

 6. The system of environmental monitoring of a city or region. - RF patent N 92007530, H 04 M 11/00, 1995.

Claims (3)

 1. The method of radiation monitoring for bioindication of radioactive contamination of territories by hunting and hunting animals, taking into account ungulates in winter defecations (sampling and preparation), which consists in the selection and preparation of samples for radiometric and spectrometric analyzes, characterized in that it consists of two stages: field and laboratory, and the field stage includes the recording of bowel movements and sampling for one week immediately after the snow melts in mid-April, and it takes to prepare one sample 1.2 hours, at the same time, permanent routes are laid for accounting at the rate of 1 km per 100 hectares of land, comparable to winter routes, routes are put on a geobotanical map of a territory with a scale of 1: 10000, accounting is carried out on a strip 3 m wide, i.e. 1.5 m in both directions from the meter, i.e. with a route length of 6600 m, the area of the accounting strip is 19.8 hectares, and with the length of the route 11000 m, the area of the accounting strip is 33.0 ha, when passing the route, all heaps of excrement are recorded in the work diary, and every 100 m the distance is noted on the map and marked landmarks, after going through all the routes, do the calculations of the number of heaps per unit area by dividing the total number of counted bowel movements by the accounting area, which is equal to the length of the route in meters times three.  2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the sampling of excrement is carried out in parallel with the count of heaps of excrement, the number of which is determined by the number of types of land, and for each type of land at least two samples are taken, excrement in the amount of 200 g is taken in a paper bag, marked and at the end of the route they are handed over to the laboratory, while the sample code, date and place of sampling are entered in the work diary.  3. The method according to PP. 1 - 3, characterized in that the sampling of feed is carried out during the passage of routes, while recording traces of the feeding activity of the animals taken into account, gnaws, burrs on the bark of aspen, mountain ash, bird cherry, willow and other hardwoods, samples of bark and branches are collected at the sites of burials plants of at least 0.5 kg are folded into a paper bag, marked at the end of the route, handed over to the laboratory and the sample code, date and place of sampling, type of plant, type of sample (bark, branches, etc.) are entered into the work diary.