Mikhail Gladyshev, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Biology, Professor: "We must preserve the quality, first of all, of the Arctic ecosystems, which are inhabited by the most valuable fish species, which generally constit

During a press conference following the results of the Large Scientific Expedition to study biodiversity in the regions where Norilsk Nickel operates, Mikhail Gladyshev, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Biology, Professor said that the emphasis on the study of biodiversity was made because the Arctic ecosystems are small and they are characterized by low biological production of all links, including fish.
According to him, as is known from previous studies conducted in Taimyr for more than 20 years, industrial pollution has the effect of eutrophication, that is, an increase in productivity, and in areas subjected to intense impact, biomass does not decrease, but increases, while all existing methods just consider the damage to aquatic biological resources by reducing biomass. Therefore, it is quite obvious that it is necessary to look not at quantitative indicators, but at qualitative ones. "We must preserve the quality, first of all, of the Arctic ecosystems, which are home to the most valuable fish species, which generally constitute the golden gene pool for aquaculture," the scientist emphasized.
During the expedition, a list of indicator organisms was compiled, reflecting changes in biodiversity in the studied areas. The boundaries of the impact of Norilsk Nickel's production activities were also clarified, which turned out to be not as large as originally thought. “And we have been seeing this for 20 years, that the quality of water in waterbodies in the Nornickel operating area has been improving. So, let’s say, out of 15 studied lakes in the area of the company’s Norilsk division, only two turned out to be disturbed,” Gladyshev said, noting that in the zone of influence of industrial enterprises there is not a decrease, but an increase in biomass in lakes, which, accordingly, require restoration.

Vladimir Malakhov, Rough&Polished