EEEP 1/2005
C O N
T E N T S
Managing editor's comment
I. Simeonov 3
I. Human and Biosphere
Detection of plant physiological stress using spectral data
R. Kancheva, I. Iliev, D. Borisova, S. Chankova, V. Kapchina
4
Quantification of environmental and human health impacts
from
fertilizer production in Bulgaria
S. Kostova, A. Grancharova, D. Boiadjiev, I. Grancharov, A. Lekova
10
Solar activity impact on the natural gamma background –
June 2004
V. Miloslavov 19
Pro and contra transgenic varieties
M. Yankulov 25
II. Microorganisms and Environment
Diversity of soil microbial communities in Livingston
island –
Antarctica
Y. Raykovska, V. Chipeva, Y. Topalova, N. Chipev, P. Moncheva
28
Sorption of copper and cobalt ions by species of genus
Penicillium
K. Tsekova, V. Dencheva, M. Ianis, S. Ganeva
36
III. Technologies for Depolution
Dynamics of sedimentation of ferric ions in biodisk reactor
L. Nikolov, V. Mamatarkova 42
Bioprocess engineering “bio-ag” of the Institute of
mechanical process
engineering at the University of Karlsruhe
Cl. Posten 52
IV. Forest biology and Forest
Engineering
Genetic resources of the English oak (Quercus robur l.) in
northern
Bulgaria and possibilities for their conservation
G. Hinkov 59
Ecological and forestry characteristics of the “Yulen”
reserve
V. Kolev 65
V. Ecological Institutions and
Organisations
Balkan ecological network
G. Puhalev 71
In Memoriam
Prof. Al. Neykov 73
(1942 – 2005)
Detection of plant
physiological
stress using spectral data
R. Kancheva, I. Iliev, D. Borisova, S. Chankova, V. Kapchina
4
Abstract: Ecological problems relevant to anthropogenic impacts on the
environment and first of all on the biosphere, are of global importance
and draw the attention of various scientists. They impose the necessity
of efficient means for assessing the effects of anthropogenic factors
especially on vegetation land covers. The heavy metal pollution is one
of the most severe problems concerning natural vegetation resources as
well as agricultural crops. Among the different methods used for plant
phytodiagnostics an increasing role become to play the spectrometric
ones. The radiation behavior of land covers lies at the root of the
spectrometric studies. The visible and near infrared (0.4 - 0.9 mm)
measurements have proved abilities for vegetation monitoring. The
reason is that this wavelength range reveals significant sensitivity to
plant biophysical properties. The information is carried by the
specific vegetation spectral characteristics which depend on such plant
parameters as biomass amount, leaf area, cover ratio, chlorophyll
content, etc. These parameters are associated with plant development
and are closely related to vegetation physiological state. In this
study multispectral data of transmitted by peas leaves irradiance in
the (540-800) nm spectral range have been used to show the possibility
for detection of plant physiological stress caused by heavy metal
pollution. The effects of CdCl2 applied in different concentration are
associated with plant chlorophyll and carotenoid variations.
Quantification of
environmental and
human health impacts from fertilizer production in Bulgaria
S. Kostova, A. Grancharova, D. Boiadjiev, I. Grancharov, A. Lekova
10
Abstract. The goal of this paper is to present some of the existing in
the literature methods for quantitative assessment of harmful impacts
of production emissions on the human health and environment. The
methods are integrated in a general methodological framework. The
proposed framework is applied to damage assessment and decision making
in production of nitrogen fertilizer in Bulgaria.
Solar activity impact
on the natural
gamma background – June 2004
V. Miloslavov
19
Abstract: This paper presents data from long observations of the gamma
background on the territory of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences –
Institute of Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy (BAS-INRNE), Sofia,
over the period from 01..06 till 30.06.2004, processed according to the
Method of natural background precise measurements. Results were
compared with the Internet data for solar wind – speed and proton
density for the same period. An impressive correspondence was found,
which was explained with the dependence of the natural gamma background
on values, related to the Sun’s condition.
Pro and contra
transgenic varieties
M. Yankulov 25
Abstract: With the development of genetics and plant breeding,
increases the possibility in a variety’s genetical complex to be
included a gene from another plant or even animal species. This
extraordinary - from our point of view - scientifical intervention in
the natural process of reproduction and development of living
organisms, generates among people a certain fear, that the consummation
of a product, deriving from such a variety, may represent a threat to
mankind’s genetical future. When we oppose to the intention of using
transgenic varieties in agricultural production, we should take into
consideration that any genetical improvement of a plant or animal
species, either in the process of natural evolution or by means of
conventional selection, is impossible without the modification of a
specimen’s genetical constitution or of genetical structure of an
entire population. These genetical modifications are the consequences
of mutation, removal or addition of genes, or of genes` new combination
and recombination in a specimen’s genetical complex, as well as the
combination of entire chromosome sets of two or more plant species.
These modifications can be accomplished in two basic manners: sexual
and asexual. In reference to the usage of plants` natural sexual
process, the gene transfer may only be accomplished between species of
close relation, whereas in genetic laboratories there is even possible
genes to be transferred from animal to plant species and contrariwise.
Exactly this possibility causes the inconvenience in peoples` minds and
generates the fear of using transgenic varieties. Howsoever, is the
apprehension that transgenic varieties and their products may present a
ganger for human’s and domestic animals` genetic future, still
justified? Taking into consideration that including alien genes into
peoples` or animals` genome by means of food is impossible, leads us to
the conclusion, that transgenic varieties are as innocuous as others,
resultant from conventional methods of selection.
Diversity of soil
microbial
communities in Livingston island – Antarctica
Y. Raykovska, V. Chipeva, Y. Topalova, N. Chipev, P. Moncheva
28
Abstract: Microbiological analysis of three Antarctic soil examples
from Livingston Island was performed. The quantity of microorganisms
from different systematic groups (bacteria, actinomycetes, yeasts, and
fungi) as well as physiological groups (from nitrogen cycle,
cellulose-degrading and 2,4-DNP utilizing microorganisms) was
determined. It is shown that all systematic groups of microorganisms –
bacteria, actinomycetes, yeasts and fungi present in soil in Livingston
Island. The number of bacteria predominates over the number of the
other groups. The numbers of microorganisms from the physiological
groups, which participate in a cycle of nitrogen is great. The soil of
Livingston possesses potential to degrade phenols and its derivatives.
Sorption of copper and
cobalt ions by
species of genus Penicillium
K. Tsekova, V. Dencheva, M. Ianis, S. Ganeva
36
Abstract: Living and non-living biomass of three species of genus
Penicillium were used for sorption of copper and cobalt ions from
aqueous solutions. The biomass of P. cyclopium seemed to be the best
biosorbent for the ions investigated. P. cyclopium living cells
accumulated copper and cobalt ions by two processes: the first, which
was metabolism – independent, was presumably cation binding to the cell
surface and this was followed by slowly uptake of relatively small
amounts of the cations. The killing of the fungal biomass in boiling
water decreased the uptake of copper and cobalt ions up to 20 and 12 %,
resp. In this case the process ran as an adsorption of the ions on the
cells surface. Linear plots of log (qf – qt) versus t showed that the
kinetics of the sorption of the both ions on P. cyclopium follows the
Lagergren equation. The Kad values were calculated to be 3,62.10-2 and
3,46.10-2 min-1 for the copper and cobalt ions, resp.
Dynamics of
sedimentation of ferric
ions in biodisk reactor
L. Nikolov, V. Mamatarkova
42
Abstract. Formation and increase of quantity of sediments in laboratory
scale biodisk reactors has been investigated. Due to negligible
difference between the content of main components of biofilms of
Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and jarosites, the basic results have
been obtained using experimental data from published studies on
biofilms. Thus it has been found that the velocity of jarosite
accumulation in the biodisk reactors did not depend on iron ions
concentration and rate of oxidation. On this basis, zero order kinetics
of sedimentation process has been assumed.
Bioprocess engineering
“bio-ag” of the
Institute of mechanical process engineering at the University of
Karlsruhe
Cl. Posten 52
Abstract: The paper is to present the R&D activity of the
Bioprocess Engineering "Bio-AG" division of the IMPE at the Karlsruhe
University (Germany). The main trends of the activity are determined as
advanced research in three main directions - clean and environmental
friendly operations, production of compounds with high degree of
reduction or antimicrobial activity and cheap outdoor production. The
specificity of the main bioprocess systems studied in each direction
like photobioprocesses and particle-processes is revealed and main
achievements are outlined. Some of original apparatus designs are
discussed. The sources of R&D financing are analyzed and the
experience to involve the industry in the fundamental studies is
shared.
Genetic resources of
the English oak
(Quercus robur l.) in northern Bulgaria and possibilities for their
conservation
G. Hinkov 59
Abstract: Widely spread in the past the forests of English oak (Quercus
robur L.) in northern Bulgaria recently are threatened by extinction.
This imposes investigation on the available genetic fund and taking
measures for its conservation and restoration. On the base of already
existing information and personal studies genetic resources for “in
situ” conservation - seed stands, reserves, natural parks, protected
sides and “ex situ” conservation – progeny and provenance trails, are
pointed out. Recommendations for differentiation of seed regions for
the English oak, as well as concrete activities according to the
pointed out conservation categories, are presented.
Ecological and
forestry
characteristics of the “Yulen” reserve
V. Kolev 65
Abstract: The Mediteranean influence, the high altitudes, the steep and
ravine relief, the silicate soils , ”Demyanica” river and its
tributaries play an important role at the formation of the sites and
types of conifer forests in the reserve “Yulen”. Depending on their
biological peculiarities the conifer trees form mixed and pure stands
at different exposures, altitudes inclinations and soils.