Impact of waste on biodiversity
Modern environmental problems associated with environmental pollution and growing climate change have an impact on the species diversity of the planet. Landfills of household waste only exacerbate the situation.
When stored in layers of garbage under the influence of internal physical and chemical processes and external conditions, new hazardous substances and microorganisms are formed. They penetrate deep into the landfill, or rather, into the leachate, which is formed during the interaction of waste with atmospheric precipitation. The terms of the leachate release, depending on the hydrogeological structure of the site, can vary from 1 year (for sandy soils) to 25 years (for clay) after burial.
When stored in layers of garbage under the influence of internal physical and chemical processes and external conditions, new hazardous substances and microorganisms are formed. They penetrate deep into the landfill, or rather, into the leachate, which is formed during the interaction of waste with atmospheric precipitation. The terms of the leachate release, depending on the hydrogeological structure of the site, can vary from 1 year (for sandy soils) to 25 years (for clay) after burial.
Landfill “Trostenetsky” near Minsk. Photo by Vladimir Zhdanovich, sputnik.by
Plants in landfills
Toxins from landfills first enter the soil cover. Soil is the least mobile medium, which has certain self-purification functions and a large sorption capacity. It manifests itself as a powerful and long-term source of secondary pollution. As a result, degradation and violation of the ecological function of the soil, mineralization of humus, and a decrease in fertility occur. Microorganisms are the first to respond to all changes in the soil. Behind them is the plant world.
Changed landscape at the landfill “Trostenetsky”. Photo by Vladimir Zhdanovich, sputnik.by
Plants that are more resistant to adverse conditions populate the polluted area. In Belarus, these are invasive species. Their seeds are brought to the territory of dumps by birds. The formation of a warmer climate in our country and, in general, an increased air temperature during the decay of organic waste contribute to the active germination of seedlings.
Plants are among the first to respond to soil contamination in landfills. Photo by Vladimir Zhdanovich, sputnik.by
“Foreigners” aggressively capture new lands, displacing native plant species. Near the landfills, such “conquerors” are Echinocystis lobata, Canadian goldenrod, and Common ragweed.
“Most of the aggressive invasive species entered the territory of the republic in the middle of the last century. It is noteworthy that the vast majority of them were deliberately introduced as ornamental or fodder. However, their usefulness turned out to be less than the harmful effect on the biota, which, first of all, manifests itself in a decrease in the biological diversity of both plant communities and biocenoses in general. This is a strong argument for the development and effective functioning of legislative acts regulating the deliberate introduction of useful plants carried out by the population to meet their own needs and requirements, and often for the sake of interest. The consequences of such ill-conceived actions can be unpredictable,” wrote Sofya Dmitrieva, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Chief Researcher of the Institute of Experimental Botany named after V.F. Kuprevich of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, in scientific work “Regional problems of biodiversity conservation and biosafety in connection with biological invasions”.
Echinocystis lobata is rapidly conquering lands in Belarus. Photo: plantarium.ru
The name Echinocystis lobata comes from the Greek words “hedgehog” and “bubble”. People call it a mad cucumber. It is an annual herbaceous plant from the gourd family. It is difficult to eradicate it.
Using plants as supports, Echinocystis lobata easily wins the competition for sunlight. By releasing alleloptically active substances into the environment, it destroys native species and is able to quickly increase the area of occupied territories. It freely populates spontaneous dumps, landfills with solid domestic waste, wet and damp forest edges, areas with thickets of shrubs.
Using plants as supports, Echinocystis lobata easily wins the competition for sunlight. By releasing alleloptically active substances into the environment, it destroys native species and is able to quickly increase the area of occupied territories. It freely populates spontaneous dumps, landfills with solid domestic waste, wet and damp forest edges, areas with thickets of shrubs.
“In Belarus, Echinocystis lobata was first seen in 1963. Today it is already included in the list of the most aggressive invasive species that actively invade natural and disturbed natural communities. Its largest ranges are in the eastern and southern parts of the country, although in recent years it has also been widely distributed in the central regions. According to the State Cadastre of the Flora, more than 1300 places of growth of Echinocystis on an area of over 135 hectares have been identified in Belarus,” tells Valery Prokhorov, Chief Researcher of the Institute of Experimental Botany named after V.F. Kuprevich of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Doctor of Biological Sciences.
Thickets of Canadian goldenrod. Where this plant grows, nothing else grows. Photo: findle.top/photos
Canadian goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) is no less aggressive towards local plants. People call it a bagman (“sumnik”). In recent years, it has been actively introduced into disturbed ecotopes (landfills, wastelands, forest edges, suburban forests, reclaimed swamps). At the same time, goldenrod quite often forms monodominant thickets of considerable area, displacing almost all other plants.
It is a tenacious invasive species actively producing seeds with a 95% germination rate. Its root system produces inhibitors — substances that inhibit the growth of other plants. Following them, the majority of meadow insects, birds, and small mammals disappear. The situation is aggravated by the fact that the goldenrod is not edible for our fauna. Moreover, by reaching the forest and populating it, the “foreigner” suppresses the development of natural vegetation and subsequently destroys the food base for local animals.
It is a tenacious invasive species actively producing seeds with a 95% germination rate. Its root system produces inhibitors — substances that inhibit the growth of other plants. Following them, the majority of meadow insects, birds, and small mammals disappear. The situation is aggravated by the fact that the goldenrod is not edible for our fauna. Moreover, by reaching the forest and populating it, the “foreigner” suppresses the development of natural vegetation and subsequently destroys the food base for local animals.
Beatiful, but treacherous goldenrod. Video: minpriroda.gov.by
Common ragweed is the most dangerous alien plant, the pollen of which is very allergenic. It is included in the quarantine lists because it harms not only human health, but also poses a threat to dairy farming. If a cow eats such a weed, then its milk will acquire a sharp and unpleasant smell and taste.
Prior to global warming, ragweed only survived in landfills and composting sites due to elevated temperatures. Today, it grows mainly along highways, in particular in the south of Belarus.
Prior to global warming, ragweed only survived in landfills and composting sites due to elevated temperatures. Today, it grows mainly along highways, in particular in the south of Belarus.
Common ragweed is a dangerous allergenic plant. Photo: glavagronom.ru
“Among the factors contributing to the invasion of alien species is the anthropogenic disturbance of the surrounding landscape, which, in turn, correlates with its fragmentation. For example, it has been established that, other things being equal, the risk of invasions of alien plant species increases in anthropogenic landscapes as their fragmentation and heterogeneity increase. Technogenically disturbed landscapes can act as a kind of springboard for the further spread of goldenrods,” the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Belarus outlined the state of affairs in the memo “Carrying out measures to regulate the distribution and number of Canadian and giant goldenrods.”
The oldest solid waste landfill “Prudische” near the Chizhovka microdistrict of Minsk.
Photo by Vladimir Zhdanovich, sputnik.by
Landfills as animal habitats
Large landfills, authorized and spontaneous dumps of household waste are becoming a food base for some animal species. In international studies there are 98 species of vertebrates (54 species of birds, 34 species of mammals, 5 species of amphibians and 5 — reptiles) that feed on landfills. In Belarus, they can be wolves, foxes, domestic cats, dogs, rodents and birds.
птиц
54
млекопитающих
34
амфибий
5
рептилий
5
Gulls are long-time inhabitants of the capital's landfill “Trostenetsky”. Photo: planetabelarus.by
The country has not yet had a full-scale study on the impact of landfills on biodiversity. But the National Academy of Sciences assured that such work is underway. Today, only a few scientific works have been published that raise this issue.
Thus, scientists observed the avifauna at the largest landfill near Minsk “Trostenetsky”. Throughout the year, it is regularly and massively visited by birds of the gull family. There were registered 7 species of gulls: Caspian gull, Herring gull, Black-headed gull, Common gull, Lesser black-backed gull, Mediterranean gull, Great black-backed gull.
White stork is not a rare guest in those places. The fact is that on landfills all year round you can find organic remains that birds eat to ensure population growth and replenish energy reserves during migration. This information was recorded in the “Monitoring of the bird population at the solid waste landfills of Minsk in 2016”, published in the collection of articles of the International Scientific and Practical Conference “Zoological Readings-2017” at Grodna State University (responsible editor — O.V. Yanchurevich).
Thus, scientists observed the avifauna at the largest landfill near Minsk “Trostenetsky”. Throughout the year, it is regularly and massively visited by birds of the gull family. There were registered 7 species of gulls: Caspian gull, Herring gull, Black-headed gull, Common gull, Lesser black-backed gull, Mediterranean gull, Great black-backed gull.
White stork is not a rare guest in those places. The fact is that on landfills all year round you can find organic remains that birds eat to ensure population growth and replenish energy reserves during migration. This information was recorded in the “Monitoring of the bird population at the solid waste landfills of Minsk in 2016”, published in the collection of articles of the International Scientific and Practical Conference “Zoological Readings-2017” at Grodna State University (responsible editor — O.V. Yanchurevich).
White storks are also frequent visitors to city landfills. Photo: planetabelarus.by
“Food available throughout the year and a warm microclimate attract many animals to waste storage sites. Against the background of large-scale pollution and transformation of the environment, as well as ongoing climate changes, the process of the formation of the fauna of these climatic biotopes is of undoubted research interest, especially in relation to the most mobile group of animals — birds,” writes another group of scientists from the Scientific and Practical Center for Bioresources of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. They outlined their observations in the work “Some results and prospects of studying the bird population of waste landfills — areas of increased environmental risk”, which they presented at the I International Scientific and Practical Conference “Actual Problems of Wildlife Protection in Belarus and Adjacent Regions” in Minsk in 2018.
The number of birds that forage for food at the landfills all year round is growing. Photo: planetabelarus.by
The researchers note that the increasing number of large birds that use landfills for feeding all year round brings a high environmental risk to these areas. Therefore, they emphasize, it is necessary to organize continuous monitoring of the state of flora and fauna in landfills. Its results should be used to form systems for managing and protecting biodiversity and ensuring environmental safety.
Analysis of the results of 159 scientific studies conducted in various regions of the world from 1973 to 2016 showed that the impact of landfills on the species diversity of the species inhabiting them can be both positive and negative. This influence will only grow, because the volume of waste generation increases every year. It is expected that by 2050 its global production will rise by about 70% to 3.4 billion metric tons. Of these, 20% will be recycled and the rest will go to landfills.
Analysis of the results of 159 scientific studies conducted in various regions of the world from 1973 to 2016 showed that the impact of landfills on the species diversity of the species inhabiting them can be both positive and negative. This influence will only grow, because the volume of waste generation increases every year. It is expected that by 2050 its global production will rise by about 70% to 3.4 billion metric tons. Of these, 20% will be recycled and the rest will go to landfills.
Waste generation map in kg per capita per day. There is no information available for countries marked white. Data from the World Economic Forum shows how animals use landfills around the world and the percentage of studies on the topic. Source: sciencedirect.com
Of the positive consequences for animals, scientists call an improvement in the condition of the body, reproductive ability, an increase in population size and survival rates. Which, in turn, can lead to intraspecific struggles between those who feed on waste and those who do not use landfills as food sources.
For example, the increase in the population of the sacred ibis (Africa), which hunts on landfills, poses a threat to the Cape cormorant, which is already on the verge of extinction . A wild cat preys on the offspring of a bird and thereby undermines the population of the species. For the same reason, an increase in the population of the Kelp gulls (Larus dominicanus) may affect the decline in the number of Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) and other seabirds. This also includes seagulls, which attack marine mammals in order to tear off part of the skin and subcutaneous fat. By itself, this does not lead to the death of whales, but it has an extremely negative effect on the population: such attacks do not allow females to feed their cubs normally, and they migrate to other areas.
For example, the increase in the population of the sacred ibis (Africa), which hunts on landfills, poses a threat to the Cape cormorant, which is already on the verge of extinction . A wild cat preys on the offspring of a bird and thereby undermines the population of the species. For the same reason, an increase in the population of the Kelp gulls (Larus dominicanus) may affect the decline in the number of Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) and other seabirds. This also includes seagulls, which attack marine mammals in order to tear off part of the skin and subcutaneous fat. By itself, this does not lead to the death of whales, but it has an extremely negative effect on the population: such attacks do not allow females to feed their cubs normally, and they migrate to other areas.
The negative consequences of landfills include a high risk of animal poisoning, foreign bodies and pathogen contamination, which can turn these places into ecological traps for their species.
Landfills can be a source of diseases that will begin to circulate within the population, go beyond the original habitat and be transmitted further along the food chain, including to humans.
Landfills can be a source of diseases that will begin to circulate within the population, go beyond the original habitat and be transmitted further along the food chain, including to humans.
Direct and indirect impacts of dumps on vertebrate species. Source: sciencedirect.com
And, as we saw in Belarus, landfills can be a source of invasive plant and animal species. A large accumulation of birds on them can lead to a collision of aircraft and other troubles.
With a lack or absence of natural food sources, animals will come to places where waste accumulates. Therefore, today it is so important to think about the future consequences of natural dumps for the environment.
With a lack or absence of natural food sources, animals will come to places where waste accumulates. Therefore, today it is so important to think about the future consequences of natural dumps for the environment.