Rm. Alexakhin et al., THE EFFECTS OF ACUTE IRRADIATION ON A FOREST BIOGEOCENOSIS - EXPERIMENTAL-DATA, MODEL AND PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS FOR ACCIDENTAL CASES, Science of the total environment, 157(1-3), 1994, pp. 357-369
The effects of acute irradiations of a mixed pine and birch forest in
spring and autumn with a high power point-type gamma radiation source
(1180 TBq Cs-137) have been described. Radiation dose relationships fo
r numerous response reactions of woody and herbaceous plants (growth a
nd development of organs of woody plants, cytogenetical, physiological
and biochemical changes in trees, reproductive potential of plants, d
amage and dying off of the forest as a biogeocenosis on the whole) hav
e been calculated. Post-radiation recovery of the forest was investiga
ted. Changes involving the secondary reactions related to radiation da
mage and death of the trees are presented. A model for radiation damag
e of forests has been designed. Examples are given on the usage of thi
s model in the description of radiation effects in forests in the even
t of accidental releases of radionuclides into environment.