THE HIERARCHICAL SYSTEM OF THE BIOLOGICAL INDICATION OF SOILS CONTAMINATED BY HEAVY-METALS

A hierarchical system of the biological indication of soils contaminat ed by heavy metals is suggested, It comprises the response of soil bio ta at various levels of its organization. At the precell level, the ac tivity of respirator enzyme ascorbatoxidase in soils is determined. At the cell level, the indicative characteristic is the effect of pollut ants on microbial cells. At the population level, it is the behavior o f separate populations of soil microorganisms (i.e., streptomycetes). At the cenotic level, it is the structural and functional characterist ics of soil microbial communities. The degree of toxic effect Is calcu lated via the standardization of studied characteristics.