Radioecological Studies of the Lake Frog in the Reservoirs of the Middle Urals

Abstract

A study of the accumulation of radionuclides 90Sr, 134Cs, 137Cs by a lake frog (Pelophylax ridibundus Pall., 1771) living in the areas of the reservoirs of the Middle Urals was carried out. The variability of size and mass indicators and concentrations of radionuclides in animals in the surveyed area was noted. Increased concentrations of 137Cs and 134Cs were detected in some amphibian representatives compared to the average values. A significant decrease in the concentration of 90Sr in frogs with an increase in raw body weight was found on a large statistical material. Analysis of the data obtained on the concentrations of 90Sr and 137Cs in frogs of different sexes did not reveal a significant difference in the accumulation of both radionuclides between male and female animals, as well as in the accumulation of 90Sr by striata and strieless amphibians. It is shown that radionuclides 90Sr and 137Cs enter the animal body from water much more than from the ground, while with an increase in the concentration of radionuclide in the habitat, the coefficients of their transition into the animal body decrease.