Extension of the soil monitoring network via tea bag initiatives: A 3000 km latitudinal gradient in European Russia.

The increasing popularity and recognition of citizen science approaches to monitor soil health have promoted the idea to assess soil microbial decomposition based on a standard litter sample - tea bags. Although tea bag initiatives are expanding across the world, the global datasets remain biased in regard to investigating regions and biomes. This study aimed to expand the tea bag initiative to European Russia, which remains a "white spot" on the tea bag index map. We also added urban soils into the analysis, which were underestimated previously. We compared the standard and local tea brands to explore possible adaptations of the standard approach to regions with limited access to standard tea brands. The established monitoring network included natural and urban sites in six vegetation zones along a 3000 km latitudinal gradient. There was a very close linear relationship (R2 = 0.94-0.98) in the mass loss of alternative and standard tea litter. The mass loss of green tea in soil along the latitudinal gradient showed an increasing trend from north to south. Variations in the microbial decomposition of green tea were mainly explained by the latitudinal gradient, with low soil temperature identified as key factors hampering decomposition. Mass loss of the more recalcitrant rooibos tea was mainly determined via land use, with decomposition rates on average 1.3 times higher in urban soils. This pattern was in line with higher soil temperatures and pH in urban sites compared to natural counterparts. The findings of our study could prove valuable in extending the tea bag network of soil decomposition assessment into broader territories, including urban areas. Additionally, they could facilitate the involvement of citizen science and complete the database for C cycle modeling depending on climatic conditions.

[Effect of radio-ecological conditions in the ChNPP exclusion zone on morphofunctional state and responsiveness of organs and tissues of laboratory animals].

The state of hematopoietic, reproductive and endocrine systems of the organisms of male rats and their offspring in generations (F0-F1-F2) was studied, and the sensitivity of an organism to the action of carcinogen (Af mice) after a stay in the ChNPP exclusion zone was analyzed. It was ascertained that the most significant changes of the morphofunctional state of the animals were observed in the II generation (F2), which remained for a long period under the conditions of radioactive contamination. We have revealed an increased number of leukocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and, especially, monocytes as against while the decrease in the number of erythrocytes and haemoglobin content; the decrease of thyroid function and cortical layer of the adrenals as opposed to while the increase in the relative weight of testes and their epididymides and the decrease in the number of spermatocytes and spermatozoa in the testis tissue. The exposure of Af mice in the exclusion zone increases the processes of mutagenesis and carcinogenesis, and changes the organism response to standardized action of chemical carcinogen. The increase in the exposure time of animals intensifies metabolic processes in a cell and increases their sensitivity to the action of xenobiotics.