The use of the USSR biosphere reserves in implementing integrated background monitoring of the state of biota

Assessment of changes in the state of biota resulting from environmental pollution is one of the most important objectives of ecological monitoring. Spatial and temporal scales determine the pecularities of implementation. Symptoms of damage to biota should be examined on the local level (in impact zones) along pollution concentration gradients, revealing their dynamics over reasonably short periods (about 1 year). Standard biological observations should be implemented on the regional and global levels in representative biotest sites remote from pollutant emission sources in order to indicate regional ecosystem responses to background pollution (time period about 3-5 years). A minimum program is proposed to include observations of the species composition and density of epiphytic lichens, observations of the index of primary production of terrestrial ecosystems, and observations of pollutant bioaccumulation by biological land cover. The UNESCO biosphere reserve network should be used as a system for early detection of global changes in the state of biota, including those due to global and regional environmental pollution. It would be expedient to use this global network of biotest sites for implementation of the minimum biological observation program.