Wildlife in Chernobyl
The Chernobyl accident in 1986 has affected wildlife drastically, but research has shown that nature has been exhibiting the potential to adapt in the zone of radiation caused by the Chernobyl Disaster. The return of wildlife to the region near the world's worst nuclear power accident has been astounding because many people assumed the subsequent release of hundreds of tons of radioactive material would turn much of the 1,100-square-mile evacuated area around Chernobyl into a nuclear dead zone. This makes the return of wildlife in the area an apparent paradox that biologists are trying to measure and understand. Some researchers insist that by halting the destruction of habitat, the Chernobyl disaster helped wildlife flourish while others say animals may be filtering into the zone, but they appear to suffer malformations and other ills. This is the main source of dissension between researchers because although it is true that animals are returning to Chernobyl, the question remains about whether or not they are really healthy.
Robert J. Baker, a biologist from Texas Tech University, was one of the first Western scientists to report that Chernobyl had become a wildlife haven. He announced that the mice and other rodents he studied at Chernobyl since the early 1990s have shown remarkable tolerance for elevated radiation levels. Baker and his colleagues reported that the disaster had not reduced the diversity or abundance of a dozen species of rodents near the Chernobyl plant and that genetic tests showed Chernobyl's animals suffered some damage to their DNA, but overall it didn't seem to hurt wildlife populations.
Robert J. Baker, a biologist from Texas Tech University, was one of the first Western scientists to report that Chernobyl had become a wildlife haven. He announced that the mice and other rodents he studied at Chernobyl since the early 1990s have shown remarkable tolerance for elevated radiation levels. Baker and his colleagues reported that the disaster had not reduced the diversity or abundance of a dozen species of rodents near the Chernobyl plant and that genetic tests showed Chernobyl's animals suffered some damage to their DNA, but overall it didn't seem to hurt wildlife populations.
In contrast, Timothy Mousseau of the University of South Carolina, a biologist who studies barn swallows and insects at Chernobyl, says that while wild animals have settled in the area, they have struggled to build new populations. Mousseau and his colleagues have painted a far more pessimistic picture. Their research reports that the barn swallows of Chernobyl are far from thriving. A high proportion of the birds he and his colleagues have examined suffer from radiation-induced sickness and genetic damage. In a study of 7,700 birds examined since 1991 they found 11 rare or unknown abnormalities in a population of Chernobyl's barn swallows. Roughly one-third of 248 Chernobyl nestlings studied were found to have ill-formed beaks, albino feathers, bent tail feathers and other malformations. Their research also reports increased genetic damage, reduced reproductive rates and dramatically higher mortality rates for birds living near Chernobyl.
Mousseau and his colleagues' research on insects reported that an abundance of invertebrates decreased with increasing radiation, even after controlling for factors such as soil type, habitat and height of vegetation, which implies that the ecological effects of radiation from Chernobyl on animals are greater than previously assumed. Mousseau suggests animals migrate to Chernobyl, but rapidly die off due to the fact that relatively low-level radiation reduces the level of antioxidants in the blood, which can lead to cell damage.
While scientists continue to debate on how animals are responding to the radiation left by Chernobyl, one thing is for sure. Animals are reacting to the environment left to them by human error. They have no other option but to suffer the consequences of human decisions and it is up to us to rectify these mistakes.
While scientists continue to debate on how animals are responding to the radiation left by Chernobyl, one thing is for sure. Animals are reacting to the environment left to them by human error. They have no other option but to suffer the consequences of human decisions and it is up to us to rectify these mistakes.
"One of the great ironies of this particular tragedy is that many animals are doing considerably better than when the humans were there."
- Timothy Mousseau
This link will take you to the 60 minutes article and video for "Chernobyl: The Catastrophe that never ended." The video and article include an interview with biologist Timothy Mousseau and gives viewers a look into his lab and what his research in Chernobyl aims to accomplish.
Videos
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1. Birch, Douglas. 2007. "Chernobyl Area Becomes Wildlife Haven." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 07 June 2007. Web. 15 Nov. 2014.
2. Fountain, Henry. 2007. "Did Chernobyl Leave an Eden For Wildlife?" The New York Times. The New York Times, 27 Aug. 2007. Web. 29 Nov. 2014.
3. Møller, A.P, Mousseau, T.A., Lope, F., Saino, N. 2007. "Elevated Frequency of Abnormalities in Barn Swallows from Chernobyl." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 17 Apr. 2007. Web. 15 Nov. 2014.
4. Mousseau, T. A., Møller, A.P., 2009. "Reduced Abundance of Insects and Spiders Linked to Radiation at Chernobyl 20 Years after the Accident." National Center for Biotechnology Information. NCIB, 18 Mar. 2009. Web. 15 Nov. 2014.
5. Ravilious, Kate. "Despite Mutations, Chernobyl Wildlife Is Thriving." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 26 Apr. 2006. Web. 29 Nov. 2014.
2. Fountain, Henry. 2007. "Did Chernobyl Leave an Eden For Wildlife?" The New York Times. The New York Times, 27 Aug. 2007. Web. 29 Nov. 2014.
3. Møller, A.P, Mousseau, T.A., Lope, F., Saino, N. 2007. "Elevated Frequency of Abnormalities in Barn Swallows from Chernobyl." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 17 Apr. 2007. Web. 15 Nov. 2014.
4. Mousseau, T. A., Møller, A.P., 2009. "Reduced Abundance of Insects and Spiders Linked to Radiation at Chernobyl 20 Years after the Accident." National Center for Biotechnology Information. NCIB, 18 Mar. 2009. Web. 15 Nov. 2014.
5. Ravilious, Kate. "Despite Mutations, Chernobyl Wildlife Is Thriving." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 26 Apr. 2006. Web. 29 Nov. 2014.