Biodiversity Risks for Belarus Connected with the UV Climate Change

Abstract

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) has a significant impact on human health, state of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles and air quality. International agreements on the protection of the ozone layer have contributed to the development of research in this field and in the expansion of the monitoring network for measurement of the ozone layer depletion and the total ozone. The study of various factors that affect ultraviolet radiation is given great attention. A close link and a mutual influence of climate change and changes in the ozone layer have shown during recent studies. Moreover, changes in the ozone layer lead to changes in UVR and influence on biodiversity. The identification of these relationships, the study of the state of the ozone layer and the intensity of UV radiation has become one of the aims of this article. Another aim of the article is to assess the impact of changing UVR levels over the territory of Belarus on the development of elements of wildlife and agricultural productivity. The analysis showed that the main object of exposure for large animals is the organs of vision, whereas for small animals the degree of their coloring is essential. The basic composition of wild vegetation in all landscapes has changed. Typical crops for Belarus were replaced, which led to a change in agricultural technology. This is due to changes in the distribution of climatic zones on the territory of Belarus. Studies have also shown that over the territory of Belarus, unlike the Western Europe, there is still no restoration of the ozone layer, which increases the risks of exposure of the UVR to biodiversity.