Impact of gas flaring on algae in Yugra raised bogs

The research was aimed at studying the impact of thermal radiation from gas flaring on algal communities in raised bogs in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug - Yugra, Russia. The qualitative and quantitative parameters of the studied communities were evaluated at different distances from the flare that had been operating continuously for more than thirty years. The two-year algological field study identified 128 algae of seven phyla, inhabiting the northern sector of the circular area around the gas flare. The most numerous groups in the samples were green algae Chаrophyta, followed by diatoms, euglena and cyanobacteria. The lowest values of qualitative and quantitative indicators were observed in algae 100 and 50 m away from the gas flare. The species diversity and abundance of algae were maximal in the control site dominated by Charophyta. In cyanobacteria, Chrysophytaand diatoms, all the indicators increased with distance from the flare. Euglena were evenly distributed over the sites, which indicates a high tolerance to oil and organic pollution...