Koroleva I.M. The status of whitefish population from Chuna Lake in the Lapland Biosphere Reserve Russia. International Journal of Environmental Research. 2008, V.2, №2, p. 111-124.

The status o f whitefish population pelagic zone) and whitefish (benthophage, inhabit profundal zone) of Lake Chuna reliably showed higher Cu and Ni concentrations in whitefish (p<0.05). Copper and nickel don’t accumulate in food chains; their concentrations depend largely on the load level, which depends on the ecology of species. It should be noted also that metals concentrations in organs ofwhitefish varied within a wider range, compared to that of trout (Fig.10). CONCLUSION The development of the mining complex in the Murmansk region is accompanied by intensive air pollution. Pollutants are able to be transported by air masses to considerable distances from their sources. Having been deposited on water bodies and catchment area surface, the pollutants gradually accumulate in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems to sub-lethal affect the living organisms.To our opinion, the simplification ofthe whitefish population structure in Lake Chuna (namely, age groups and lifetime reduction, increased share of younger fish, higher number of non-spawning fish) recorded over a 50-year period of study, has been caused by a long-term impact of small doses of pollutants. The intensified energy exchange induced by the change of the habitat, brings about a higher growth rate and earlier maturation ofwhitefish and lower size limits (Kashulin, et al, 1999; Reshetnikov, et al, 1967). Cu 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1,0 0,5 Trout; Whitefish Cu Whitefish Cu С оО Whitefish gills 1,2 1,0 0,8 0,6 0,4 0,2 0,0 liver kiney % s- 43 S С оО Ni Trout Whitefish Ni Ni Trout Whitefish Fig. 10. The Cu and Ni concentrations in organs of trout and whitefish of Lake Chuna (mkg/g dry weight); □- Mean, D- ±SE, I - ±SD, o- Outliers, * - Extremes 4 3 2 0 122