Editing Chernobyl exclusion zone (section)

===Flora and fauna===
{{See also|Chernobyl disaster#Environmental impact|Effects of the Chernobyl disaster#Long-term effects on plant and animal health}}[[File:Chernobyl fox 2016 - 3.jpg|thumb|A wild fox being fed by a tourist in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone]]
There has been an ongoing scientific debate about the extent to which [[flora]] and [[fauna]] of the zone were affected by the radioactive contamination that followed the accident.<ref name="Zimmer"/><ref name="Baker"/> As noted by Baker and Wickliffe, one of many issues is differentiating between negative effects of Chernobyl radiation and effects of changes in farming activities resulting from human evacuation.<ref name="Baker"/>

{{blockquote|"Twenty-five years after the Chernobyl meltdown, the scientific community has not yet been able to provide a clear understanding of the spectrum of ecological effects created by that radiological disaster."<ref name="Baker">{{cite journal |last1=Baker |first1=Robert J. |last2=Wickliffe |first2=Jeffrey K. |title=Wildlife and Chernobyl: The scientific evidence for minimal impacts |journal=Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists |date=14 April 2011 |url=https://thebulletin.org/wildlife-and-chernobyl-scientific-evidence-minimal-impacts |access-date=20 June 2018 |archive-date=14 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214222328/http://thebulletin.org/wildlife-and-chernobyl-scientific-evidence-minimal-impacts |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}

Near the facility, a dense cloud of radioactive dust killed off a large area of [[Scots pine]] trees; the rusty orange color of the dead trees led to the nickname "[[Red Forest|The Red Forest]]" (''Рудий ліс'').<ref name="Baker"/> The Red Forest was among the world's most radioactive places; to reduce the hazard, the Red Forest was bulldozed and the highly radioactive wood was buried, though the soil continues to emit significant radiation.<ref name="Bird">{{cite journal |last1=Bird |first1=Winifred A. |last2=Little |first2=Jane Braxton |title=A Tale of Two Forests: Addressing Postnuclear Radiation at Chernobyl and Fukushima |journal=Environmental Health Perspectives |date=March 2013 |volume=121 |issue=3 |pages=a78–a85 |pmc=3621180 |doi=10.1289/ehp.121-a78|pmid=23454631 }}</ref><ref name="Mycio">{{cite book |last1=Mycio |first1=M. |title=Wormwood Forest: A Natural History of Chernobyl |url=https://archive.org/details/wormwoodforest00mary |url-access=registration |date=2005 |publisher=Joseph Henry Press |location=Washington, DC|isbn=9780309094306 }}</ref> Other species in the same area, such as [[birch trees]], survived, indicating that plant species may vary considerably in their sensitivity to radiation.<ref name="Baker"/>
[[File:Horses in Chernobyl, Ukraine.jpg|thumb|right|Przewalski's horses in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. The [[Duga radar|Duga radar receiver]] can be seen in the background.]]
Cases of [[mutant]] deformity in animals of the zone include partial [[albinism]] and other external malformations in [[swallow]]s<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Møller|first1=A. P.|last2=Mousseau|first2=T. A.|title=Albinism and phenotype of barn swallows (''Hirundo rustica'') from Chernobyl|journal=[[Evolution (journal)|Evolution]]|date=October 2001|volume=55|issue=10|pages=2097–2104|doi=10.1554/0014-3820(2001)055[2097:aapobs]2.0.co;2|pmid=11761068|s2cid=20027410 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Møller|first1=A. P.|last2=Mousseau|first2=T. A.|last3=de Lope|first3=F.|last4=Saino|first4=N.|title=Elevated frequency of abnormalities in barn swallows from Chernobyl|journal=[[Biology Letters]]|date=22 August 2007|volume=3|issue=4|pages=414–417|doi=10.1098/rsbl.2007.0136|pmc=1994720|pmid=17439847}}
</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6946210.stm|title=Chernobyl 'not a wildlife haven'|last=Kinver|first=Mark|date=14 August 2007|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=31 October 2015}}</ref> and insect mutations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wissenskunst.ch/en/tschernobyl.htm |title=Cornelia Hesse Honegger: Aktuelles |publisher=Wissenskunst.ch |access-date=2015-10-31 |archive-date=13 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213133531/http://www.wissenskunst.ch/en/tschernobyl.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> A study of several hundred birds belonging to 48 different species also demonstrated that birds inhabiting highly radioactively contaminated areas had smaller brains compared to birds from clean areas.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Møller|first1=Anders Pape|last2=Bonisoli-Alquati|first2=Andea|last3=Rudolfsen|first3=Geir|last4=Mousseau|first4=Timothy A.|year=2011|title=Chernobyl Birds Have Smaller Brains|journal=[[PLoS ONE]]|volume=6|issue=2|pages=e16862|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0016862|pmc=3033907|pmid=21390202|bibcode=2011PLoSO...616862M|doi-access=free}}
</ref>

A reduction in the density and the abundance of animals in highly radioactively contaminated areas has been reported for several [[taxa]], including birds,<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Møller|first1=A. P.|last2=Mousseau|first2=T. A.|title=Species richness and abundance of forest birds in relation to radiation at Chernobyl|journal=[[Biology Letters]]|date=22 October 2007|volume=3|issue=5|pages=483–486|doi=10.1098/rsbl.2007.0226|pmc=2394539|pmid=17698449}}
</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Møller|first=A. P.|author2=T. A. Mousseau|title=Reduced abundance of raptors in radioactively contaminated areas near Chernobyl|journal=[[Journal of Ornithology]]|date=January 2009|volume=150|issue=1|pages=239–246|doi=10.1007/s10336-008-0343-5|bibcode=2009JOrni.150..239M |s2cid=34029630}}
</ref> insects, spiders,<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Møller|first1=Anders Pape|last2=Mousseau|first2=Timothy A.|year=2009|title=Reduced abundance of insects and spiders linked to radiation at Chernobyl 20 years after the accident|journal=[[Biology Letters]]|publication-date=18 March 2009|volume=5|issue=3|pages=356–359|doi=10.1098/rsbl.2008.0778|pmc=2679916|pmid=19324644}}
</ref> and mammals.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Møller|first1=Anders Pape|last2=Mousseau|first2=Timothy A.|title=Efficiency of bio-indicators for low-level radiation under field conditions|journal=[[Ecological Indicators]]|date=March 2011|volume=11|issue=2|pages=424–430|doi=10.1016/j.ecolind.2010.06.013|bibcode=2011EcInd..11..424M }}
</ref> In birds, which are an efficient [[bioindicator]], a negative correlation has been reported between background radiation and bird species richness.<ref name="Morelli">{{cite journal |last1=Morelli |first1=Federico |last2=Mousseau |first2=Timothy A. |last3=Møller |first3=Anders Pape |title=Cuckoos vs. top predators as prime bioindicators of biodiversity in disturbed environments |journal=Journal of Environmental Radioactivity |date=October 2017 |volume=177 |pages=158–164 |doi=10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.06.029 |pmid=28686944 |bibcode=2017JEnvR.177..158M |s2cid=40377542 }}</ref> Scientists such as Anders Pape Møller ([[University of Paris-Sud]]) and Timothy Mousseau ([[University of South Carolina]]) report that birds and smaller animals such as [[vole]]s may be particularly affected by radioactivity.<ref name="Wendle"/>

Møller is the first author on 9 of the 20 most-cited articles relating to the ecology, evolution and non-human biology in the Chernobyl area.<ref name="AR2021">{{cite journal |last1=Mousseau |first1=Timothy A. |title=The Biology of Chernobyl |journal=Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics |date=3 November 2021 |volume=52 |issue=1 |pages=87–109 |doi=10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-110218-024827 |s2cid=238723709 |issn=1543-592X |quote="Table 1"|doi-access=free }}</ref> However, some of Møller's research has been criticized as flawed.<ref name="Smith">{{cite journal |last1=Smith |first1=J. T. |title=Is Chernobyl radiation really causing negative individual and population-level effects on barn swallows? |journal=Biology Letters |date=23 February 2008 |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=63–64 |doi=10.1098/rsbl.2007.0430 |pmid=18042513 |pmc=2412919 }}</ref> Prior to his work at Chernobyl, Møller was accused of falsifying data in a 1998 paper about asymmetry in oak leaves, which he retracted in 2001.<ref name="Vogel">{{cite journal |last1=Vogel |first1=Gretchen |last2=Proffitt |first2=Fiona |last3=Stone |first3=Richard |title=Ecologists Rocked by Misconduct Finding |journal=Science |date=28 Jan 2004 |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/ecologists-rocked-misconduct-finding |access-date=17 February 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Borrell">{{cite journal |last1=Borrell |first1=Brendan |title=A Fluctuating Reality: Accused of fraud, Anders Pape Møller has traveled from superstar evolutionary biologist to pariah |journal=The Scientist |date=2007 |volume=21 |issue=1 |pages=26– |url=http://www.jorgenrabol.dk/files/thescientist1.pdf |access-date=17 February 2022 |archive-date=17 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217211258/http://www.jorgenrabol.dk/files/thescientist1.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="de Lope">{{cite journal |last1=Møller |first1=Anders P. |last2=de Lope |first2=F. |title=Herbivory Affects Developmental Instability of Stone Oak, Quercus rotundifolia |journal=Oikos |date=1998 |volume=82 |issue=2 |pages=246–252 |doi=10.2307/3546964 |jstor=3546964 |bibcode=1998Oikos..82..246M |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3546964 |access-date=17 February 2022 |issn=0030-1299|url-access=subscription }}{{Retracted|doi=10.1034/j.1600-0706.2001.920317.x|intentional=yes}}</ref> In 2004, the [[Danish Committees on Scientific Dishonesty]] (DCSD) reported that Møller was guilty of "scientific dishonesty". The [[French National Centre for Scientific Research]] (CNRS) subsequently concluded that there was insufficient evidence to establish either guilt or innocence.<ref name="Vogel"/><ref name="Higginbotham">{{cite magazine |last1=Higginbotham |first1=Adam |title=Is Chernobyl a Wild Kingdom or a Radioactive Den of Decay? |url=https://www.wired.com/2011/04/ff-chernobyl/ |access-date=17 February 2022 |magazine=Wired |date=April 14, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Odling-Smee">{{cite journal |last1=Odling-Smee |first1=Lucy |last2=Giles |first2=Jim |last3=Fuyuno |first3=Ichiko |last4=Cyranoski |first4=David |last5=Marris |first5=Emma |title=Where are they now? |journal=Nature |date=1 January 2007 |volume=445 |issue=7125 |pages=244–245 |doi=10.1038/445244a |pmid=17230161 |bibcode=2007Natur.445..244O |s2cid=4414512 |language=en |issn=1476-4687|doi-access=free }}</ref> Strongly held opinions about Møller and his work have contributed to the difficulty of reaching a scientific consensus on the effects of radiation on wildlife in the Exclusion Zone.<ref name="Zimmer">{{cite journal |last1=Zimmer |first1=Katarina |title=Scientists can't agree about Chernobyl's impact on wildlife |journal=Knowable Magazine |date=7 February 2022 |doi=10.1146/knowable-020422-1 |url=https://knowablemagazine.org/article/food-environment/2022/scientists-cant-agree-about-chernobyls-impact-wildlife |doi-access=free |access-date=17 February 2022}}</ref>

More recently, the populations of large mammals have increased due to a significant reduction of human interference.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4923342.stm|title=Wildlife defies Chernobyl radiation|last=Mulvey|first=Stephen|date=20 April 2006|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=31 October 2015}}</ref><ref name="Wendle">{{cite news|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/060418-chernobyl-wildlife-thirty-year-anniversary-science|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210223045247/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/060418-chernobyl-wildlife-thirty-year-anniversary-science|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 February 2021|title=Animals Rule Chernobyl Three Decades After Nuclear Disaster|last1=Wendle|first1=John|date=18 April 2016|work=[[National Geographic]]|access-date=20 June 2018}}</ref> The populations of traditional [[Polesia]]n animals (such as the [[gray wolf]], [[badger]], [[wild boar]], [[roe deer]], [[white-tailed eagle]], [[black stork]], [[western marsh harrier]], [[short-eared owl]], [[red deer]], [[moose]], [[great egret]], [[whooper swan]], [[least weasel]], [[common kestrel]], and [[beaver]]) have multiplied enormously and begun expanding outside the zone.<ref name="Lavars">{{cite news|url=https://newatlas.com/wildlife-chernobyl-wasteland/39718/|title=Deer, wolves and other wildlife thriving in Chernobyl exclusion zone|last1=Lavars|first1=Nick|date=6 October 2015|work=New Atlas|access-date=20 June 2018}}</ref><ref name="Deryabina">{{cite journal|last1=Deryabina|first1=T.G.|last2=Kuchmel|first2=S.V.|last3=Nagorskaya|first3=L.L.|last4=Hinton|first4=T.G.|last5=Beasley|first5=J.C.|last6=Lerebours|first6=A.|last7=Smith|first7=J.T.|date=October 2015|title=Long-term census data reveal abundant wildlife populations at Chernobyl|journal=[[Current Biology]]|volume=25|issue=19|pages=R824–R826|doi=10.1016/j.cub.2015.08.017|pmid=26439334|doi-access=free|bibcode=2015CBio...25.R824D }}</ref> The zone is considered as a classic example of an [[involuntary park]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/news/2010/02/08/conflict-conservation|title=Conflict conservation|date=8 February 2010|newspaper=[[The Economist]]|access-date=20 June 2018}}</ref>

The return of wolves and other animals to the area is being studied by scientists such as Marina Shkvyria ([[National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine]]), Sergey Gaschak (Chernobyl Centre in Ukraine), and Jim Beasley ([[University of Georgia]]). [[Camera trap]]s have been installed and are used to record the presence of species. Studies of wolves, which are concentrated in higher-radiation areas near the center of the exclusion zone, may enable researchers to better assess relationships between radiation levels, animal health, and population dynamics.<ref name="Distillations"/><ref name="Wendle"/>

The area also houses herds of [[European bison]] (native to the area) and Przewalski's horses (foreign to the area, as the extinct [[tarpan]] was the native wild horse) released there after the accident. Some accounts refer to the reappearance of extremely rare [[Eurasian lynx|native lynx]], and there are videos of [[brown bear]]s and their cubs, an animal not seen in the area for more than a century.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-32452085|title=Cameras reveal the secret lives of Chernobyl's wildlife|last=Kinver|first=Mark|date=26 April 2015|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=12 June 2016}}</ref> Special [[game warden]] units are organized to protect and control them. No scientific study has been conducted on the population dynamics of these species.

The rivers and lakes of the zone pose a significant threat of spreading polluted [[silt]] during spring floods. They are systematically secured by [[Levee|dikes]].