Title: Development of a research network to support fundamental studies in the NIS of the origin and maintenance of biodiversity in diatom algae, underprinning applied studies. (R.M. Crawford & Ye.V. Likhoshway, co-PIs) Award: INTAS 93-3605, ECU16,000 (8/1/94-7/31/97) and INTAS 93-3605-ext, ECU25,560 (8/1/97-10/30/99)
The purposes of these grants were: to study of biology and systematics of endemic diatoms of Lake Baikal, to study the fine structure of frustules of species of the Aulacoseira genus, to create software for discription of its species, and to compile a comprehensive computer data base.
The principal results from this study include: (1) we found out phylogenetic relationships within the Aulacoseira genus by sequencing fragments of 18S rRNA and RUBISCO genes; (2) after studying our own files and the literature, we have identified some 30 character sets and a large number of sub-sets which we have used to construct a computer programme to facilitate the description and identification of species of the Aulacoseira genus; (3) we examined the morphological characters critically and identified a number that have not been fully exploited hitherto to distinguish the taxa; by using of scanning and transmission electron microscopy, we studied fine structure more then 20 species; (4) we studied ecology and life history of Aulacoseira species in vivo in Lake Baikal with particular attention to different stages of the life cycle - seasonal forms and resting cells and spores.
Publications supported under these grants include:
Sherbakova, T.A., Kirilchik, S.V., Likhoshway, Ye.V. & Grachev, M.A. Phylogenetic position of some diatom
algae of the Aulacoseira genus from Lake Baikal following from comparison of sequences of 18S rRNA gene
fragments. - Molekularnaya biologia, 1998, 32, 735-740.
Crawford, R.M. & Likhoshway, Ye.V. The frustule structure of holotype material of Aulacoseira distans
(Ehrenberg) Simonsen. - Diatom Research, 1999,14 (2), 239-250.
Crawford, R.M. & Likhoshway, Ye.V. The velum of species of the diatom genus Aulacoseira Thwaites.
- Proceedings of the 15th International Diatom Symposium, Perth Australia, 1998. Accepted for publication.
Likhoshway Ye.V. & Crawford, R.M. First international expeditions on Lake Baikal and diatom research.
Submitted: Proceeding of International Symposium on Lake Baikal, Schneverdingen, Germany, November 1999.
Likhoshway, Ye.V., Vorobyeva, S.S., Crawford, R.M., Likhoshvay, A.V. Aulacoseira genus: evolution, fine
structure and electronic key. - Abstr. of International Sympos. "Biodiversity of Siberia".,
Novosibirsk, 22-25 Aug. 2000, in press.
Title: Biodiversity of benthic diatoms in Lake Baikal (a joint project from University College and National History Museum, London, with the Limnological Institute of RAS SB, Irkutsk) (Ye.V. Likhoshway, co-ordinator, G.V. Pomazkina, A.Ye. Kuzmina, Ye. Rodionova) Award: Darwin Initiative, UK: $49,500 (1/1/1997-12/31/1999)
The purposes of this grant were to install a diatom herbarium at the Limnological Institute in Irkutsk and to conduct sampling and ecological research in Lake Baikal on benthic diatoms.
The principal results from this study include: (1) we installed a diatom herbarium in a special room with all the necessary equipment; (2) we performed two joint expeditions around Lake Baikal during which 101 samples at 32 sites have been taken; (3) all the samples were processed, and slides for the collection prepared; (4) monthly sampling of benthic diatoms was done during one year; benthic diatoms were collected by divers at two ecologically contrasting transects.
Due to this grant, a Ph.D. thesis was prepared, and defended seccessfully (Pomazkina, G.V. Microphytobentos of the litoral of Lake Baikal, Irkutsk, Institute of Biology, Irkutsk State University, 2000, 203 pp.; advisor Ye.V. Likhoshway).
Title: Bottom Sediments of Lake Baikal: a Continuous High-resolution Record of the Palaeoclimates of East Siberia of Holocene and Upper Pleistocene (M.A. Grachev, co-PI, Ye.V. Likhoshway, I) Award: INTAS-RFFR-95-0646, ECU 68,000 (8/1/1996-7/31/1998)
The purposes of the grant were the following: mapping of the distribution of diatom algae frustules over the bottom of Lake Baikal; studies of sediment cores from Lake Baikal spanning Holocene and Upper Pleistocene at a high temporal resolution in order to identify signals of changing paleoclimates, including the diatom signal; studies of the extant and sub-recent diatoms of Lake Teletskoye (West Siberia) - an analogue of Lake Baikal.
The principal results from this study include: (1) a map of the distribution of diatom algae over the bottom of the three basins of Lake Baikal based on diatom analysis of 106 samples of surface sediments; (2) demonstration of dramatic changes in the content and species composition of diatom algae in Lake Baikal during the last two Glacial-Inteerglacial cycles (200 ky) at a temporal resolution of ca. 1 ky; identification of events of abrupt climate oscillation; stratigraphic correlation of cores based on diatom analysis; (3) identification of geochemical proxies of climate change in the sediments of Lake Baikaal, i.e., of elements and their ratia typical of the warmer (U, Br, Mo) and colder (Th, LREE etc.) intervals; (4) development of a method for U-Th dating of Baikal sediments based on ICP-MS; (5) identification of the signatures of catastrophic sediment accumulation in Teletskoye Lake during the last few hundred years reflected in the content of diatoms and changes in lithology.
Publication due to this grant include:
Likhoshway, Ye.V. Fossil endemic centric diatoms from Lake Baikal. Upper Pleistocene complexes. - Proc.
14th Internetional Diatom Symposium, 1996, Mayama, Idei & Koizumi (eds.), Koeltz Scientific Books,
Koenigstein. 1999, 613-628.
Grachev, M.A., Likhoshway, Ye.V. et al. Signals of the paleoclimates of Upper Pleistocene in the sediments
of Lake Baikal. - Russian Geologt and Geophysics, 1997, 38 (5), 957-980.
Goldberg, E.L., Grachev, M.A., Bobrov, V.A., Bessergenev, A.V., Zolotaryov, B.V., Likhoshway, Ye.V. Do
diatom algae frustules accumulate uranium? - Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research, Section A,
1998, 405, 584-589.
Goldberg, E.L., Phedorin,M.A., Grachev, M.A., et al. Orbital forcing in the geochemical records of
paleoclimates found in the sediments of Lake Baikal. Baikal as a World Heritage site: results and prospects
of international cooperation. N.L.Dobretsov ed., Novosibirsk, SB RAS Publishing House, 1999, p. 167-178.
Phedorin, M.A., Goldberg,E.L., Grachev, M.A. et al. A comparison of biogenic silica, Br and Nd distributions
in the sediments of Lake Baikal as proxies of changing paleoclimates of the last 480 kyr. Nuclear
Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, 2000, in press.
Title: Studies of the diatom composition of the BDP 96 drilling core from Lake Baikal. (M.A.Grachev M.A. PI; Ye.V.Likhoshway, I). Award: Russian Foundation for Fundamental Research & Regional Administrations #97-05-96375, 40 mln. Rubles (1/1/97-12/31/1998).
The purpose of the grant was to study the diatom composition of two parralel (100 m and 200 m) drilling cores from Lake Baikal, spanning a time interval of the last 5 My, with 3000 samples taken at 10 cm intervals
The result was a high-resolution diatom record of changing climates of the last 5 My, and discovery of the succession of diatom genera and species which finally led to nascence of the endemic algoflora of Lake Baikal.
Publications due to this grant include:
M.I.Kuzmin, M.A.Grachev, D.F.Williams, T.Kawai, Sh.Horie, H.Oberhaensli. Continuous record of paleoclimates
of the last 4.5 Ma from Lake Baikal (first information). Russian Geology and Geophysics, 1997, v. 38, p.
1062-1064.
Grachev, M.A., Vorobyova, S.S., Likhoshway, Ye.V., Goldberg, E.L., Ziborova, G.A., Levina, O.V., Khlystov,
O.M. A high-resolution diatom record of the palaeoclimates of East Siberia for the last 2.5 My from Lake
Baikal. - Quarternary Science Reviews, 1998, 17, 1101-1106.
Title: Combined ultrastructural studies and PCR with individual diatom algae cells. (Grachev M.A., PI & Lokhoshway Ye.V., I). Award: Russian Foundation for Fundamental Research, # 97-04-50226. 80 mln rubles (1997-1998)
The result was a method of perforation of frustules of individual cells of the diatom alga Aulacoseira skvortzowii Edlund, Stoermer & Taylor with an extended glass needle controlled by a a micro-manipulator enabling liberation of the protoplast and subsequent isolation of chloroplast DNA for amplification and sequencing of a fragment of the rbcL gene. The perforated frustules were transferred onto a SEM stab, and revealed a high extent of preservation, sufficient to study their ultrastructure. The method is applicable to other diatoms, and other genes. It does not depend on the possibility of cultivation of diatoms in the laboratory.
Publicaion due to this grant:
Sherbakova, T.A., Rubtsov, N.B., Likhoshway, Ye.V., Grachev, M.A. Combined ultrastructural studies and PCR
with individual diatom algae cells.- Diatom Research, 2000, accepted.
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