Under-ice development of algae in Listvyanka

In the end of March 2021, in the area of Listvyanka, at the end of Lake Baikal ice cover (opposite to Baikal Museum of ISC of RAS SB), filamentous algae Ulothrix zonata and Spirogyra develop abundantly at the depths of 3-5 m.

During last decade, this situation becomes common for Listvyanka. Ulothrix zonata is a typical Baikal filamentous alga growing at the depths of 0-1.5 m. According to perennial observations, in other Lake Baikal areas it starts developing in late April – early May. This algal cover changes the underwater landscape completely and makes it atypical of Lake Baikal. In one kilometer from this site, Charophyta and the mentioned Spirogyra develop abundantly under the ice at the depths of 10-18 m.

Before such negative changes started (since 2010), the underwater landscape near Listvyanka was similar to that near Bolshiye Koty, which we observed on March 12, 2021.