The results of examination of trace element composition of all-the-year-round vegetating algae on the stony littoral of Lake Baikal are presented. It has been found out that the mineral composition of Cladophora compacta (C. Meyer) C. Meyer, Chaetocladella pumila (C. Meyer) C. Meyer et Skabitsch. is dominated by Mn, Sr, Ti; Tolypothrix distorta (Fl. Dan) Kütz. f. distorta, Schizothrix sp. – by Ti and Sr, Stratonostoc verrucosum (Vauch.) Elenk. f. verrucosum – by Sr and Zn. In these species trace elements concentrate in groups. With respect to water, the species under study concentrate Ti>La>Ce>Mn,Y. C. compacta, Ch. pumila and Schizothrix sp. stand out by their ability to accumulate Rb, Schizothrix sp. – Cd and Cu. In comparison to bottom sediments, algae accumulate Mo, and moreover, Ch. pumila, T. distorta, S. verrucosum concentrate Zn, Ch. pumila, Schizothrix sp. – Cd and Schizothrix sp. – Cu. According to the intensity of concentrating trace elements with respect to water, the algae may be presented in the following sequence: T. distorta>Schizothrix sp.>Ch. pumila>C compacta>S. verrucosum; with respect to bottom sediments – Ch. pumila>C. compacta>Schizothrix sp.>T. distorta>S. verrucosum.

Keywords: Lake Baikal, littoral zone, benthic macroalgae, trace elements

Full text: PDF 139K