Freshwater microbial taxa as indicators of anthropogenic impact on the freshwater lakes of Buryatia

Abstract

Three large freshwater lakes located in the Baikal region (Gusinoye, Shchuchye, and Kotokel) with high touristic significance were studied. Increased anthropogenic pressure is one of the most important causes of water quality deterioration (in particular, high solute and nutrient loads, high productivity). The structural features of microbial communities associated with an increased anthropogenic load have been revealed in different environmental gradients. It was shown that the genera Rhodobacter, Polynucleobacter, and Luteolibacter preferred environments with a higher trophic level and are indicators of possible anthropogenic impact.