Structure and formation properties of the haloalkaliphilic community of Lake Khilganta

Abstract

The structural features of a cyanobacterial mat from Lake Khilganta (Southeastern Transbaikal Region) developing at different values of salinity and pH were determined based on our long-term investigation of the natural community, as well as results obtained during experimentation with its laboratory analogue. At water mineralization of 40–50 g/l, Microcoleus chthonoplastes and Phormidium molle play a key role in the formation of the cyanobacterial mat. As water mineralization increases, the diversity of cyanobacteria in the natural mat increases as well, reaches its maximum at 80 g/l NaCl, and decreases at 100 g/l. In the laboratory community, Nodularia sp. prevailed. It was able to form matlike structures within a broad pH range and at a salinity of up to 50 g/l NaCl. As the water mineralization level increased up to 100 g/l or higher, a replacement of the dominant complexes occurred both in the laboratory and natural communities: cyanobacterial species were substituted with green algae.