The second population of Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus complex (Salmoniformes, Salmonidae) in the Lake Baikal basin, the highest mountain charr population in Russia

Abstract

We report the finding of the second population of Arctic charr in Lake Baikal basin, in a nameless lake in the Barguzin mountain range in the outlet of the Svetlaya River. The lake is situated at an altitude of 1766 m above sea level; this is the highest lake inhabited by this species in the territory of Russia. Two abundant charr forms, dwarf and small, were recorded in the lake; data on their ecology, morphology, age composition, growth, and microsatellite variation are presented. Both forms feed mainly on zooplankton, though neither has pronounced morphological traits characteristic of specialized plankton-feeders. Dwarf and small charrs are rather close in meristic characters and in the length of gill rakers, but differ substantially in allele frequencies and allele diversity at the microsatellite loci, which is indicative of a high degree of reproductive isolation between them. The discovered population is the only one among Transbaikalian charr populations, that, due to its remoteness, has not been affected by man. For that reason, it can be considered as an etalon of an undisturbed natural charr population. The lake and its surroundings should receive official protected status.