Baikal Omul Research Articles

INFECTION OF COREGONIDS OF CHIVYRKUISKY BAY OF LAKE BAIKAL AND TSIPO-TSIPICANSKIYE LAKES BY TRIAENOPHORUS CRASSUS PLEROCERCOIDS

Triaenophorus crassus is the causative agent of muscular trienophorosis in fish, especially pathogenic for juvenile salmonids and coregonids. The purpose of this work was to analyze the infection of coregonids with T. crassus plerocercoids in the Chivyrkuisky Bay of the Lake Baikal and Tsipo-Tsipikanskiye (Bauntovskie) lakes (basin of the Lena River, Transbaikalia). Level of infection with plerocercoids T. crassus in coregonids from 1976 to 2013 in the Chivyrkuisky Bay of the Lake Baikal did not cause concern: the prevalence in the Baikal omul did not exceed 23.6%; intensity was no more than 6 specimens; the prevalence in the Baikal whitefish is up to 5.0%. At the same time, in 1954, in the Chivyrkuisky Bay, a higher level of infection of the Baikal omul was noted (the prevalence was 44.4%; the intensity was 1–9 specimens), which does not allow us to exclude a recurrence of this situation in the future. There was a sharply different situation in terms of infection of coregonids with T. crassus plerocercoids in two lakes of the Tsipo-Tsipikanskaya group: in the lake Bolshoye Kapilyushi, the prevalence of this cestoda is ten times higher than in the lake Baunt. It is likely that such contrasting levels of infection were associated with the difference in the location of the habitats of pike (the definitive host of T. crassus) and coregonids in these lakes: the coincidence in the lake Bolshoye Kapylyushi and divergence in the lake Baunt.

Eco-legal and economic aspects of developing Malomorsky fishing area of Lake Baikal

Lake Baikal is the largest freshwater reservoir of our planet and a unique natural site included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Meanwhile, Baikal is not only Russia's largest freshwater fishing reservoir. Large-scale commercial fishing started here at the beginning of the 19th century and, with small breaks caused by bans imposed on commercial fishing due to depletion of valuable commercial fish species stock, continued until October 2017, when once again restrictions in the fishing industry were imposed. One of the reasons for this was the growth of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing (hereinafter also referred to as “illegal fishing”) which led to depletion of the stock of omul. However, these restrictions neither eliminated extensive illegal fishing, nor solved the problem of rapid fish stock rebuilding in the unique lake. Using methods of mathematical analysis and modeling this article examines factors facilitating breach of law in the fishing industry and illegal fishing for Baikal omul. The article provides a brief characteristic of the Baikal oldest Malomorsky fishing area as well as an eco-economic assessment of the possibility to rebuild the fish stock within this water zone taking into account the increasing tourist flow in the Baikal region.

Эколого-правовые и экономические особенности развития Маломорского рыбопромыслового района Байкала

Lake Baikal is the largest fresh water reservoir of our planet and a unique natural site included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Meanwhile, Baikal is not only Russia’s largest freshwater fishing reservoir. Large-scale commercial fishing started here at the beginning of the 19th century and, with small breaks caused by bans imposed on industrial fishing due to depletion of valuable commercial fishery species stock, continued until October 2017, when once again restrictions in the fishing industry were imposed. One of the reasons for this was the increasing of the illegal unreported and unregulated fishing which led to depletion of harvestable stock of omul. However, these restrictions neither eliminated extensive unreported fishing, nor solved the problem of rapid fish stock rebuilding in the unique lake. Using methods of mathematical analysis and modeling this article examines factors facilitating breach of law in the fishing industry and unreported fishing for Baikal omul. The article provides a brief characteristic of the Baikal oldest Malomorsky fishing area as well as an eco-economic assessment of the possibility to rebuild the fishing stock within this water zone taking into account the increasing tourist flow in the Baikal region.

Spawning Migrations of the Baikal Omul

This paper presents a complete list of spawning rivers of the Baikal omul. We specified the length of rivers, the location, and length of spawning grounds and plotted them on the topographic map. The study examines the ecological and biological significance of the spawning migrations of the Baikal omul. It reveals the features of spawning migration to latitudinal rivers. We show that the space and time structure of omul spawning is genetically determined. Baikal omul developed a peculiar mechanism of using even the most remote spawning grounds. This mechanism implies considering migration opportunities before entering the river and taking into account the river regime. Migration opportunities depend on the reproductive maturity of individual fish at the beginning of spawning migration. The research finds that the remoteness of the spawning grounds used by omul in the Selenga River correlates with the maturity of the female gonads at the moment of entering the river in a particular year. The water level influences the flow dynamics and changes the distribution of roe in the spawning grounds. The dynamics of entry into the Selenga River is also preserved when the spawning stock moves to the spawning grounds. Mass spawning of omul in entering the Selenga and Upper Angara Rivers allowed us to establish a pattern of spawning distribution between the spawning grounds, depending on the entry time.

ИЗУЧЕНИЕ ПРОЦЕССА ФЕРМЕНТАЦИИ БАЙКАЛЬСКОГО ОМУЛЯ С ПРИМЕНЕНИЕМ МОЛОЧНОКИСЛЫХ БАКТЕРИЙ

The article describes fermentation process of the Baikal omul with the bacterial concentrate containing Lactobacillus sakei LSK-104. pH and microbiological analyses were used as indicators of biochemical activity of lactic acid bacteria. As found, during fermentation of omul, pH of the muscle tissue in the experimental sample decreased faster and reached 5.05 at 14 days of fermentation, while in the control sample the pH value was 6.28. It can be explained by the formation of organic acids during the fermentation with lactic acid bacteria L. sakei LSK-104. In this case, the number of viable cells reacheed a maximum value of 1011 CFU/g. The lactic acid fermentation process in brine proceeded more intensively than in the muscle tissue. The data obtained in this study expand our understanding of the adaptive mechanisms that ensure survival of L. sakei LSK-104 under unfavorable cultivation conditions

The current state of molecular genetic research on the taxonomic diversity of the enteric microbiota of Siberian fish

This paper presents the current state of research on the intestinal microbiota of fish of different ecological groups from water bodies of West and East Siberia. The present study focused on the gut bacterial diversity of 16 species/forms of fish (due to intricate taxonomical position of whitefish from Teletskoye Lake) inhabiting Chany Lake (Novosibirsk oblast), Teletskoye Lake (Altai Republic), Baikal Lake and other water bodies of East Siberia using molecular genetic methods. The analysis of the conducted studies shows the main features of gut bacterial communities in the digestive tract of fish and to better understand the features of the functioning of aquatic ecosystems in Siberia. In all studied fish (except for Lena grayling and Baikal omul), regardless of their habitat, taxonomy, digestive system structure (presence or absence of stomach and pyloric caeca) and feeding habits, bacteria of all four phyla (Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria) were found among the dominants. Such differences can also be explained by sample preparation techniques before sequencing that researchers may apply. Also, the uncultivated microbiota such as Pseudoalteromonadaceae (Lake Chany), Comamonadaceae and Bacillaceae (whitefish from Lake Teletskoye) and Rhodobacteraceae (Baikal omul and whitefish) were often found among the dominant bacterial taxa in the digestive tract of the most studied fish. Moreover, the data focused on the structure of gut bacterial community of fish will be useful for the development of aquaculture industry in the region, since the information makes it possible to identify pathogenic, opportunistic, and probiotic bacteria in aquatic ecosystems.

A Study of Protein Fractional Composition during Incubation of Diphyllobothrium dendriticum (Cestoda) Plerocercoids in a Medium Containing Blood Serum of the Host, the Baikal Omul Coregonus migratorius (Coregonidae)

The change in the composition of the protein fraction of Diphyllobothrium dendriticum (Cestoda) plerocercoids during incubation in a medium containing blood serum of their host—the Baikal omul Coregonus migratorius (Coregonidae)—was investigated. The change in the composition of the protein fraction of the incubation medium also was studied. On the one hand, the appearance of new high-molecular fractions with a molecular weight (MW) of 193 kDa after 3, 12, and 24 h of incubation and 88 kDa after 24 h was detected, which was associated at plerocercoids with the appearance of a new 189 kDa fraction after 12 h and the disappearance of the 80 kDa fraction. On the other hand, a decrease or the disappearance of two low-molecular fractions 57 and 42 kDa in the incubation medium after 3, 12, and 24 h of incubation were observed.

The main aspects of social and hygienic monitoring for diphyllobothriasis in the territory of the Republic of Buryatia

Introduction. The high incidence of diphyllobotriosis in the coastal areas of Lake Baikal is an objective reflection of the socio-hygienic problems of the population of the Republic of Buryatia. In ensuring sanitary and epidemiological well-being in the Republic of Buryatia, there are many topical and territory-specific hygienic problems related to food safety issues. One of the main tasks is to prevent cases of diphyllobotriosis associated with the consumption of aquatic bioresources caught in the reservoirs of Transbaikalia, including the Baikal omul, in connection with the preservation of the risk of its development from the impact of a complex of socioeconomic, biological and environmental factors of the environment.The purpose of our study was to investigate the regional features of diphyllobothriosis with an analysis of the current situation on infection of fish (the second intermediate hosts of the genus diphyllobothrium) with diphyllobothrium plerocercoids.Material and methods. The database of the Republican information Fund for social and hygienic monitoring of the Department of Federal Service for Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare for the Republic of Buryatia and the Center for hygiene and epidemiology in the Republic of Buryatia was used as sources of information. The study was conducted using statistical, analytical, mathematical methods, as well as comparative analysis.Results. According to our research, the course of the epidemic process was found to be influenced by a complex of environmental factors. This high anthropogenic load of the Selenga river and lake Quill, where the main causes are the failure modes of nature-protection and sanitary-protective zones of the lake, the unauthorized disposal of waste production and consumption, inadequate operation of water purification facilities, deterioration of the sanitary-technical condition of water supply and sewage networks.Conclusion. The high incidence of diphyllobotriosis in the coastal areas of lake Baikal is an objective reflection of the socio-hygienic problems of the population of the Republic of Buryatia.

Prospects of Fish-Husbandry Utilization of Maloye More Fishing Area: Economic Assessment and Substantiation

The article was written on the basis of the results of the research conducted by the staff scientists of Limnological Institute of Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Baikal State University. The aim was to define ecological and economic viability of planting of prospective autochthonous aquatic species including Baikal omul Coregonus migratorius in Maloye More fishing area. The process of fish planting is considered in the light of the need for satisfying the demand for omul both among the local population and tourists visiting Maloye More. The authors give a brief analysis of the demand for fish among the above mentioned categories. On the basis of calculations, a conclusion is drawn that it is impossible to satisfy the need for omul among the population of Maloye More and tourists visiting the area, whose number is growing fast, solely by means of natural propagation. Thus, the authors made an economic assessment of viability of measures aimed at stocking Maloye More fishing area with fish. These measures include acquisition of juvenile omul and its transportation from fish-breeding farms in Irkutsk Region and the Republic of Buryatia and also construction of a fish-breeding farm in Maloye More fishing area.

Mathematical modelling of population dynamics of Baikal omul under commercial catch

Despite the imposed restrictions to conserve the abundance of Baikal omul, the problem of reducing biomass is still urgent. Over the past ten years, the total biomass of Baikal omul has shown a three-fold decrease. The decline of omul stock required to impose another restriction of fishing activity in the water area of Lake Baikal. The order of Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation of 29 August 2017 No. 450 amended the fishing rules for the Baikal fisheries basin, banning the commercial catch of Baikal omul and restricting amateur and sports fishing as well as traditional fishing for indigenous small-numbered peoples, starting from 1st October 2017.

Mathematical Modeling of Assessing the Number of Baikal Omul in the System of Socio-Economic and Legal Aspects of Environmental Law Violations

The issue of legal regulation of fishing one of the brand species of Baikal Region’s bio-resources — Baikal omul — is especially urgent at present. The paper reflects administrative and criminal aspects of its protection as well as criminological specifics of illegal fishing of omul in light of the ban on fishing introduced in 2017; it highlights the environmental-legal and socio-economic aspects of this problem and presents a mathematical model of assessing the number of Baikal omul. The growth of criminal incidents in the sphere of using water resources of Baikal makes it impossible for scientists to objectively assess the number of omul in the lake using traditional bio-statistics methods. Besides, environmental law violations, and their regional specifics, make it necessary to continue developing complex systemic approaches to counteracting criminogenic processes. Prevention measures aimed at preserving Lake Baikal as a unique nature zone, together with various nature protection measures, should be implemented with the use of a whole complex of nature protection actions. The authors analyze the effectiveness of the existing legal mechanisms in the sphere of counteracting illegal fishing, as well as the necessity of establishing working mechanisms for the protection and reproduction of fish resources of Baikal, and present the description of initial parameters and equations to form a mathematical model of analyzing and predicting the dynamics of the number of omul in Lake Baikal. The authors also present a simplified version of such a model and use specific examples to illustrate the possibility of using it to assess the parameters and study the dynamics of the number of omul population during disturbing influences. They offer a brief description of the possibilities for the further development of this simplified model, which has at present been implemented. The scientific basis obtained, among other things, with the help of mathematical instruments should be viewed as the principles for forming an effective, clear, and needs-oriented normative legal basis of managing the bio-resources of Baikal with a growing anti-criminogenic potential.

Fatty acid composition of salted and fermented products from Baikal omul (Coregonus autumnalis migratorius).

The fatty acid (FA) composition of raw, salted, and fermented fish products prepared from two populations of Baikal omul (Coregonus autumnalis migratorius) was determined. Total lipid content in the raw, salted, and fermented fish products was 3.85, 4.04, and 3.76%, respectively. Overall, the most abundant fatty acids were 14:0 (myristic acid), 16:0 (palmitic acid), 16:1n-7 (palmitoleic acid), 18:1n-9 (oleic acid), 20:5n-3 (eicosapentaenoic acid), and 22:6n-3 (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA). Polyunsaturated FAs were the main fatty acid group. Among unsaturated FA, n-3 forms dominated. The highest amounts of n-3 FAs were found in raw fish, followed by fermented and salted fish. Salting significantly increased the content of some FAs (15:0, 16:2n-4, 18:3n-3, 20:3n-3) compared with raw fish and decreased the DHA content. The FA composition of fermented fish did not differ from that of raw fish. The n-3:n-6 ratio did not differ between raw, salted, and fermented fish from population A, while the ratio was higher in raw fish from population B. Overall, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and thereby oxidation, were significantly lower in raw fish than in salted and fermented fish. Salting, but not fermentation, affected the FA composition of fish.

Состояние селенгинской популяции байкальского омуля в условиях моратория на вылов

Состояние селенгинской популяции байкальского омуля в условиях моратория на вылов

Representatives of Diplomonadida in fishes of East Siberia

The study is dedicated to the analysis of diversity of Diplomonadida – flagellate protozoa, parasites in the digestive system of animals, in East Siberian fishes. We developed a method allowing to diagnose the presence of DNA of Diplomonadida representatives in a whole and concretely of Spironucleus barkhanus in the analyzed samples. Before we used molecular genetics methods to analyze for diplomonads presence salmonids of the East Siberia and to determine the contamination. The analysis of genetic diversity of diplomonads in the fishes of the genera Coregonus and Thymallus revealed the presence of one species - S. barkhanus. However, besides a cosmopolite genotype widely distributed amont Holarctic salmonids, we found in Baikal omul and in lacustrine whitefish a new, obviously different from all registered before one. Probable, S. barkhanus of this genotype is endemic for Lake Baikal. To reveal probable parasite exchange between Baikal omul and other fishes in Lake Baikal pelagic area, we performed a screening of near-shore pelagic and pelagic sculpins for presence of S. barkhanus. The performed analysis did not reveal presence of DNA of S. barkhanus in the studied samples. We suppose presence of diplomonads of other species different from S. barkhanus in sculpins

The effects of sound pollution as a stress factor for the Baikal coregonid fish

We have studied morphological features of the hearing epithelium affected and unaffected by increased long-term sound (at 160 dB re 1 μPa) on the example of the Baikal omul (Coregonidae, Coregonus migratorius). The sensory epithelium was analyzed using the 3D confocal laser scanning techniques. We observed local epithelium damages in the rostral, central and caudal regions of the saccule, e.g. sticking stereocilia, vacuolization and round shape gaps. This article discusses the reasons for the local effects of sound on different regions of the sensory epithelium. We assume that using of morphological screening of sensory acoustic system in the artifcial rearing of the Baikal coregonid fshes under the conditions of intense noise could contribute to indicating the most stress-resistant forms, which are promising for high-tech industrial aquaculture, and developing more gentle approaches to its creation.

Multi-Model Approach to Quantify Future Sediment and Pollutant Loads and Ecosystem Change in Selenga River System

The Selenga River, which originates in Mongolia, contributes about 50% of the total inflow into Lake Baikal. Hydroclimatic development and abrupt landscape evolution due to mining, industrial, and agricultural activities within the Selenga drainage basin affect the pollutant influx and transport along the course of the river and its tributaries and influence the riverine ecosystem, including fish habitats. This paper presents a process-based distributed modeling approach for the assessment of water, sediment, and contaminants dynamics and its environmental consequences at river basin scale by integrating various tools at multiple spatial scales. Different water quantity and quality processes were considered and modelled, e.g., the hydrology in the river basin, the erosion and sediment transport and budget, and fish migration. A set of regression models and a climate-driven hydrological model (ECOMAG) were applied to create projections of possible changes to the sediment and pollutants transport regime of the Selenga River and its delta that may occur in response to the projected variations of climate of the XXI century. Climate change may reduce the mean flow in the Selenga River at Kabansk by an average of 3–5% in the 2020s–2030s and 4–25% in the 2080s–2090s, depending on climate projections. The future increase in temperatures with permafrost thaw and the expansion of agricultural and mining activities along with urbanizaiton processes may induce up to 6% increase in the particulate modes and 3%, in the dissolved modes of some metals in the river system. Water runoff decline will dramatically decrease suspended sediment retention in the delta. Depending on the climate change scenario, in the 2080–2099, the suspended sediment load will change in the delta by –0.8% (retention) or by +1% (increase), which is much less than the recent observed average of sediment retention rates –33%. The reduction of runoff will induce a decrease in the migration distance of Baikal omul (Coregonus migratorius)) in the XXI century from 185 to 320 km, with a tendency to an increase towards the end of the century.

Assessment of Trends in Fish Products Consumption by the Citizens of the Republic of Buryatia

The article is devoted to the assessment of fish products consumption by the citizens of the region. The purpose of the research is the development and application of the tools simulating consumer demand on fish products on the example of the households in the Republic of Buryatia for the “Baikal omul†brand promotion. The authors have found that the rise of consumer demand in world fish products consumption is due to the increase of aquaculture in artificial reservoirs. On the fish market, we have observed the steady differentiation of cultivated fish and fish from natural reservoirs. The rise of prices on fish products significantly changes the segments of consumers especially depending on their incomes. We have found that fish products are significant for the citizens of the Republic of Buryatia. Some key factors of fish products consumption were established. The authors offered the methodological approach of making the survey of the population on consumption of fish products based on the cluster analysis. The methodology toolkit includes the mathematical methods of statistical and survey data processing. We have proved that fish products play an important role in the diet of the citizens of the Republic of Buryatia. There are significant differences in fish consumption according to the income of respondents. The scientific novelty of the study includes establishing the deterrent factors of fish products in the conditions of decreasing incomes and increasing prices on fish market; estimation of traditional kind of processed fish production from the lake Baikal in terms of technology of fermentation for developing a brand and its promotion outwards of local market; applying a differential approach to the analysis of consumers preferences in fish products; reasoning the deficiency of “omul with odor†brand estimation in the context of the prospect development of tourist cluster. The results can be used in marketing promotion of fermented products made of Baikal omul and other potential brands beyond the local market.

Signs of introgression of Baikal omul (Coregonus migratorius) or Arctic cisco (C. autumnalis) into European whitefish (C. lavaretus) in the eastern Baltic Sea

Signs of introgression of Baikal omul (Coregonus migratorius) or Arctic cisco (C. autumnalis) into European whitefish (C. lavaretus) in the eastern Baltic Sea

Распространение Diphyllobothrium latum в популяциях щуки в озерах Забайкалья

Objective of research. The aim of the study was to explore the degree of contamination of pike and other fish species, plerosarcoidoma Diphyllobothrium latum in water bodies of the Baikal region. Materials and methods. In 2009-2014 was conducted parasitological study on infestation role of the D. latum plerocercoids of various species of fish. Just investigated 20 specimens of pike, 38 – burbot, 91 – perch and ruff 73 specimens in lakes of the North-Eastern part of Transbaikalia, located located in different districts of the Republic of Buryatia. The infection of fish with plerocercoids of D. latum were evaluated by extensiveness (EI), the abundance index (EI) and the intensity of infection (AI). Results and discussion. The pike infestation with plerocercoids of D. latum in lake. Goose in 2013-2014 decreased in 3 times compared with a maximum in 1973-1974 and was 0.8 % most Often, the D. latum plerocercoids are localized in the adipose tissue, the gonads, the wall of the swim bladder, liver, peritoneal epithelium, muscle, the wall of the stomach and the villagesince respectively 40,9 %; 13,8; 9,1; 9,1; 9,1; 4,5; 4,5; 4,5 and 4.5 % of cases. In Transbaikalia the fish parasitize three species of tapeworms, of which the epidemiological importance of the D. latum, D. dendriticum. D. ditremum in humans does not develop until the adult stage. In the region annually celebrate 150-450 cases of difillobotrioza in humans. In the basin of the Selenga river is-the reputed source of human infection by difillobotrioza are pike and perch, the infected with its good-Azerbaijani D. latum and the Baikal omul Coregonus migratorius infected with D. dendriticum. EI Baikal omul D. dendriticum is 62.3-100 %, and IO – 4,0-9,8 copies of This cestode is brought in the Selenga river from oz. The Baikal in the autumn spawning of Arctic Cisco. On owasco-FDI sample of human feces is impossible to distinguish the species D. latum and D. dendriticum. Probably in the Selenga region of Buryatia, there is a hotbed of difillobotrios caused by these two species of cestodes.

Coregonus peled (Gmelin) transplanted into Ulaagchny Khar lake (western mongolia) showed no evidence of hybridization with other introduced Coregonus species

Coregonus peled (Gmelin) (Teleostei: Salmoniformes: Coregonidae), which is considered an important object of coldwater aquaculture, had been successfully introduced into an enclosed Western Mongolian lake Ulaagchny Khar in the early 1980s. At the same time larvae of two other Coregonus species—Baikal omul C. migratorius (Georgi) and least cisco C. sardinella Valenciennes—had also been released into the lake. Baikal omul was then reported as a naturalized species. This might have caused interspecific hybridization and gene introgression. Identification of coregonids by morphology can be problematic, so to determine which species was dominant in the lake (we presumed it was peled) and if its gene pool was affected by other introduced Coregonus species we sampled 40 individuals and analyzed them by sequencing a fragment of mtDNA cyt b and by allozyme electrophoresis. The analysis showed that all the fish belonged to C. peled with no evidence of admixture from other coregonid species. Taking into account mass release of both species in 1980s, it is evident that naturalization of peled in the lake was much more successful than that of Baikal omul.