Lake Teletskoye Research Articles

Populations of the stygobiotic amphipod Palearcticarellus pusillus (Martynov, 1930) maintain genetic connectivity between the mountain springs and the deep bottom habitats of Lake Teletskoye (Altai Mountains, Russia)

The diversity of underground fauna is often associated with the presence of karst areas, which have extensive underground cavities and connecting channels. Non-karst areas, however, make up a larger portion of the planet’ surface, and our understanding of the distribution and dispersal abilities of underground fauna in these areas currently remains limited. During a recent study of the diversity of stygobiotic crustaceans in the mountain streams of the Kurai Mountain Range (Altai, Russia), a small-sized species of crangonyctid amphipod, Palearcticarellus pusillus (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Crangonyctidae) was found in high-altitude springs. This species has been previously known only from deep-water habitats in Lake Teletskoye, and molecular genetic analysis revealed that these amphipods maintain genetic connections between the springs and bottom lake habitats. We assume that individuals of this certainly stygobiotic species fall to the bottom of the lake as a result of leaching from tectonic faults connecting these habitats and are not permanent inhabitants of the lake bottom. This hypothesis also suggests that the very small body size of these animals may be related to the narrow crevices and pores of the tectonic faults, rather than neoteny, as it has been previously suggested. The estimated divergence time calculation has also revealed that P. pusillus obviously diverged from its sister species, Palearcticarellus mikhaili from valley springs in Kurai Steppe, ~5 Ma, at the beginning of the Pliocene, possibly due to the uplifting of the Kurai Mountain Range. Subsequent speciation occurred as a result of secondary tectonic activity and changes in groundwater flow, likely during the Pleistocene, approximately 2.7–0.7 Ma. Populations that were isolated for a long time continue to live near mountain springs in the study area.

A new species of Promicrodispus (Acari: Microdispidae) from the Altai Republic, Russia

A female of Promicrodispus altaicus Khaustov sp. nov. (Acari: Heterostigmata: Microdispidae) is described from the forest litter sample collected from vicinity of the Teletskoye Lake in Altai Republic of Russia. The new species is very similar to P. pumilis (Sevastianov), but it can be distinguished by the presence of setae ps2 and lacking of seta s on tibiotarsus of leg I. Using of SEM microscopy revealed previously unknown structure in gnathosoma of the new species. A key to the species of Promicrodispus is also provided.

Algae of Lake Teletskoye Ecotones

Algae of Lake Teletskoye Ecotones

Высокогорный природный парк «Ак Чолушпа» как территория экотуристского интереса

Высокогорный природный парк «Ак Чолушпа» как территория экотуристского интереса

Қазақ даласы мен Орта Азияның еуропалық карталары

The article is devoted to the study of the information about the Kazakh steppe and Central Asia, given on European maps, and consists of an introduction and three parts, each accompanied by cartographic visual material and tables. The first part thoroughly examines the various names of the Kazakh Khanate and the countries of Central Asia from the middle of the 16th century to the middle of the 18th century. Examples of the use of such names as Kosaky Orda, Cassakia, Kasaky Tartar, KirgisKaisak, Kalmuk, Nogay, Naiman and others are analyzed in detail. The second part of the article considers various terms denoting the Kazakh Khanate and the countries of Central Asia on the maps by Anthony Jenkinson (1529–1611). While making his map, he used not only his own observations, but also the maps of his predecessors. On his map, he showed the borders of the Kazakh Khanate as an independent state and highlighted its territory with color. Lake Kitay (Kitaia Lacus) on his map is, apparently, Lake Teletskoye. The article identifies all the seven rulers depicted on the Asian part of the map. The third part of the article considers the Kazakh Khanate and the cities of Central Asia on the world map of Matteo Ricci (1602), where the Kazakhs are designated as Ge’ermo (=Ge’erheishi = Kirgessi). The influence of European cartography on Ricci’s map is demonstrated, and the sinicized names of Astrakhan, Turkestan, Chagatai, Nogai, Volga, etc. are given. Ricci mainly used the names and toponyms from Ptolemy, but in a distorted or sinicized form, and changed them in accordance with new materials.

Landscape Reading for Alpine Rivers: A Case Study from the river Biya

Anthropogenic stressors have altered the hydromorphological characteristics of rivers worldwide. Environmental guiding principles are essential for planning sustainable river restoration measures. The alpine river Biya, located in the Russian Altai mountains, originates from Lake Teletskoye and joins the Katun near Biysk, forming the Ob. The Biya represents a hydromorphological reference system in anthropogenically ‘least-disturbed’ condition. The presented study aimed to assess the river’s undisturbed morphology in relationship with the geological history of three different river stretches based on an adapted landscape reading approach using remote sensing information (ASTER GDEM v3). The established widths of the active channel, active floodplain and morphological floodplain as well as the longitudinal section were used to explain the differences between upper, middle, and lower Biya. The results confirm differences in the geological origins between the upper Biya, which has previously been described as the least developed and narrowest, and the other two stretches based on the analyses of morphological parameters. Morphological floodplain width could best explain the differences between upper (0-86 km), middle (86-196 km), and lower Biya (196-301 km). The study further showed a clear relationship between the variations in river patterns and adjacent topographic structures (valley confinements, tributary interactions), highlighting that any assessment of river morphology must consider the wider surroundings of a river stretch. The presented morphological observations and analyses of the Biya show that easily obtainable parameters can detect differences in the morphological history of river stretches within the same catchment, supporting process understanding.

Stephanocostis chantaicus (Bacillariophyta), a Rare Species for Russia (Morphology, Ecology, Distribution)

The re-examination of <i>Stephanocostis chantaicus</i> Genkal et Kuzmina micrographs from the iconotheca on lakes Khantaiskoye and Teletskoye. A scanning electron microscopy study of new materials from Lake Teletskoye, and analysis of the literature data make it possible to expand the diagnosis of a rare diatom species, <i>S. chantaicus</i>, and specify its ecology and range. The distribution of the species in Lake Teletskoye, and its role among small-celled centric diatoms in the littoral and pelagic zones are also shown.

Excess of REE in plant foods as a cause of geophagy in animals in the Teletskoye Lake basin, Altai Republic, Russia

Geological and hydrobiogeochemical studies carried out in two areas in the Teletskoye Lake basin in the Altai Mountains suggest that geophagy among wild and domestic herbivores in the studied areas develops in mountain‑taiga with steppe landscapes on Proterozoic metamorphic rocks near the Paleozoic granitoids with high concentrations of magmatogenic minerals of rare earth elements (REE). This fact is the reason for high concentrations of REE in loose diluvial deposits and glacial deposits adjacent to granitoids, as well as in derivative soils and vegetation. REE concentrations in the vegetation of the studied territories were almost similar to the geophagy sites previously investigated in the Sikhote‑Alin. The geochemical specificity of landscapes revealed both in the Altai Mountains and in the Sikhote‑Alin may be the cause of REE imbalance in the hormonal system of the body. It forces animals to address the resulting problems with mineral sorbents of the quartz‑feldspar‑illite‑chlorite type which can remove the excess of REE from the body. When selecting these, the animals tend to find sodium‑enriched varieties if possible.

Silica-Scaled Chrysophytes of Teletskoye Lake and Adjacent Area with a Description of a New Species from the Genus Mallomonas

The silica-scaled chrysophyte flora of some lakes and rivers of the Altai Mountains was investigated by means of electron microscopy. Teletskoye Lake; the Biya, Chulyshman, and Katun Rivers; and small lakes around the area were studied. A total of sixteen taxa were recorded, including eight belonging to Mallomonas, five to Synura, and three to Paraphysomonas. A revision of previously reported taxa of scaled chrysophytes in this region was carried out. One species new to science from the genus Mallomonas was found and described. Mallomonas altaica sp. nov. belongs to the section Striatae and is characterised by scales with ribs covering only the anterior part of the shield and a posterior flange almost completely covered with the secondary siliceous layer. This species was discovered only at Teletskoye Lake.

The role of waterfalls in the structure of macroinvertebrate communities of the Tevenek River (Lake Teletskoye basin, Northeastern Altai)

The role of waterfalls in the structure of macroinvertebrate communities of the Tevenek River (Lake Teletskoye basin, Northeastern Altai)

New Data on the Morphology, Taxonomy and Distribution of Small-Celled Species of the Genus Stephanodiscus in Lake Teletskoye and the Water Bodies of Its Basin (Altai, Russia)

New Data on the Morphology, Taxonomy and Distribution of Small-Celled Species of the Genus Stephanodiscus in Lake Teletskoye and the Water Bodies of Its Basin (Altai, Russia)

Photosynthetic Active Solar Radiation in Lake Teletskoye During the Open Water Period

Spatial and temporal variability of flux density of photosynthetic active solar radiation (PAR) in the waters of large deep-water oligotrophic Lake Teletskoye (Republic of Altai) is considered based on the analyzed experimental data for the years 2016-2021. Probing of the lake water column was implemented using Satlanic PAR sensor as a part of CTD of the SBE 25plus probe at the beginning and the end of the summer heating period. During various years of studying, PAR magnitude monotonically decreased with lake depth increase and practically became zero at horizons from 3 to 14,8 m according to the data received from two weather stations at the reservoir, i.e. in the pelagic zone of rivers Chulyshman and Kokshi. Flux density of photosynthetic active solar radiation in the upper layer made up to 27-1000 μmol/(m2·s) during the observation period. The photic depth zone (at one percent irradiation) in Lake Teletskoye at the Chulyshman station on sunny days reached 14.8 m, while at the Kokshi one — 11.7 m. According to PAR measurements, the attenuation coefficient (extinction coefficient) along the vertical was estimated as 0.1-2.6 m-1. The maximum weakening coefficient at the Chulyshman station was recorded in June 2016 in the surface 3-m layer of the lake (1.8-2.6 m-1), while below 3 m it had values of 0.1-1.9 m-1. The attenuation coefficient varied within 0.1-1.6 m-1 at the Kokshi station. Relative transparency of the Secchi white disk at the Chulyshman and Kokshi stations ranged within 1.3-5.3 and 2.4-6.5 m, respectively. The paper also presents vertical lake profiles of water temperature in June-July — characteristic of direct summer stratification of the reservoir.

Biogenic and Toxic Elements in Mountain Tundra Soils of the Teletskoye Lake Basin (Altai Mountains)

Biogenic and Toxic Elements in Mountain Tundra Soils of the Teletskoye Lake Basin (Altai Mountains)

Floristic findings in the Teletskoye Lake basin (Republic of Altai)

The article presents the locations of new species for the Republic of Altai (Juncus stygius), as well as 6 rare species in the region (Oxycoccus microcarpus, Rubus arcticus, Lathyrus krylovii, Carex dioica, C. iljinii, Hierochloe arctica). Most of the cited species are stenotopic inhabitants of sphagnum peat bogs, which have a very limited distribution in the Altai Mountains and they are concentrated in its northern and northeastern parts.

Review of some mites of the genus Ololaelaps Berlese (Acari, Laelapidae) in Russia, with description of a new species.

This study provides additional morphological information and new illustrations for three species of Ololaelaps Berlese described by Bregetova Koroleva (1964) from RussiaO. caucasicus, O. sellnicki and O. ussuriensisto supplement the original descriptions. Since holotypes for these three species were not designated, a lectotype is chosen from among the syntypes of each examined species. We describe the adult male and female of Ololaelaps altaiensis Joharchi sp. nov., from specimens collected from moss on the shore of the Teletskoye Lake, in Altai Mountains, Russia. The new species is distinguished from other Ololaelaps species by its short peritremes, ending near the middle of coxae II. The new species also has elongate paradactyli, extending well beyond the pretarsal claws; this feature appears to be correlated with the species semiaquatic habitat, and such correlation between tarsal morphology and ecology occurs in other species of Ololaelaps and of Gaeolaelaps with similar habitats.

The results of magnetotelluric studies on the profile of the Kuray depression – lake Teletskoye

The results of magnetotelluric studies (MTS) conducted in the western part of the Mountainous Altai region on the profile of the Kurai depression – lake Teletskoye are presented. The profile intersects two large tectonic units – the Mountainous Altai and Teletskaya, bounded by regional tectonic suturs of the Teletsko-Bashkausskiy, Northern Sayans, Shapshalskiy and other faults. The obtained data indicate a fairly fractional recent block divisibility of the Earth’s crust of the Mountainous Altai territory. It is shown that according to the characteristics of the electrical resistivity distribution within the studied profile, large blocks are distinguished that differ sharply in the features of the composition and structure of the Earth’s crust, as well as the manifestation intensity of deep processes. The sections constructed from magnetotelluric data allow us to trace the behavior of the main neotectonic disturbances, which are marked by subvertical zones with abnormally low resistivity values (1-5 Ohm·m).

Численное моделирование и натурные исследования термобара в Телецком озере

A computer three-dimensional (3D) hydrothermodynamic model was designed for refined description of intra-annual temperature stratification in deep freezing Lake Teletskoye. The work is aimed at testing this model through simulation of a complex hydrophysical phenomenon, i.e. spring thermobar for real conditions of Lake Teletskoye. In June 2018, while performing field observations of temperature stratification in Lake Teletskoye, a thermobar (stretching from the mouth of the Chulyshman River at the lake’s southern tail up to its deep-water part) was detected and studied. Using the constructed 3D model of thermal regime and actual input data for 2018, the estimate of spring-summer thermobar in the water body as well as the comparative analysis of numerical simulation results and field observation data were made.

Distribution of trout in the Upper Ob basin

Rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum, 1792) and brown trout Salmo trutta Linnaeus, 1758 are popular aquaculture species worldwide. At the same time, it is known that when these species enter natural water bodies, they are able to form self-reproducing populations and cause significant damage to native fauna due to food competition, hybridization with native species, and predation. In the basin of the Upper Ob in the second half of the twentieth century, there was not only a large aquaculture farm specializing in trout but also work was carried out to introduce trout into natural water bodies: lakes in the basins of Lake Teletskoye and the Katun river. It is known about the formation of a self-reproducing population of brook trout in Lake Lebedinoe (in the basin of the Pervaya Koksha River, a second-order tributary of the lower reaches of the Katun River), which still exists. Currently, rainbow trout is a popular object of aquaculture in southern Siberia; it is grown mainly for the purpose of organizing recreational fishing, often in water bodies that are not isolated from the river network. This determines the regular ingress of this species into rivers. Nevertheless, currently no evidence of natural reproduction of trouts in natural water in the Upper Ob basin, except in Lake Lebedinoe. However, given the high risks associated with the potential invasiveness of trouts, it is necessary to recommend a cautious attitude towards the distribution of these species and to provide for an environmental impact assessment of projects related to their cultivation in water bodies of Western Siberia.

Modelling of Thermal Stratification and Ice Dynamics with Application to Lake Teletskoye, Altai Republic, Russia

Modelling of Thermal Stratification and Ice Dynamics with Application to Lake Teletskoye, Altai Republic, Russia

<span>True bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) from the taiga zone of the mountainous Altai of Russia: the first records and new data on rare species</span>

Twelve species are recorded for the first time from the Altai Republic, Russia, based on the materials collected by authors in the vicinity of the northern part of Lake Teletskoye in the southern taiga of Western Siberia. Nabis (Dolichonabis) americolimbatus (Carayon, 1961) is recorded for the first time for the Western Siberia. Seven species, Pachycoleus pusillimus (J. Sahlberg, 1870) (and family Dipsocoridae Dohrn, 1859), Saldula orthochila (Fieber, 1859), Xylocoris cursitans (Fallén, 1807), Acalypta carinata (Panzer, 1806), Empicoris vagabundus (Linnaeus, 1758), Drymus brunneus (R.F. Sahlberg, 1848), Scolopostethus thomsoni Reuter, 1875 are recorded for the first time from the Russian Altai. Four species are recorded for the first time from the Altai Republic – Phytocoris longipennis Flor, 1861, Nysius helveticus (Herrich-Shaeffer, 1850), Kleidocerys resedae resedae (Panzer, 1797), Cymus glandicolor Hahn, 1832. For each species the general distribution, the detailed distribution in the adjacent territories of Siberia, and the data on the biotopic confinement are provided. In addition, the data on the abundance and ecology of some other rare species are provided.