Diatom evidence of 20th century ecosystem change in Lake Baikal, Siberia

Lake Baikal, the world's deepest and oldest freshwater lake, has shown significant ecosystem changes over the past two decades due to atmospheric warming. Recent sediment core analysis reveals a shift in pelagic diatom communities, with a marked increase in the cosmopolitan species Synedra acus and a decline in endemic species such as Cyclotella minuta and Stephanodiscus meyerii. These changes, particularly pronounced in the south basin since the 1990s, align with predictions of diatom responses to warming, including reduced ice cover duration and stronger thermal stratification. Contrastingly, the north basin shows no evidence of recent diatom response despite significant ice cover decline. The study also finds no indication of eutrophication from deep water sediments, though localized shoreline pollution from inadequate sewage treatment poses a growing threat. This research underscores the urgent need for action to mitigate anthropogenic impacts on Lake Baikal's unique ecosystem.

Roberts, S. L., Swann, G. E. A., McGowan, S., Panizzo, V. N., Vologina, E. G., Sturm, M., & Mackay, A. W. (2018). Diatom evidence of 20th century ecosystem change in Lake Baikal, Siberia. Plos One, 13(12), e0208765. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0208765