DISTRIBUTION OF PHOTOSYNTHETIC PIGMENTS IN THE SURFACE SEDIMENTS OF LAKE BAIKAL

Abstract

We have investigated the distribution of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll and carotenoids), total organic carbon (TOC), and biogenic silica in the surface sediments throughout Lake Baikal and suggested factors controlling this distribution. The concentrations of photosynthetic pigments preserved in the surface sediments of Lake Baikal have been established to be high in the Southern basin and minimum in the Central basin, including the Akademichesky Ridge, while TOC is distributed rather evenly, and the contents of biogenic silica are higher in the Central and Northern basins. The oxidizing conditions in the surface sediments and the low sedimentation rate in the Akademichesky Ridge caused intense decomposition of pigments. The large inflow of the Selenga River significantly disturbs sedimentation in the Southern basin and thus causes uneven spatial distribution of pigments. Carotenoids found in the Southern basin are also diverse, thus suggesting their origin from different classes of algae.