Case study: Lake Baikal in Russia
Lake Baikal, the world’ s oldest and deepest freshwater lake, curves for nearly 400 miles through south-eastern Siberia, north of the Mongolian border. On world heritage list
Functioning Describe the functioning of the ecosystem
( animals, plant, biophysical interactions).
Plants
• There are about 3500 species of plants and animals in Lake Baikal and about 84 % of them are endemics, which means that they can be found in Baikal only. According to the scientists’ research there are even more unknown species, as new varieties of organisms and plants are continuously developing in the lake.
• Baikal has more than 1000 species of aquatic flora! Besides the algae, about 20 species of flowering plants have been found here.
Animals
• The most famous endemic of the lake is a fresh-water seal, locally called“ nerpa”. It has always been of great interest. Nerpa lives up to 55-60 years, while the average age of other seals from European lakes is only 30-35 years. It can stay under the water for about 70 minutes.
• Plant and animal life in the lake is rich and various. There are between 1,500 and 1,800 animal species at different depths
• There are some 50 species of fish, belonging to seven families; the most numerous of these are the 25 species