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Habitat segregation in benthic invertebrates of Lake Baikal: a contribution to evolutionary ecology in ancient lakes

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Lake Baikal is without any doubt the most fascinating lake in the world. It is at the same time the deepest (1650 m, with well-oxygenated abyssal waters and sediments) and oldest existing lake holding no less than one fifth of the total non-frozen surface freshwater of the world. The fauna of the lake is very diverse and, for the largest part, endemic. These endemic organisms constitute by far the most important portion of the lake-wide ecosystem. Therefore Lake Baikal is a unique field laboratory for evolutionary research, where endemic species, species-flocks and communities can be investigated in the biotope in which they have evolved. Lake Baikal offers the opportunity to elucidate ecological aspects in speciation processes.

In the present research project, the competitive exclusion principle will be tested on more or less closely related species within their species-flocks. Phylogenetic distances will be measured by morphological, biochemical and karyological analyses. The amount of habitat segregation which has resulted in or is necessary for speciation, will be analysed in the benthic communities of soft sediments. The foreseen taxa are the Oligochaeta, Gammaridae, Ostracoda, Isopoda, Chironomidae, Copepoda, Mollusca and Turbellaria. Quantitative sampling will be effected in bathymetric transects in relation to specific environmental factors, i.e. depth, temperature and oxygen.

Simultaneously, physiological adaptations in relation to niche specialisation and habitat adaptations will be investigated in selected taxa, i.e. Gammaridae and Oligochaeta (larger specimens and dominant biota in the profundal). Special attention will be given to osmolality, gigantism and growth in relation to depth and temperature. This approach appears to be unique and could initiate new hypotheses on the importance of ecological aspects in speciation.

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Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences
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Rue Vautier 29
1040 Bruxelles
Belgien

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Letzte Aktualisierung: 19 September 1996

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Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/INTAS-94-4465/de

European Union, 2024