Baikal evolution 2024. 18 August.

Day 2 of the expedition.

E.V. Romanova gave a lecture “Evolution of genetic codes” in the morning. The participants learned about the non-universality of genetic codes, their evolution, and their variability. After the lecture, the members of the expedition arrived in the settlement of Uzury and went down to the shore. Drozdova P.B. showed how to collect amphipods with a net. Participants in diving suits managed to dive with hydrobiological nets to collect mollusk samples. L.S. Kravtsova gave a lecture on “Hydrobiological research on Lake Baikal”. This lecture presented rich material on many hydrobiological studies carried out by the staff of LIN SB RAS. Numerous environmental challenges, such as the extinction of the Baikal sponge and the overpopulation of large territories by spirogyra due to anthropogenic impacts, were also highlighted.

In the evening, the expedition stopped at Cape Anyukhta, where the participants were able to collect their own samples using hydrobiological nets, scrapers, and nets. Samples of green algae were taken, which were described in detail by Kravtsova L.S., as well as amphipods, cladocerans, and mollusks, all of which were examined under binoculars by the participants.