Dynamics of chlorophyll a concentration in the South Baikal pelagic during the direct temperature stratification period

Abstract

The dynamics of chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentration and water temperature (at depth layers of 0‒10, 10–25, 25–50, and 50–250 m) and transparency were studied at a pelagic sampling station in South Baikal during the direct temperature stratification period (July–October) in 2009–2011. The results indicate a sufficiently stable functioning of the autotrophic chain of the Lake Baikal pelagic. The observed concentration of Chl a in the 0–50 m depth layer in July–October of 2009–2011 had varied within the range of 0.29–1.84 mg/m³ (1.03 ± 0.06 mg/m³ on average), which is close to the average multiyear values, and correlated positively with the water temperature.