= EXPERIMENTAL ARTICLES =
FORMATION AND OXIDATION OF METHANE IN MEROMICTIC
LAKE GOK-GOL (AZERBAIJAN)
© 2010 N. V. Pimenov*, 1, A. Yu. Kallistova*, I. I. Rusanov*, S. K. Yusupov*, L. Montonen**, G. Jurgens**, U. Münster* **, A. N. Nozhevnikova*, M. V. Ivanov*
*Institution of the Russian Academy of Sciences Institute of Microbiology named after. S.N. Vinogradsky RAS, Moscow **Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Microbiology, University of Helsinki, Finland ***Institute of Engineering and Biotechnology environment, Tampere University of Technology, Finland
Received by the editor on September 29, 2009.
Using radioisotope, molecular and microbiological methods, we studied the production, oxidation of methane and the diversity of cultivated aerobic methanotrophic bacteria in the water column and surface sediments of the meromictic oligotrophic lake Gek-Gel (Azerbaijan). The rate of methane oxidation was extremely low in the aerobic mixolimnion, increased sharply in the chemocline and reached a maximum at the boundary of the appearance of oxygen in the water column. In enrichment cultures isolated from the chemocline, aerobic methanotrophic bacteria of type II were identified, belonging to the genus Neutral. Methane oxidation in the anaerobic waters of the monimolimnion was much more intense than in the aerobic zone. However, deeper than 29-30 m there was an increase in methane content, which at the bottom reached a value of 68 µM. The highest rate of methane oxidation under anaerobic conditions was observed in the surface layer of bottom sediments. A significant excess of the rate of methane oxidation over its formation in surface sediments and the water column indicated a deep source of methane in this lake.
Key words: meromictic oligotrophic lake Gek-Gel, methanogenesis, methane oxidation, methanotrophic bacteria.
Meromictic lakes are important and interesting objects for microbial ecology research. Due to the physicochemical stability of water masses and the relatively constant vertical stratification of microbial populations, such lakes serve as a convenient model for studying the structure of microbial communities. In meromictic lakes, a noticeable increase in the abundance and biodiversity of microorganisms is usually observed in the chemocline at the boundary of the aerobic and anaerobic zones, below which stable anaerobic conditions persist. As a rule, the anaerobic zone of fresh and salty meromictic lakes is characterized by the presence of free hydrogen sulfide, the formation of which is determined by the activity of sulfate-reducing prokaryotes.
The anaerobic monimolimnion of meromictic lakes is also characterized by a high concentration of methane formed due to the vital activity of methanogenic archaea. Methane content typically decreases sharply in the chemocline, where its aerobic oxidation rates are highest, and remains low in the aerobic mixolimnion. Aerobic methanotrophic bacteria consume
1 Addressee for correspondence (e-mail: [email protected]).
a significant part of the methane generated in the anaerobic zone of the lake and ensure the return of carbon to the food chain, thus preventing the emission of methane into the atmosphere. Along with aerobic oxidation of methane, in stratified lakes containing a sufficient amount of sulfate ion, a high rate of anaerobic oxidation of methane was found in the monimolimnion and the upper horizon of bottom sediments. Anaerobic oxidation of methane most likely occurs via the reverse pathway to methanogenesis, with sulfate as the final electron acceptor, and is carried out by a consortium of methanotrophic archaea and sulfate-reducing bacteria. Cells of anaerobic methanotrophic archaea were recorded using the CARD-FISH method in the water column of the freshwater stratified lake Plupsee. Anaerobic methane oxidation, which was independent of the activity of sulfate-reducing bacteria and, the authors suggested, was carried out by a consortium of methanotrophic archaea (ANME II) and denitrifying bacteria, was found in sediments from a freshwater channel. More recently, evidence has been obtained that denitrifying bacteria are capable of anaerobic methane oxidation coupled to the reduction of nitrate to molecular nitrogen without the participation of archaea. So
Thus, according to the latest data, the existence of anaerobic oxidation of methane in the anaerobic zones of reservoirs with a low sulfate content cannot be excluded.
Meromictic oligotrophic lake Gyok-Gol is located in Caucasus mountains(Azerbaijan) at an altitude of 1650 m above sea level. It was formed in the 12th century in the valley of the Ag-Su River as a result of an earthquake. The surface area of the lake is 1.25 km2, the maximum depth is 92 m. The lake is characterized by pronounced temperature and chemical stratification. Free hydrogen sulfide appears from a depth of 29-30 m and in the near-bottom horizons reaches a value of 4.0-4.5 mg l-1. The content of sulfate ion in the water column of the lake varies from 30 to 50 mg l-1. Previously, in Lake Gyok-Gol, studies were carried out on the physical and chemical parameters of water, photosynthesis, chemosynthesis, the number and diversity of heterotrophic, photosynthetic, iron-oxidizing, sulfate-reducing bacteria, as well as zooplankton. However, there is still no data in the literature on the methane cycle in this lake.
The purpose of this work was to study the methane content, the rates of its formation and oxidation in the water column and the upper layer of bottom sediments of Lake Gyok-Gol using biogeochemical methods, as well as to identify aerobic methanotrophic bacteria by obtaining enrichment cultures with their subsequent identification by molecular methods.
MATERIALS AND METHODS OF RESEARCH
Work on Lake Gyok-Gol was carried out in September 2003 at a point with a depth of 72 m (40°24.706"M, 46°19.696"E).
Water samples were taken with a 1-liter glass bathometer, and surface sediments were taken with a limnological stratometer with a tube 4 cm in diameter and 40 cm long, made of plexiglass. Immediately after sampling, the oxygen content in the water samples was measured using the Winkler method and hydrogen sulfide using a standard set of reagents (Ldiyashegek, Germany), and samples were also taken to determine the methane content using the gas chromatographic method on a gas chromatograph (GC) KHROME 5 with a flame ionization detector.
The rate of methane production and oxidation processes in the water column and bottom sediments was measured using the radioisotope method. NaH14CO3 was used as a substrate for measuring hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis; for acetoclastic methanogenesis, 14C-acetate labeled with a methyl group was used. The rate of methane oxidation was determined with 14C-methane. When studying the water column, incubation of samples with labeled substrates was carried out for 24 hours in 30-ml penicillin bottles, sealed
but closed without an air bubble with a gas-tight butyl rubber stopper. The required incubation temperature was maintained by hanging the flasks on a nylon rope at the depth from which the corresponding sample was taken.
Bottom sediment samples were placed without air access into 5-ml plastic syringes with a cut end, closed with a gas-tight butyl rubber stopper, and incubated in a refrigerator for 24 h at a temperature of 5°C, close to the in situ temperature.
0.2 ml of aqueous solutions of 14C-bicarbonate, 14C-acetate, and 14C-methane with final radioactivity in the samples of 10, 15, and 2 μCi, respectively, was injected into the water and sediment samples with a tuberculin syringe. Sampling and measurement of the rate of sulfate reduction in lake sediments were carried out using a radioisotope method similar to determining the intensity of methane cycle processes using 35S-SO2 (final concentration in the sample 20 µCi).
Immediately after completion of incubation, the samples were fixed with 1 ml of 2 N NaOH solution and transported to the stationary laboratory of the Institute of Medical Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Further processing of samples was carried out according to methods described in detail earlier.
Aerobic methanotrophic bacteria were cultivated in liquid mineral medium "P". To do this, in 20 ml bottles with 5 ml of sterile medium and 10 vol. % methane in the gas phase was added to 5 ml of lake water taken from the appropriate depth. The flasks were incubated in the dark at 20°C for 2 months. The growth of methanotrophs was assessed by the loss of introduced methane gas chromatographically on GC CHROM 5. After detecting signs of growth, the enrichment cultures were replanted every three weeks on a medium of the same composition.
Total DNA from enrichment cultures was isolated using a method based on the use of hexa-decyltrimethylammonium bromide.
PCR amplification of gene fragments encoding 16S rRNA was carried out using universal bacterial primers GC984F, 984F and 1492R. The DNA sample under study (1-3 µl) was added to the reaction mixture (30 µl) containing 0.75 µl of dNTP mixture (10 mM, Finnzymes, Finland), 1.2 µl of each primer (20 pmol µl-1), 3 µl of 10x buffer for DyNAzyme™ II DNA polymerase (Finnzymes, Finland), 0.45 μl of DyNAzyme™ II DNA polymerase (2 units μl-1, Finnzymes, Finland). PCR was carried out using an Eppendorf Master Cycler Gradient thermal cycler (Germany) according to the following program: (1) initial denaturation at 95°C for 4 min; (2) 38 cycles of denaturation (40 s at 94°C), annealing (1.5 min at 55°C) and elongation (2.5 min at 72°C); (3) final elon-
(a) O2, H2S, mmol/l 0.2 0.3 0.4
CH4, µmol/l; T°C
(b) nmol/(l day)
5 10 15 20 25 30
Rice. 1. a - temperature distribution profiles, O2, and CH4 in the water column of Lake Gyok-Gol: 1 - O2; 2 - 3 - CH4; 4 - temperature °C; b - rates of formation (1) and oxidation (2) of methane in the water column of Lake Gyok-Gol.
ation at 72°C for 15 minutes. PCR products were analyzed by electrophoresis in a 1.5% agarose gel stained with ethidium bromide (0.2 mg L-1) and visualized using a UV transilluminator.
PCR products obtained by amplification with primers GC984F and 1492R were separated by denaturing gel electrophoresis in a 6% acrylamide gel containing a linear gradient (from 30 d
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BOLDAREVA E.N., BORZENKO S.V., BRYANTSEVA I.A., BURYUKHAEV S.P., GORLENKO V.M., MATYUGINA E.B., NAMSARAEV B.B., NAMSARAEV Z.B., SOROKIN D. .YU. - 2010
IVANOV M.V., LUNINA O.N., PIMENOV N.V., PRUSAKOVA T.S., RUSANOV I.I. - 2008
Cognac “Gek-Gel” is a Russian product with Azerbaijani roots. Introduced in the 50s at Mosazervinzavod, this drink has survived to this day, despite numerous crises that befell the plant, and pleases cognac lovers with a balanced, aged taste.
Cognac with a poetic name
The tradition of winemaking in Azerbaijan dates back thousands of years. Favorable climatic conditions, the cultivation of local grape varieties made this country in the 70-80s. 20th century flagship of the USSR grape production. After the crisis period of the anti-alcohol campaign, the grape stock suffered significantly, and now Azerbaijani companies are working hard to return to their former glory. This is facilitated not only by the expansion of local production, which is aimed at creating fine wines, but also by selected grape spirits, which are sent to Moscow, where the JSC Mosazervinzavoda creates exquisite cognacs from them, including Gek-Gel.
Among the line of vintage cognacs of the Moscow plant in 1948, the fragrant and harmonious cognac “Gek-Gel” was born. Its warming sound of flowers, chocolate, and golden glow are reminiscent of sunny Azerbaijan. Cognac "Gek-Gel" is named after the "Pearl of the Caucasus" - a blue lake, as follows from the Azerbaijani language. This picturesque body of water, which the poet Samad Vurgun described as the “queen of lakes” of Azerbaijan, appears on the cognac label. The drink received a soft, balanced taste, which brought it 1 silver and 3 gold medals at international tasting competitions.
Life of Azerbaijani wines in Moscow
CJSC Mosazervinzavod went through a difficult journey: it practically went bankrupt, but was revived and became a progressive enterprise, whose effectiveness was confirmed many times by winning prizes.
Azerbaijani wines began to be bottled in Moscow when the Azvintrest wine warehouse complex was organized in 1925. During that period most of The labor involved in preparing bottles and packaging goods was carried out manually. Accordingly, in order for costs to be recouped, wines were sold through a grocery chain, where wine was poured directly into customers’ containers, because glass containers were in short supply. 70s breathed in new life into production: transportation of wine in tanks across railway. At the same time, the technical renovation of the plant began. By 1985, the organization’s capacity was already 1,400 thousand deciliters. They produced not only vintage cognacs (Gek-Gel, Baku, Moscow, etc.), but dry and dessert wines. However, the anti-alcohol campaign also affected this developing production. A huge area of vineyards was liquidated in Azerbaijan. The Moscow plant, in order not to reduce its activities, repurposed itself to produce soft drinks.
The 1990s are a period of decline. Mosazervinzavod, which switched to a rental form of ownership and then became a limited liability company, experienced problems with the supply of raw materials and insufficient equipment. By 1997, he was virtually bankrupt. At the same time, the management of the enterprise was replaced. Bayramov Elman Bayramovich became the director, thanks to whom the glory of Gek-Gel cognac was revived again.
Revival of the success of Mosazerwinzavod
They say about Elman Bayramovic that he is a person who knows how to quickly solve problems. Of course, for Mosazerwinzavod Bayramov became an iconic figure, because he not only raised the plant to its feet, but also revived the taste of Azerbaijani cognacs for Russian and international connoisseurs of the drink. A native of Kirovabad (Ganja), he knew more than anyone else about the prospects of Azerbaijani winemaking. Elman Bayramovich served in the Soviet army, trained in Moscow, where he later worked in the police. But in 1977, Elman joined the ranks of entrepreneurs, and at the beginning of his activities, his acquaintance with the President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev provided great support. Aliyev set Elman Bayramov the task of restoring the neglected enterprise and bringing Azerbaijani cognacs among the leaders in the Russian market. The head of the country needed a proven, energetic person who was not afraid of difficulties. Elman Bajramovic was the one who confidently approached this role. Under his leadership, the plant was repaired, its technical base was updated, and a hot bottling line was launched. As a result, a new batch of small-volume skates and a souvenir collection appeared.
In 1977, Mosazerwinzavod won a competition to supply its cognacs in honor of the celebration of the 850th anniversary of Moscow. In 2000, when Yuri Luzhkov visited Baku, he noted Elman Bayramov as the best head of Moscow production. Thanks to the fruitful work of the director, today the plant is becoming one of the leaders in the cognac industry, and its products have been awarded many Russian and international diplomas and awards.
“Gek-Gel” cognac is the result of the hard work of Azerbaijani winemakers who collect selected grapes, from which skillful Moscow blending specialists create an aromatic drink aged 6-8 years.
Gourmets appreciate real cognac in the Gek-Gel drink:
- use of special Azerbaijani grape varieties;
- using an old and proven drink recipe;
- 6-8 years of aging in oak barrels;
- elegant taste with hints of chocolate and oak;
- a rich bouquet of aromas of fruits, flowers and sweet spices.
These lakes really have the most varied, unusual shades of water: red, crimson, blue-green, blue, yellow, white and even black.
Lake Blanca, Washington
Tiwu Ata Polo
Deep red lake on the Sanetsch pass in Switzerland
"Colorful" lakes are scattered throughout the globe.
The national poet of Azerbaijan Samad Vurgun called Lake Gek-Gel (that is, "the Queen of Lakes" for its amazing picturesqueness). Blue Lake"), which is located at an altitude of 1576 m in the Asgun Gorge. Small in area (0.8 sq. km.), but quite deep (93 m), it is widely known for its bright blue color. This is how its waters are colored by salts of various minerals and a large amount of hydrogen sulfide, which is supplied by its numerous streams.
Gek-Gel.
On the island of Kunashir (Kuril Islands) there is a milky-white lake of intense color. The lake is boiling. It has been established that it is filled with a concentrated solution of sulfuric and hydrochloric acids, and hot volcanic gases rise all the time from its bottom, which heat the water to a boil.
White, but not boiling, lakes are known on the Indonesian island of Java and on the Japanese islands.
In the south of the European part of Russia, in Western Siberia and Central Asia there are many lakes with purple-red colored water. During sunset, they change their color somewhat and seem to resemble bowls filled with molten gold. This type of lake includes, for example, the famous salt Lake Lower Volga region - Elton (translated from Kazakh Altyn-nur means “golden lake”).
Elton
Near Astrakhan there are “raspberry” lakes. They differ not only in color, but also in their unusual raspberry-like aroma. That is why once upon a time the salt, which was extracted from these lakes in the amount of 100 poods annually, was considered the best and was supplied exclusively to the table of Empress Catherine II. Painted in a pale pink or orange color, which, however, soon disappeared in the sun, it retained a persistent aroma of raspberries or violets. Such properties of the salt of these lakes are explained by the presence of small salt-loving red brine shrimp in their waters. As they die and decompose, they give the salt its unique odors. These crustaceans are a favorite delicacy of flamingos.
Lakes with water from pink to bright red are also known in the sands of the Karakum desert in the Uzboy riverbed, as well as in Western Siberia. The well-known Raspberry Lake is located on the territory of the Kulunda steppe, in the south of Western Siberia. But it’s not just its color that makes it stand out among the thousands of local lakes. The fact is that in the water of this lake... a stone is constantly being born and growing. As it turned out, the water in Raspberry Lake is saturated with magnesium salts, and the underground springs that feed it contain soda. When mixed, these solutions form a mass that immediately turns to stone. The local population widely uses this extraordinary natural “factory of building materials”, but in the conditions of the steppe they are in acute shortage.
In some cases, purple bacteria are the culprits behind the pink color of water in lakes.
There is even a unique two-color lake on the Japanese island of Kyushu. One half of it is painted yellow due to sulfur impurities, and the other half is colored yellow. pink color, because iron oxides come out at the bottom.
Lakes with red water are also found on the shores of Mediterranean Sea in Western Europe. Lake Colorado (i.e. “Red”) is similar, seemingly abandoned at a height (4550 m) in the South American Cordillera (Bolivia).
An interesting “colored” lake is known in Algeria, near the city of Sidi Bel Abbes, among picturesque mountains Atlas. The local population, in an arid climate, knows how to appreciate even small sources of water, but the water of this lake, although not salty, is not diverted into irrigation canals, nor is it used for drinking. You will not see a single fisherman on its banks. It turns out that the lake basin is filled not with water, but with real ink. Only two small rivers flow into it. But the waters of one of them are saturated with iron salts, and the other, which flows through the swamp, contains the remains of various vegetation. Mixing, they turn the lake into a large natural inkwell
Sidi Bel Abbes, Algeria
But on the island of Flores in Indonesia, on the top of one of the volcanoes, there are not one, but three “colored” lakes, with water of different colors. In one of them the water is bright red, in another it is pale blue, and in the third it is white like milk.
Lakes in the crater of Keli Mutu volcano, Flores island, Indonesia
How can we explain the unusual colors of these lakes? It turns out that the internal forces of the Earth and... chemistry are to blame for this. The lakes were formed in different craters of the volcano, rich in various minerals. Red, as you guessed, contains a lot of iron compounds, and the water here “behaves” calmly. In the blue and white lakes, salts of sulfuric and hydrochloric acids are dissolved in various concentrations. The water here is boiling all the time, and thick steam swirls above it.
Tiwu ata Polo, Flores Island, Indonesia
Dear readers! Our Motherland is gifted with the most beautiful, magnificent natural landscapes, natural resources, unique flora and fauna, there can be no doubt... From time immemorial, our land has been distinguished by its fertility and generosity, and an example of this is the “Pearl of Azerbaijan” - Goygol! And today we will tell you about the Goygol Nature Reserve.
Goygol Nature Reserve is one of the most beautiful national park ov in the world. It was created in 1925 to protect the mountain lake Gek-Gel, which is located 30 km from the city near the Adjikend resort.
The formation of the lake was caused by an earthquake in the 12th century.
Today Gek-Gel is the most large lake on the territory of Azerbaijan, the pearl of the country and an extremely attractive tourist point on the map of Ganja and its environs. Until 2007, the reserve was closed to tourists, but after receiving the status of a national park, travelers were able to visit its territory.
History of the creation of the reserve
Goygol State Reserve is the very first in Azerbaijan, it was created in 1925. Then in 1950 it was liquidated and restored again in 1958. After existing for three years, it was liquidated again in 1961 and restored on July 14, 1965. However, during the restoration of the state reserve, factors contradicting the status of the reserve were not eliminated. The operation of sanitary and health institutions, a number of catering facilities, parking lots, etc. was allowed on the reserve territory. In addition, grass was mowed on the territory of the reserve. All these factors had a negative impact on the natural environment of the reserve.
It is worth noting that previously the Goygol National Park consisted of two territories - the main one (the Goygol Nature Reserve itself) and a branch located 80 km away, which was called the Eldar Pine Grove. Now the grove has also received its own status as a separate reserve "Eldar Shamy".
Located in the northeastern part of the Lesser Caucasus Range at an altitude of 1100-3060 meters above sea level, the Goygol Nature Reserve was created in order to protect the typical landscapes of mountain forests and the subalpine zone and ensure the safety of the purity of the waters of Lake Goygol.
The main territory of the reserve has mountainous terrain, most of which is rich in forests. The northeastern slopes of the Murovdag ridge are an alternation of longitudinal ridges and deep river valleys. The dominant peak is Mount Kapaz (3065m). In 1139, a strong earthquake destroyed a significant part of this peak. Stone blocks rushed down and blocked river gorges, including the Agsu River. As a result, many lakes were formed, including Goygol.
Goygol is the largest and most beautiful mountain lake in Azerbaijan. It lies at an altitude of 1556 meters above sea level. Length coastline- 6460, and depth - 93 meters. The water is fresh, clear and appears blue, which is why the lake got its name. In total, there are eight large lakes on the territory of the reserve, among them Maralgel, Zalilgel, Garagel and others. Like Goygol, they are surrounded by mountains, and the landscape of each lake is very diverse and picturesque.
The fauna of the reserve is represented by many species of animals and birds, including red deer, roe deer, badger, East Caucasian tur, brown bear, stone and pine martens, chukar, bearded vulture, black vulture, Caspian snowcock, etc. There are two types of trout in the reservoirs of the reserve: lake and brook. A population of lake trout (Geygol) formed in Lake Goygol and other lakes after their formation in the 12th century. More than 50 species of birds nest in the reserve. Rock partridge and Caspian snowcock, which are listed in the Red Book of the International Council for Nature Conservation, nest in the subalpine and alpine zones.
It seems that nature was favorable to this region, since not only animals, but also vegetable world it is full of rare and endemic species. About 20 of them are Caucasian endemics of various ranks. These are Georgian oak, Trautfetter maple, Nizami rosehip, long-nosed wrestler, silky cuff, bloodspotted astragalus, fragrant cloves, Ruprecht geranium, etc. Many of these herbs are medicinal and are widely used not only in folk, but also in traditional medicine.
Sights of the reserve
An attraction of the main mountainous part of the reserve is the hooked pine (also known as Koka, Sosnovsky pine), significant groves of which are concentrated near the lake. Geigel. With increasing height, beech and hornbeam are replaced by oak, then by open forests of eastern oak, warty and Litvinov birches, mountain ash, junipers, rose hips, and honeysuckle. Among other tree species, maple, linden, elm, chestnut, walnut, plane tree are common. Buckthorn, wild cherry, almond, hawthorn, hazel, cherry plum, euonymus, black elderberry, barberry are common in the undergrowth, and among herbaceous plants - fescue, woodruff, fern, undergrowth, clover, nettle, etc.
Above the open forest zone, subalpine and post-forest meadows extend to the very foot of Kapaz.
The fauna is represented by a variety of birds, animals, insects, but their numbers are small. The most common species here are: the common hedgehog, the Caucasian mole, the brown hare, the wood mouse, the fox, the badger, the otter, the pine and stone martens, the bear, the bazoar goat, the lynx, and the roe deer. Of the 39 species of birds, the most interesting are the bearded vulture, vulture, black vulture, snowcock, alpine jackdaw, and chukar. The most notable reptiles are Radde's viper, yellow-bellied viper, copperhead, green lizard and green toad.
How is unique natural heritage protected?
As it turned out, the creation National Park- this is one of the ways to protect natural heritage from robbery and pogrom by irresponsible private individuals. Unlike a nature reserve, the structure of a national park is such that the territory of the reserve is preserved as the “core”, and the expanded territory becomes publicly accessible to ecotourists. Perhaps in the near future tourist centers will be created there that will not cause a direct negative impact on the ecosystem of the reserve.
This could not be done on the basis of a reserve, and therefore the status of a national park can only help preserve that unique flora and fauna, that landscape that has evolved over tens and hundreds of thousands of years, as well as the unique freshwater lake itself, which gave its name to the entire National Park!
By the way, scientists studying the flora of Goygol were quite surprised - more than 800 species of precious medicinal plants grow on the territory of the former reserve.
For many centuries, Goygol was sung by poets and ashugs of Azerbaijan; hundreds of songs and poems were composed praising Goygol.
Dear readers! Here we come to the end. It should be noted that this year the Goygol State Reserve, by order of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, finally received the status of a national park of Azerbaijan. Read our section and know all the heavenly corners of our Motherland!
Pervina Mehdieva
UDC 574.472
E. M. Kurbanov, S. Ch. Mamedova
Baku State University, Baku, Azerbaijan, [email protected]
BIODIVERSITY OF THE LAKE GEK-GEL SURROUNDINGS
IN THE CAUCASUS MINOR OF THE AZERBAIJANREPUBLIC
E. M. Kurbanov, S. C. Mamedova
Baku State University, Baku, Azerbaijan, [email protected]
Gek Gel is the most extensive and beautiful among the lakes on the northern slopes of the Lesser Caucasus, located at an altitude of 1555 m above sea level. In terms of its location, picturesqueness, and water transparency, it is not inferior to the famous mountain lakes of Transcaucasia, famous for their beauty. Lake Gek Gel was formed as a result of tectonic movement, accompanied by a grandiose collapse of Mount Kapaz. The lake is fed by the Agsu Chay River (which in turn is supplied with water from Maral Gel and Gush Gel) and sediment flowing from the slopes of the catchment area. Lake Gek Gel is surrounded by a ring of mountains, which are spurs of the Murovdag ridge and have different heights. The highest of them is Mount Kapaz (3030 m).
For the purpose of protection beautiful corner nature, formed as a result of an earthquake, in 1926 the Gek Gel State Nature Reserve was organized in the region - the first reserve in Azerbaijan. In 2008, by order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Gek Gel Nature Reserve was given the status of a national park in the administrative territories of Gek Gel State nature reserve, Gek of Gel, Dashkesan and Goranboy districts with an area of 12,755 hectares for the purpose of preserving biodiversity and rational use natural resources, development of ecotourism and large-scale propaganda natural heritage republics. The creation of a national park is a way to preserve a unique natural heritage. Thus, Gek Gel National Park will be open for visits, recreation and tourists. Of course, this will be subject to special rules.
According to the floristic zoning of the Caucasus by A. A. Grossheim (1948), the area of Lake Gek Gel is included in the Caucasian province of the mountain forest region of southern Europe and, in particular, in its Somkhet district, which is one of the richest provinces among other floristic provinces of the Caucasus. Of the total number of plant species growing in the Caucasus (about 6000), almost 42% are found within the Caucasus province.
In the vicinity of Lake Gek Gel, a belt distribution of vegetation is expressed, due to changes in climatic and soil factors in the mountain altitudinal gradient.
According to literary information and research, the flora of the National Park contains about 420 species, including about 80 trees and shrubs. The main tree species of the reserve: Georgian oaks ( Quercus iberica Stev.) and eastern ( Q. macranthera F. et M.), oriental beech ( Fagus orientalis Lipsky) and Caucasian hornbeam ( Carpinus caucasica Gross.), they are accompanied by the Caucasian linden ( Tilia caucasica Rupr.), common ash ( Fraxinius excelsior L.), Trautwetter maple ( Acer trautvetteri Medw.), eastern plane tree ( Platanus orientalis L.), Koch pine ( Pinus kochiana Klotzsch ex C. Koch), edible chestnut ( Castanea sativa Mill.), etc.
In the middle mountain zone of 700–800 m, the slopes are occupied by beech forests; on the eastern and western slopes, beech-hornbeam, hornbeam and oak-hornbeam forests are characteristic. On the slopes of southern exposure and along the ridges of the spurs, oak forests are characteristic, which on very steep and rocky slopes are interrupted by xerophilic groups.
Forests in the middle zone, above 800 m, are characterized by the highest productivity and beautiful landscape of the area. The dominant species here are oriental beech ( Fagus orientalis Lipsky) with an admixture of hornbeam ( Carpinus caucasica Gross.).
A big attraction of the middle belt of the region is the Kokha pine growing here ( Pinus kochiana Klotzsch ex C. Koch). This is a light-loving species; it grows here on the northern slope of the Mrovdag ridge (450 hectares). The pine grove on the spurs of the Mrovdag ridge, located to the southeast of the picturesque mountain lake Gek Gel in the band 1600–2200 m above sea level, is the largest tract in Azerbaijan, in the Lesser Caucasus.
The upper edge of the forest is bordered by park oak groves (with eastern oak ( Quercus macranthera F. et M.)), birch forests or subalpine varieties of beech forest, alternating with meadow communities. Even higher in the mountains (from 2000–2300 and above), meadow vegetation acquires landscape significance. The herbaceous cover is high-altitude and is often disturbed by screes and stone fields, devoid of vegetation or covered with broken rock-talus vegetation.
The vegetation of the mountain slopes adjacent to the lake has not only important balneological and decorative significance, but also plays a climate-protective, water- and soil-protective role. In addition, the vegetation of the Gek Gel Lake area is of great scientific interest, value and sanitary and hygienic importance, being one of the areas of the Mrovdag forest.
About 20 species of the Gek flora of the Gel National Park are Caucasian endemics of various ranks. This is Georgian oak ( Quercus iberica Stev.), Trautwetter maple ( Acer trautvetteri Medw.), Nizami rosehip ( Rosa nisami Sosn.), big-nosed wrestler ( Aconitum nasutum Fisch.), clicky cuff ( Alchimilla sericata Rchb.), astragalus bloodspotted ( Astragalus sanguinolentus M. B.), fragrant cloves ( Dianthus fragrans Ad. in Web.), Ruprecht's geranium ( Geranium ruprechtii Woron. et Mohr.), clear-leaved catnips ( Nepeta lamiifolia Willd.) and grandiflora ( N. grandiflora M. B.), Ruprecht's resin ( Silene ruprechtii Schischk.) and pressed ( S. depressa M. B.), brother lily ( Lilium monadelphum M. B.), smooth kupena ( Polygonatum glaberrimum C. Koch. in Lin.), comfrey hard ( Symphytum asperum Lepech.) and Caucasian ( S. caucasicum M. B.), Trautwetter's bells ( Campanula trautvetteri Gross.) and Hohenacker ( C. hohenackeri Fisch. and Mey.), etc.
The fauna of the surrounding area of Lake Gek Gel is rich in species. The lake is home to large numbers of trout ( Salmo fario L.), presented in two forms: lake and stream. A population of lake trout (Geygol) formed in Lake Gek Gel and other lakes in the region after their formation in the 12th century.
In the vicinity of Lake Gek Gel, one of the amphibians found is the common toad ( Bufo bufo L.), tree frog ( Hyla arborea L.) and others, from reptiles - brittle spindle ( Anguis fragilis L.), meadow lizard ( Lacerta praticola Eversm.), grass snake ( Natrix natrix L.) and water ( N. tessellata Laurenti) and others, among birds - blackbird ( Turdus merula L.), black-headed warbler ( Sylvia articapilla L.), siskin ( Spinus spinus L.), mountain bunting ( Emberizia cia L.), wood lark ( Lullula arborea pallida Larudny.), black kite ( Milvus migrans Bodd.,), Caspian snowcock ( Tetraogallus caspicus Gmell.) and others, from mammals - shelf ( Glis glis L.), Transcaucasian squirrel ( Sciurus anomalus Guld.), brown hare ( Lepus europaeus Pallas.), badger ( Meles meles L.), stone marten ( Martes foina Erxleben), weasel ( Mustela nivalis L.), brown bear ( Ursus arctos L.), wolf ( Canis lupus L.), common fox ( Vulpes vulpes L.), forest cat ( Felis silvestris Schreber.), red deer ( Cervus elaphus L.), roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus L.), bezoar goat ( Capra aegagrus Erxleben) and others.
The mammal fauna of the National Park is relatively diverse. In recent years, thanks to special treatment protection managed to stop the extinction of red deer ( Cervus elaphus L.), the number of which began to decrease in the 90s of the last century as a result of the proximity of the combat area. Deer stay mainly in the middle zone of the forest belt; they can often be observed near the lake. Gek Gel and Maral Gel. Roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus L.) prefers relatively calm terrain, staying near ridges and their spurs, along the edges, in subalpine woodlands with thickets of bushes and ferns. Brown bears living in the National Park ( Ursus arctos L.) belongs to a rare Transcaucasian subspecies and will be included in the second edition of the “Red Book” of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The most characteristic feature of the bears living in the reserve is their extensive migrations, which take place in the autumn, especially in lean years.
From the materials on the study of animal ecology of the National Park, it is clear that the ungulates living in the region do not cause damage to trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants, which would inhibit natural regeneration. In the area around Lake Gek Gel, reforestation ensures normal density and condition of plantings. First of all, the tree, shrub and herbaceous vegetation of the region is influenced by ungulates.
The high-altitude lake Gek Gel and its surroundings are, without exaggeration, the most picturesque and beautiful corner of Azerbaijan, which is rightly called the “pearl of the Lesser Caucasus.”
Biodiversity and the role of creatures in ecosystems: Proceedings of the V International Scientific Conference. – Dnipropetrovsk: Lira, 2009. – P. 12-14.
