Researchers from the Baikal Museum of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences have discovered a new species of algae in Lake Baikal, named the Olkhon morphotype of Draparnaldioides. This unique algae has not been previously documented in scientific literature.
Between 2023 and 2024, scientists collected over 70 samples of endemic algae from the genera Draparnaldioides, Ireksokonia, and Myxonemopsis. Many of these samples were found to be unique and will soon be added to the museum's collection.
The newly identified algae species resides exclusively in the waters of Baikal and is expected to be the tenth species in the Draparnaldioides genus, which was first described in the 1920s by the renowned Soviet botanist Konstantin Meyer. Algae from this genus play a crucial role in the Baikal ecosystem, contributing to plant cover and participating in biological nutrient cycles.
This discovery highlights the ongoing importance of Baikal's unique flora and the need for continued research into its endemic species.