A volunteer scientific expedition from the Russian Technological University has completed its fieldwork phase in Nalychevo Nature Park. Two research groups operated at the Central cordon and within the special protection zone of the park at Cape Nalychevo. Specialists from the general microbiology laboratory collected environmental samples for comprehensive subsequent analysis.
The coastal group gathered hydrobiological material, isolating bacterial strains from the benthos and local water sources. Simultaneously, the central group operated in areas of thermal activity, collecting samples to search for thermophilic microorganisms.
Expedition participants concurrently conducted research on regional water bodies. They analyzed samples from local rivers, Lake Nalychevo, and various thermal springs – including Kotel, the Ivanov gryphon, the Zheltorechenskiye springs, and the Aagskiye narzans – to determine their chemical composition and assess the level of anthropogenic load.
The collected materials have been dispatched to Moscow, where microbiologists will evaluate the biodiversity of the studied region. The subsequent laboratory research will focus on examining the metabolic potential of the isolated strains and identifying new microorganisms for prospective scientific application.