Unique dwarf char was discovered in Kamchatka in Lake Avyato
In the Bystrinsky district, scientists explored the Avyato mountain lake for the first time and discovered unique local inhabitants, Kamchatka.Today reported in the Volcanoes of Kamchatka network of natural parks.
The inaccessible reservoir is located in a hanging glacial valley on the western edge of the Uksichansky volcanic area, 50 km from the village of Esso. To catch fish, scientists drilled ice 1.2 meters thick and set traps at the bottom.
They caught representatives of the local char-Malma population, whose descendants have been preserved here since the end of the Ice Age. In the harsh conditions of a mountain reservoir, it is characterized by dwarfism: the maximum mass is 110 grams, while the life expectancy reaches 12 years.
“This is a classic example of dwarfism. For Malma, such a phenomenon is a rarity, first discovered in the relict mountain lakes of Bystrinsky Park. Dwarf char grow very slowly, accumulating body fat for the first 6-7 years of life. In the future, they spawn several times, but not annually, due to limited environmental resources for rapid re-maturation,” said Evgeny Yesin, an employee of the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution.
An interesting feature of the char from Lake Avotya is the specific mottling of the body, resembling the coloration of the mikizhi. The reasons for this pigmentation are not yet clear, as well as its possible adaptive significance. It is planned to use molecular genetic methods for further study.
“An endemic small population of salmonids has been discovered. She was isolated for a long time in specific conditions and acquired a unique gene pool. Our task is to identify the biological characteristics of the population and develop measures to control its condition, and, if necessary, to preserve it,” explained Daria Panicheva, head of the KamSU laboratory.
Photo of the network of natural parks “Volcanoes of Kamchatka”.