Baikal fish. What kind of fish is found in Lake Baikal Rare fish of Baikal

The water world of Baikal is famous for hundreds of amazing species of fish, some of which are not found anywhere else except this lake. In total there are more than 60 species and subspecies of fish. All of them are divided into 3 groups. The Siberian complex is represented by sorids (carp, perch, pike), as well as carp, catfish and bream. The second is the Siberian-Baikal complex, which includes sturgeon, whitefish and grayling. And the third is the Baikal complex, which includes about half of all fish species in the lake. It includes 29 species of sculpin (living at maximum depths).

Subfamily of broadheads

One of the most numerous representatives of the aquatic fauna of Lake Baikal is the broadhead fish. The most interesting subspecies include:

• Loose broadhead. Translucent fish, covered with delicate skin, characterized by a soft head and spread dorsal fins. Individuals with a pink tint may be found. The length of the fish barely exceeds 10 cm. The creature is found very rarely, at a depth of 900 to 1400 m.
• Humpback broadhead. The fish has a harder skull that still retains some softness. An elongated body with rough spines, the back is brown, and the sides are yellow. The length reaches 11-17 cm. Lives at depths from 25 to 600 m.
• Broad-winged broadhead. This fish has a skull with increased density and a higher body shape with steep slopes. Spines are located under the pectoral fins. The body color ranges from dark brown to brown, the abdomen is always light. There are brown spots on the back. It lives at depths from 50 to 600 m.
• Great red broadhead. The fish, reaching 30 cm in length, is distinguished by a red tint to the body and yellow spots located on it. During the spawning period, males become very bright.
• Half-naked broadhead. The fish with a soft skull differs from its relatives in its small size - only up to 7 cm in length. It lives in the north of the lake at a depth of 200 to 800 m.
• Rough broadhead. A fish with an elongated body, it differs from others by a characteristic tubercle on the muzzle. The color of the carcass is usually pale yellow, and the fins are gray. The rough broadhead reaches 11.5 cm in length and lives at depths of up to 400 m.
• Deep-sea broadhead. It is distinguished by a soft body and an elongated snout, as well as short fins. The body is pink or white, reaches only 8 cm in length, and lives at a depth of up to 1.4 km.

Another interesting representative among broadheads is the stone fish. It got its name due to the unusual shade of stone color. The body length is usually within 9 cm, but some individuals grow up to 14 cm.

Big Golomyanka

This fish was discovered at the end of the 18th century by Russian scientists. It has a large reserve of fat. There are 2 species: the large golomyanka reaches 23 cm in size, and the small one - only 16 cm. They live quite a long time, and the weight of the fish ranges from 50 to 100 g. Golomyankas live at the very bottom of Baikal, making up up to 80% of the biomass of the reservoir. This is the most numerous species, which often serves as food for larger predators.

Yellowfly

The fish is spindle-shaped, without scales. There are small spines under the breast. The yellowfly has a greenish color with brown spots, the sides and abdomen are light, with a pearlescent sheen. The creature reaches 14 cm in length.

Amur catfish

One of the largest inhabitants of Baikal, reaching a weight of 1830 g, and the length of its body often exceeds 55 cm. The head of the catfish is wide and flat, and its characteristic feature is long mustache. It is green in color and the belly is light yellow. Prefers to settle in regions where the water is stagnant and there is no current. As an exception, there are Amur catfish, whose weight exceeds 6 kg.

Goldfish

It is distinguished by a long fin located on the back. It is easy to prick yourself on it - there are sharp needles along the edge. The color of the body of crucian carp is from green-brown to brown, smoothly flowing into golden and silver on the abdomen. It is very rare in Baikal, but numerous in Angara, Kichera, Tyya. The average weight reaches 350 g, and the length is 20 cm, but sometimes large individuals weighing up to 1.5 kg are found.

Amur carp

One of the distinctive features of the fish is 2 pairs of small antennae on the face, which differ from each other in size. The shade ranges from brown to greenish, with a light belly. Carp can grow up to 50-60 cm in length and weigh up to 8 kg.

Common minnow

A small fish, only up to 10 cm long and weighing 15 g, lives in the tributaries of the lake, in the flowing lakes of Baikal, and in bays. Prefers cold waters. It has a green-gray color and small scales.

Ide

A famous representative of the Baikal fauna. The ide has a large, tall body of a dark shade, combined with silver and white sides and belly. It reaches a length of 27 cm, while the females are much larger - up to 35 cm. The ide weighs from 700 to 900 g.

Baikal grayling

The fish is medium in size, reaching a length of 60 cm and a weight of 1.5 kg. Prefers to live in shallow waters with rocky soil. It is distinguished by a bright shade that catches the eye. The back is always darker than the belly.

Baikal omul

A fish reaching a length of 60 cm and a weight of 1500 g. It has lived in the lake for more than 20,000 years. Divided into several subspecies, the Arctic omul is considered the most ancient.

Arctic char

Lives in the flowing lake of Baikal - Frolikha. The weight of the fish reaches 900 g with a length of 40 cm. It belongs to the salmon family. You can recognize it by the pink tint of its skin and white spots. In adult char, matured eggs reach 1 cm in diameter.

Common taimen

The fish constantly changes the shade of its scales. So, young taimen have black dots, and older ones have light and dark stripes. In mature individuals, the back is almost black, and the abdomen is white, with oval dots. By the age of 10 it reaches 10 kg in weight and 1 m in length.

Baikal sturgeon

The most ancient fish of Baikal, mentions of which are found in documents of the 17th century and earlier. The only cartilaginous fish living in this reservoir. It is distinguished by its large size and unique shape of the muzzle and body. By the age of 20, the weight of females reaches 14 kg with a body length of 120 cm. The older the fish becomes, the larger it is in size. Sturgeon is a creature that produces black caviar.

The multifaceted water world of Baikal abounds with different fish, animals and plants. You can study it for a long time, but we must not forget about the protection of this wonderful lake: numerous factories, tourist activities of people, the construction of gas pipelines and roads have a negative impact on the environment and lead to pollution of the most beautiful and mysterious lake on the planet.

Taxon rank. Fish are a group of vertebrates of primary aquatic origin. Living fish belong to two classes: the cartilaginous Chondrichthyes and the ray-finned Actinopterygii. The main common characteristics of fish: the presence of respiratory organs in the aquatic environment - gills and paired organs of movement in water - fins. The fish that live in Baikal belong to the class Ray-finned, i.e. have fin support in the form of bony rays (radials). Among them, sturgeons belong to the subclass Chondrostei, and all others belong to the Teleostei subclass of the Newfin subclass Neopterygii.

Diversity in the Baikal region. According to the latest data, the Baikal fauna includes 56 species and subspecies of fish belonging to 8 orders and 13 families (Table 2.7.). Based on the degree of endemism and distribution patterns, the ichthyofauna of Lake Baikal is divided into 4 groups: 4.2.1. An absolutely endemic fauna of bladderless slingshot fish, which includes 31 species (55.4% of the total number of species), belonging to 10 genera, 1 family and 3 subfamilies and having mastered all the depths of this reservoir. 4.2.2. Relatively endemic fish fauna of the littoral zone, consisting of 10 species belonging to 8 genera and 5 families. 4.2.3. Non-endemic, pan-Siberian fauna of the coastal sor zone, consisting of 11 species and subspecies from 9 genera and 6 families. 4.2.4. Alien fish are invaders. These are 4 species (Amur carp, bream, Amur catfish and Glen's firebrand) that penetrated into Baikal as a result of introduction work or unintentional introduction and naturalized (self-reproducing) in Baikal.

Below are the main external characteristics characteristic of the orders and families of fish living in the lake. Baikal.

Table 2.7. Systemati chemical composition of ichthyofaurus us of Lake Baikal.

Fish of the order Sturgeon Acipenseriformes have a number of archaic features of the internal structure: the skeleton consists of cartilage, the heart is equipped with an arterial cone, and the intestine is equipped with a spiral valve characteristic of cartilaginous fish. The shape of the body is also characteristic: the cartilaginous skull is covered with applied bone plates, the bony gill cover covers the gills, the front part of the head (rostrum or snout) is elongated and flattened. Five rows of diamond-shaped bony plates run along the body. The caudal fin has a strongly developed upper lobe. Body color is olive-gray. The order is represented by the only representative of the Sturgeon family Acipenseridae - the Baikal form of the Siberian sturgeon, widespread in the large rivers of Siberia.

The Cypriniformes order Cypriniformes do not have teeth on the jaws or an adipose fin. A distinctive feature is the presence in the pharynx of so-called pharyngeal teeth - outgrowths of bony gill arches, located in 1-3 rows, which grind and crush food. The order is represented by three families: Cyprinidae, Balitoridae and Achilles. Cyprinidae have well-developed scales, the body is usually high, flattened laterally. The upper jaw may have 1 or 2 pairs of antennae. 8 species live in Baikal. Balitoridae are represented by one species – Siberian char. The loach has a bar-shaped body, almost the same height along its entire length, which reaches 180 mm. The scales are very small, there are three pairs of antennae. Achilles Cobitidae: one species – Siberian spined loach. This is a small (no more than 100 mm long) fish with very small scales and clear rows of dark spots along the body. There are 3 pairs of antennae. Below the posterior edge of the eye there is a folding spine. The pharyngeal teeth are single-rowed. The spined loach is easily distinguished from the Siberian char by its wriggling swimming movements.

The order Catfish Siluriformes is represented by one species – the Amur catfish (family Catfish Siluridae). The dorsal fin is small, the anal fin runs along the entire caudal peduncle, reaching the rounded caudal fin, the first ray of the pectoral fin is serrated. The upper jaw has a pair of long antennae, the lower has two pairs. The body is naked, abundantly covered with mucus, the head is wide, flattened, the mouth is large, the upper body is brown-green.

Order Pike-like Esociformes. Also the only species is the common pike of the Pike family Esocidae. Fishes of the order do not have an adipose fin, and the dorsal fin is strongly shifted towards the posterior end of the body. The jaws, tongue and palatal bones are lined with many sharp teeth. The body color is greenish-gray with many light, blurred spots.

Order Salmonidae Salmoniformes. Fishes of the order are easily distinguished by the presence of a small, rayless adipose fin between the dorsal and caudal fins. The teeth are clearly visible on the jaws, palate and tongue. The order is represented by three families. The body of fish of the salmon family Salmonidae is covered with small scales, the number of scales in the lateral line is from 130 to 250; There are several color tones in the body color; as a rule, there are dark, light or various shades of red spots of different sizes. Lenok and common taimen live in Lake Baikal, and arctic char live in the nearby Lake Frolikha. The scales of fish of the grayling family Thymallidae are larger, the number of scales in the lateral line does not exceed 110. Small dark spots are clearly visible on the body, there are also spots on the dorsal fin. Among the representatives of the family, black and white Baikal grayling live in Baikal, which are considered by different authors either as independent species or as subspecies of Siberian grayling. Fish of the whitefish family Coregonidae have fairly large scales and a uniform silver body color. The family is represented by Baikal whitefish, whitefish, and Baikal omul.

The order Gadiformes is represented by burbot from the Burbot family Lotidae. The body of the burbot is covered with very small scales and a thick layer of mucus. There is one antenna on the lower jaw, the dorsal fin is double and, like the anal fin, it comes close to the rounded caudal fin. Body color varies, most often gray-green.

Order Scorpaeniformes. All fish of the order that live in Baikal belong to the suborder Cottoidei of the Slingshot or Kerchak family Cottidae. They have a naked body, two dorsal fins, sometimes fused, in the first of which all the rays are soft, the ventral fins are located under the pectoral fins, and the caudal fin is usually without a notch. The family includes four subfamilies.

The subfamily Cottinae is represented by one species – the sandy broadhead. The head is flattened, the eyes are located on top of the head, and the anal fin has 18–22 rays. The body color is gray-brown with dark streaks.

Subfamily Abyssocottinae (22 species). This includes fish adapted to life in benthic habitats. The head is large, flattened, the eyes are shifted to the top of the head, the pectoral and caudal fins are rounded. The body color is light, brownish, pinkish or gray.

The subfamily Cottocomephorinae is characterized by the presence of large pectoral fins, transparent or brightly colored. Body color is silver with a pearlescent tint or dark. The subfamily includes eight species. The genus Batrachocottus (4 species) is included by some researchers in the subfamily Abyssocottinae.

Subfamily Golomyankae Comephorinae. The fish do not have pelvic fins, the pectoral fins are very long, and the body color is white or pinkish. The subfamily includes two species: large and small golomyanka.

Order Perciformes Perciformes. The fish have two dorsal fins, the first of which has spiny rays. They are represented by two species: river perch (perch family) and Glen's firebrand (firebrand). The perch is characterized by the presence of a large spine on the preopercular bone, the bilobed caudal fin, the ventral, anal and caudal fins are usually brightly colored. The body is tall, covered with large durable scales, the color is green-olive, bright, with dark transverse stripes. The Glen firebrand (Amur sleeper) has a large, flattened head with a large mouth. The caudal fin is solid and rounded. The body color is olive-gray with dark spots.

Ecological characteristics. Diversity of habitat conditions in the lake. Baikal determines the presence of various ecological groups of ichthyofauna in Baikal. At the same time, different galaxies of such groups can be distinguished depending on the lifestyle, biological and physiological characteristics of taxa, habitats and general ecological valency in relation to specific factors: by type of nutrition - planktivores (fish that feed on organisms living in the water column), benthophages (fish , feeding on organisms living at the bottom of reservoirs), euryphages (fish that feed on objects of various origins), predatory ichthyophages (fish that eat juveniles and adults of fish of other species); by breeding time (spring, summer, autumn and winter spawning); by type of spawning substrate (lithophiles, psammophiles, phytophiles); according to the features of spatial distribution in the reservoir.

In this case, it is rational to give an ecological characteristic of fish groups in accordance with their spatial distribution horizontally and vertically, dividing them into 4 groups: fish of the coastal-sor zone, littoral, abyssal and pelagic. 4.2.4.1. Fishes of the coastal sor zone. These are pike, roach, dace, ide, crucian carp, lake minnow, perch (Fig. 2.49.) and a number of others, as well as all naturalized species of invaders.

1. Fishes of the coastal sor zone. These are pike, roach, dace, ide, crucian carp, lake minnow, perch (Fig. 2.49.) and a number of others, as well as all naturalized species of invaders.

Rice. 2.49. Fishes of the coastal sor zone: 1 – pike; 2 – perch; 3 – roach; 4 – ide; 5 – crucian carp; 6 – dace; 7 – minnow. (Fig. D.V. Kuznetsova).

The group is characterized by feeding, spawning and wintering migrations. In the spring and summer, as the water temperature rises and the oxygen content in it decreases, part of the populations of these species migrate from the sors and floodplain lakes of the tributaries of Lake Baikal to the adjacent areas of the lake's littoral zone, where the fish feed until the end of August - early September, then returning back to the sor system . In winter, as the oxygen content decreases, the fish return to Lake Baikal, returning to the litter only during the breeding season. Spawning occurs in spring and summer in shallow waters. Eggs are deposited mainly on last year's aquatic plants, roots of trees and shrubs, or terrestrial vegetation flooded by floods. The development of eggs in different species ranges from 2–3 to 8–10 days.

Rice. 2.50. Littoral fish: 1 – white Baikal grayling; 2 – whitefish (Siberian whitefish); 3 – burbot; 4 – sandy broadhead; 5 – stone broadhead; 6 – Baikal bighead; 7 – black Baikal grayling. (Fig. D.V. Kuznetsova).

2. Fishes of the littoral zone. The littoral zone is constantly inhabited (in descending order of their importance by numbers and biomass): sand and stone broadhead, black Baikal grayling, Baikal bigheaded broadhead, burbot, white Baikal grayling, Baikal lake whitefish, lake-river whitefish, lenok and taimen ( Fig. 2.50.). In the littoral zone of some areas of the lake, sturgeon, Baikal sturgeon, yellowfish, longwing and a number of species of abyssal (deep-sea) slingshot fish are periodically found, for which depths of 20–30 m are the upper limit of habitat. The littoral zone of Lake Baikal is a zone of interaction between the endemic Baikal ichthyofauna and the general Siberian one. At the same time, the littoral zone has important fishing significance as a habitat for the most commercially valuable species and the main place for fishing. Fish that constantly live in the littoral zone lead a relatively sedentary lifestyle, making minor movements in search of food, and only during the breeding season most of them rise to spawning grounds in the upper reaches of Baikal tributaries. These species include taimen, lenok, black and white Baikal grayling, lake and river whitefish, burbot, as well as omul and sturgeon. Most of these species breed in the spring-summer period (May–June), and only omul, lake-river whitefish and burbot spawn in tributaries in the autumn-winter period. The eggs of these species are usually deposited on pebble or pebble-sand soils. The duration of development of eggs of spring-spawning fish is from 15–20 to 30 days, and of autumn-spawning fish – from 180 to 220–230 days. Species that breed directly in the lake include the Baikal lake whitefish, bighead, sand and stone broadhead. Reproduction in the autumn-winter period is typical for the Baikal lake whitefish (November–January) and big-headed broadhead (March–April), in the spring-summer period – for sand and stone broadhead (May–June).

Rice. 2.51. Abyssal fish of Lake Baikal. (Fig. D. V. Kuznetsova): 1 – broad-winged broadhead; 2 – white broadhead; 3 – large red broadmouth; 4 – deep-sea broadhead; 5 – humpback broadmouth; 6 – Elokhin broadmouth; 7 – dwarf broadhead; 8 – fat broadhead; 9 – red broadhead; 10 – speckled broadhead; 11 – sharp-winged broadmouth; 12 – small-eyed broadhead; 13 – mottled shinobi; 14 – armored broadhead; 15 – flathead broadmouth; 16 – flat broadhead; 17 – dark broadhead; 18 – semi-naked broadhead; 19 – rough broadhead; 20 – narrow broadhead.

Abyssal fish (Fig. 2.51.). The abyssal (deep-water) zone of the lake with depths of over 300 m is inhabited only by bladderless endemic slingshot fish. As depth increases, there is a decrease in both species diversity and the number and biomass of fish. The greatest species diversity is observed in the depth range from 500 to 700 meters - 12–15 species, at depths above 1000 m the number of species does not exceed 5–6, and at maximum depths only 3–4 species are found: short-headed broadhead, loose broadhead, white broadhead and small-eyed broadhead. The fish of this zone are divided into truly abyssal species, whose habitat is confined exclusively to great depths, and eurybathic species, which live in a wide range of depths. All species of abyssal slingshot fish are characterized by an extended breeding period, lasting from 2 to 3–4 months, which is due to constantly low water temperatures, and the protection of egg clutches by males throughout the entire period of development. Due to the latter, the fertility of fish in this group is relatively low. In different species it varies from several tens to several hundred eggs.

Rice. 2.52. Pelagic fish: 1 – Baikal omul; 2 – large; 3 – small golomyanka; 4 – Northern Baikal broadmouth (a – male, b – female); 5 – long-winged broadmouth (a – male, b – female); 6 – yellowfly (a – male, b – female). (Fig. D.V. Kuznetsova).

Fish are pelagic (Fig. 2.52.). The fish population in the pelagic zone of the lake is characterized by low species diversity, but at the same time the highest productivity. The ichthyocenosis is formed by two truly pelagic species - large and small golomyanka, three species of benthopelagic (bottom-pelagic) fish - yellowwing, North Baikal yellowwing and longwing, as well as the Baikal omul.

The large and small golomyanka are characterized by a number of unique adaptations to permanent residence in the water column. Their body tissues contain a significant amount of fat (in the large golomyanka - up to 44%, in the small golomyanka - up to 9%), due to which the golomyankas have neutral or weakly positive buoyancy and can practically not expend energy on movement in the water column. Another unique feature of golomyankas is viviparity. Both species become sexually mature at three years of age. The hatching of larvae in the small golomyanka is observed mainly from late February to early May, and in the large golomyanka, mainly in July–August. The biomass of the large golomyanka is estimated at 73.3–112 thousand tons, the small golomyanka – 61.5–103 thousand tons, the yellowwing – 5 thousand tons, the longwing and North Baikal yellowwing – 3 thousand tons, the omul – 23 –30 thousand tons

Yellowfly and longwing are benthopelagic fish, because Their reproduction occurs on the rocky soils of the littoral zone of the lake, where the fish migrate, forming large spawning schools (yellowwing) or moving relatively separately (longwing). According to the timing of reproduction, the yellowfly forms 3 spawning schools, named according to the spawning periods: March, May and August. The differences between them in terms of reproductive biology are expressed in the size of the spawners and their average age, fertility and the depth of the spawning sites. The spawning stock of the March yellowfly population consists of larger fish that reach sexual maturity later. The spawners of the May population are somewhat smaller in size and age, and the spawning stock of the August population is characterized by the smallest size and age. In the modern period, in the spawning stock of the March population, males have an average length of 132.7 ± 1.7 mm and an average age of 4.76 years, females - 125.4 ± 1.5 mm and 4.88 years; in the spawning stock of the May population, males have a length of 119.7 ± 0.5 mm and 4.43 years, females, respectively, 111.3 ± 0.5 mm and 4.10 years; in August - males 111.1±0.9 mm and 4.00 years, females - 98.4±0.6 mm and 3.60 years. Reproduction of the March population occurs at depths of 2-5 m at a water temperature of 1-2 o C, the May population - during the period of melting ice at depths from 0.1 to 2-3 m at a water temperature from 2-3 to 15-16 o C , and the August one - in the depth zone from 2-3 to 10 m at a water temperature of 10-16 o C. The average indicators of individual fertility of the March yellowfly stock vary from 1250 to 1410 eggs, the May one - from 1770 to 1910 eggs, the August one - from 1610 to 1910 eggs 2100 eggs. The North Baikal yellowfly and longfly mature at 3–4 years of age. Reproduction occurs in February–March at depths of over 10 m. The average fecundity of the longwing increases with age from 800 to 2630 eggs.

The Baikal omul is the only commercial species in the pelagic zone of the lake. As a result of adaptation to the biotopic structuring of the water masses of the pelagic zone of the lake, three morpho-ecological groups of populations were formed near the omul, differing in some morphological features (the number of gill rakers, eye size, body shape), maturation times, fertility, breeding sites and inhabiting different zones of the lake. In the near-surface layers of the pelagic zone of the open areas of the lake, cism of the pelagic morpho-ecological group predominantly lives, in the pelagic zone of the coastal zone - cism of the coastal-pelagic morpho-ecological group, and in the pelagic zone of the continental slope to a depth of 350 m - cism of the bottom-deep-sea morpho-ecological group. The omul of the pelagic morpho-ecological group is characterized by the highest growth rate, reaching an average length of 320 mm by this age. The bottom-deep-sea omul at this age has an average length of 310 mm, and the coastal-pelagic omul – 290–300 mm. The earliest sexual maturation at the age of five is observed in the coastal-pelagic omul, maturation begins one year later in the pelagic omul, and only at the age of seven - in fish of the bottom-deep-sea morpho-ecological group. The average fecundity of pelagic omul is 11–16 thousand eggs, coastal pelagic omul – 9–11 thousand, bottom-deep-sea omul – 14–22 thousand eggs. The growth and fertility indicators of fish of all morpho-ecological groups largely depend on the availability of fish food (juvenile yellowflies and golomyankas). To reproduce, the omul enters the tributaries of the lake. The main breeding ground for pelagic omul is the river. Selenga, the spawning run in which has two peaks - September and October. The coastal pelagic omul breeds mainly in the tributaries of Northern Baikal – Verkhnyaya and Kichera. The peak of the spawning run of this race occurs at the end of September. Fish of the bottom-deep-sea morpho-ecological group enter for reproduction mainly in rivers flowing into the Posolsky Sor, and in a number of small tributaries in other areas of Baikal, as well as in small quantities in the Selenga and Barguzin.

Evolution of the group in Baikal. The origin and evolution of the lake's ichthyofauna are closely related to the history of the formation of the Baikal rift zone and the Baikal basin, global and regional climate changes. Even in the Proterozoic - Paleozoic, a wide mountain belt was formed on the territory of Southern Siberia as a result of tectonic processes, stretching from the Southern Urals in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the northeast. In the Mesozoic, its further development and differentiation took place, leading to the uplift of a number of areas and the formation of the main watershed of North Asia, which divided the region into three drainage areas - the Pacific, the Arctic and Inland. In parallel with this process, systems of shallow and deep-water paleo-water bodies arose along the longitudinal faults of the watershed axis. This mountain belt served as the boundary of the zoogeographic region - the Amphipacific, covering Northern Asia and the western part of North America, which arose at the end of the Cretaceous and existed until the end of the Eocene. Most paleontological data indicate that the oldest salmon-like fish were confined specifically to mountainous areas adjacent to the Pacific Ocean. These areas are the most likely place of their origin. Based on modern paleontological knowledge, it is not possible to decide whether the existing genera of whitefish arose during the period of the existence of a single Amphipacific landmass (previously the end of the Eocene) or whether the focus of their formation was one of the regions that separated from it - Asian or North American. The formation of species diversity within genera was already underway on separated continents.

According to the hypothesis of E.A. Dorofeeva, salmon and, probably, whitefish, which originated in the Amphipacific region, began to spread to Eurasia and America even before the Beringian land began to subside at the end of the Paleogene. The freshwater ancestors of lenok and taimen began to spread westward through Siberia, and char, in their movement in this direction in the Pliocene - Pleistocene, gravitated towards the Arctic coast of the continent, spreading by sea and freshwater routes. Another part of them began to spread along the Pacific coast even earlier. The chars of the Atlantic branch then penetrated a second time into the Pacific basin, where in the modern period they are observed to live together. Probably, this same Atlantic branch spread in the last pre-glacial period and within mainland Siberia in a southern direction.

In the Paleogene (66–25 million years ago), the ichthyofauna of Siberia was dominated by ancient representatives of the families Amyidae, Cyprinidae and Catfish, inhabiting vast lake-marsh complexes. At the Paleogene-Neogene boundary (25 million years ago), there was a general uplift of the continent and mountain ranges and, as a consequence, further climate change towards continentality. The climate became significantly drier and colder, which led to a radical restructuring of the ichthyofauna. In the Miocene, there was a reduction in habitats and the death of a number of species of amiaceae, catfish, carp and other limnophiles. At the same time, the number and species diversity of river and lake-river cold-loving ichthyofauna increased. In the Middle Miocene, the appearance of salmon, as well as pike, roach and perch, was noted on the site of the modern Small Sea. At the same time, amium and catfish fish were still preserved here. In general, the Neogene fauna of Siberia, very diverse, was represented by species of the families Acipenseridae, Salmonidae, Coregonidae, Esocidae, Cyprinidae, Percidae, a number of whose representatives were close to modern ones.

In the Pliocene-Pleistocene, the modern relief and hydrological network of the Baikal region were finally formed. A new, wider hydrographic network began to form around the intensively deepening Baikal depression, which led to the restructuring of the watersheds between Baikal and the river systems of the Yenisei, Lena and Amur. The watershed between the Arctic and Pacific oceans has shifted significantly to the south. During this period, the extinction of the heat-loving tertiary ichthyofauna and the formation of a new one, represented by cold-loving species of the boreal and Arctic complexes, took place. Since the Tertiary period, only sturgeon and tench have survived in the ichthyofauna of Baikal and Transbaikalia.

Climate cooling during the Quaternary period led to the extinction of the Tertiary fauna and created favorable conditions for cold-loving fish. It was to this period (about 2 million years ago), according to V.Ch. Dorogostaisky and D.N. Taliev, the penetration of ancestral forms of slingshots from the North Pacific basin into Baikal and the beginning of their intra-lake evolution, which led to the emergence of a “bouquet” of endemic species, genera and, possibly, families, are timed. Opposite views about the antiquity (Miocene) and freshwater nature of the origin of the Baikal slingshots were held by L.S. , and subsequently V.G. Sideleva. The evolutionary youth of the Baikal Cottoidei and their emergence 2–3 million years ago are also confirmed by molecular genetic studies. The most probable seems to be the one first proposed by V.Ch. Dorogostaisky and developed by B.E. Bogdanov’s scenario of invasion into the lake and further speciation, according to which slingshot-shaped fish immediately populated a wide range of depths up to several hundred meters. Their sustainable existence in the coastal region, vulnerable to the destructive effects of Pleistocene glaciations and level fluctuations, seems unlikely. This is confirmed by the fact that the main species diversity is confined to the first depth range.

In accordance with the ideas of D.N. Taliev, at the basis of the phylogenetic tree of Baikal slingshots there are three ancestral forms close to modern Paracottus knerii, Leocottus kesslerii and Mesocottus haitej. The first form gave rise to modern representatives of the genera Paracottus, Batrachocottus and Procottus, the second - Cottocomephorus, and the third - the abyssal group of species of the subfamily Abyssocottinae. Golomyankas were considered by this author as a separate branch of the genus Batrachocottus, evolving separately in connection with the development of the pelagic zone. A slightly different point of view on the evolution of pelagic cottids is shared by Zh.A. Chernyaev. In his opinion, the ancestral form of Leocottus kesslerii, during the transition to a pelagic lifestyle, gave rise to all modern species of this group, adapted to varying degrees for living in the water column. This point of view is confirmed by immunochemical, embryological and genetic data.

It is the Baikal rift zone that is considered by many authors as the most likely center for the speciation of whitefish and grayling fish.

The hypothesis about the Baikal-rift source of the origin of whitefish was first expressed by G.L. Karasev. According to this hypothesis, the center of speciation and distribution of whitefish were mountain reservoirs lying on the border of the Baikal and Lena basins. The most ancient, located at the base of the phylogenetic tree, are G.L. Karasev considers spring-spawning Baunt whitefish, whose three morpho-ecological forms gave rise to three evolutionary branches of the family.

In recent years, this hypothesis has been confirmed and developed in detail by L.V. Sukhanova and V.V. Smirnov based on molecular genetic studies of coregonid fish of the Baikal rift zone and their comparison with non-Baikal forms. The results obtained indicate the presence in the region of one of the most ancient lines of C. lavaretus, which gave rise to a group of true whitefish not only in Western Siberia and Europe, but also, probably, in the Amur and North America. According to the data of these authors, representatives of the species C. lavaretus living in the territory of the BRZ form three divergent, equidistant monophyletic groups: 1 – whitefish of the river basin. Lena; 2 – Baikal lake whitefish, Baikal and Kulinda omul; 3 – pyzhyany of the lake basin. Baikal. The duration of the divergence is estimated at 1.7–3.4 million years, and its beginning is associated with the Neo-Baikal phase of rifting. In the Pliocene-Quaternary time, in connection with the continuing uplift of ridges and the subsidence of a number of depressions, the formation of the river network of the Northern Baikal region, belonging to the Baikal and Lena basins, took place. Tectonic processes of relief formation and fragmentation events caused by the formation of glaciers could lead to the isolation of three lineages of C. lavaretus in the BRZ. The rift basins of the zone could serve as refugia for these lines. Refuge for line 1 in the Lena basin could be reservoirs located in depressions such as Bauntovskaya, Muiskaya or Kuandinskaya. The place of isolation for line 2, apparently, was the rift depressions located near Baikal, or Baikal itself, and for line 3, the Yenisei basin. The “Baikal age” of the last two groups is estimated by L.V. Sukhanova at 0.8–0.4 million years, which corresponds to the period of change in the direction of flow from the lake from Lena to Yenisei.

The origin of grayling fish most likely occurred in the Pliocene in reservoirs located on the territory of modern Mongolia. The Mongolian-South Baikal center of grayling speciation is indicated both by the large species diversity of grayling in the Baikal region and south-eastern Siberia as a whole, and by the presence in the inland waters of Mongolia on the territory of the Altai-Sayan mountainous country of the Mongolian grayling Thymallus brevirostris, which is very unique in morphological characteristics, which is, probably the ancestral form of some grayling species. Already at the Pliocene-Pleistocene boundary, ancient lines of grayling lived in the Yenisei, Lena and Amur basins. Their penetration into the lake. Researchers associate Baikal and its basin with the Middle Pleistocene, which is consistent with the data obtained for whitefish.

L.V. Sukhanova and co-authors, based on molecular genetic data, established the proximity of the Baikal omul to the Baikal lake whitefish and the distance from the Arctic and Irish omul. Thus, in their opinion, the Baikal omul is a pelagic multistamen form of C. lavaretus and one of the extreme variants of specialization of pelagic planktivores in a wide range of phenotypic diversity of forms of the species. This is consistent with modern ideas about the structure of the polytypic complex species C. lavaretus. In turn, genetic analysis of the Baikal omul did not reveal a clearly defined population structure among the three most numerous morpho-ecological populations, which, according to the authors, is associated with periodic climate changes, accompanied by the formation of glacial conditions in the Pleistocene, a decrease in lake level due to a reduction in river flow and, probably, the disappearance of individual tributaries. The latter, due to the rheophilic nature of the reproduction process, could lead to a radical restructuring of the population structure after each successive cooling-warming climate.

It was during this period that Arctic char and Baikal-Lena grayling probably penetrated into a number of mountain lakes of the BRZ in the Lena and Baikal basins. Their penetration into the Baikal basin could have been facilitated by the existing, according to some authors, runoff from the lake. Baikal into the river basin Lena through Barguzin - Tsipa - Vitim or through the valleys of the rivers pra-Buguldeika and pra-Manzurka, which led to the penetration of individual elements of the Baikal fauna into the system of giant lakes of Transbaikalia that existed at the end of the Neogene - the beginning of the Quaternary period. At the same time, a synthesis of numerous geomorphological and tectonic studies showed that there was no significant rise in the water level of Baikal, which could lead to their ingression into the Lena basin through the Barguzin valley. In the Neogene and Quaternary periods in Northern Transbaikalia, there were a number of large deep-water lakes that drained both towards paleo-Baikal through paleo-Barguzin, and towards the Vitim and Olekma paleobasins.

Findings of elements of the Lena ichthyofauna (Arctic char, Baikalolen grayling) highlight the hypothesis of ingression of Lena waters into the Baikal basin through the Tsipa-Barguzin and Mama-Verkh valleys. or the existence on the watersheds of Tsipa, Barguzin, Svetlaya, Kotera and Frolikha of a series of temporary reservoirs, as well as interceptions of the river upper reaches, which represented transit zones for the penetration of a number of elements of the Lena ichthyofauna into the Baikal basin.

Biocenotic significance. Along with fish-eating birds and seals, fish are at the highest levels of trophic networks of varying complexity, demonstrating different directions of trophic specialization: detritophagy, phytophagy, planktophagy and benthophagy, predation (ichthyophagy) and euryphagy. These issues are discussed in detail in a special section in the next chapter.

Source: Baikal: nature and people: encyclopedic reference book / Baikal Institute of Nature Management SB RAS; [rep. ed. Corresponding member A.K. Tulokhonov] - Ulan-Ude: ECOS: Publishing House BSC SB RAS, 2009. P. 132-145.

According to modern data in the reservoirs and watercourses of the lake basin. Baikal is home to 67 species and subspecies of fish. The ichthyofauna of Baikal is represented by 58 species and subspecies and includes: 1) endemic slingshot fish (32 species belonging to 10 genera and 3 families), which have mastered all the depths of the lake; 2) the Baikal-Siberian complex of fish (7 species and subspecies belonging to 6 genera and 5 families); 3) representatives of the Siberian fish fauna (14 species and subspecies belonging to 10 genera and 6 families); 4) invaders that appeared in Baikal as a result of introduction work (5 species belonging to 5 genera and 4 families).

The most numerous fish in Baikal are unique viviparous fish - golomyankas, which provide the greatest biological production. The body of golomyankas contains up to 40% fat (in the large golomyanka), thinning of the skull bones, reduction of the skeleton and, conversely, a significant increase in the size of the fins (pectoral, dorsal and anal) are noted, which favors their habitat in the pelagic zone of the lake. The significant scattering of these fish in the stratum and the lack of effective fishing gear does not allow them to be caught on an industrial scale. The biomass of the large golomyanka is 20 kg/ha, the small one is 40 kg/ha. The annual production of the first is 25 thousand tons, the second is 85 thousand tons; their need for zooplankton is 1/8 of the annual production of Epishura. The annual production of golomyankas is about 5% of the annual production of zooplankton and 0.5% of phytoplankton.

The main commercial fish is the Baikal omul – Coregonus migratorius. This species is represented by several populations that belong to 3 ecological and morphological groups: pelagic, coastal and bottom-deep-sea.

Pelagic omul (multi-stamened, usually 44–55 rakers on the gill arch). Spawns in the river. Selenge, lives in the pelagic zone of the lake. Baikal has a cigar-shaped body, large eyes, a narrow caudal fin, and during spawning it rises up the river up to 1600 km. It feeds on zooplankton, macrohectopus, pelagic gobies and their larvae. The omul overwinters at a depth of 200–300 m.

Coastal omul (medium-stamened, with 40–48 stamens).

Spawns in rivers at the northern end of the lake and feeds in the coastal zone. The fish have a long head, a high body and a caudal fin. It feeds in the coastal zone of Lake Baikal, and for spawning it enters the rivers V. Angara (640 km), Kichera (150 km) and Barguzin (400 km). It feeds on zooplankton (23%), medium-sized macrohectopus (34%), pelagic gobies (26%) and other objects (17%).

Bottom-deep-sea omul (small rakers, with a small number of 36–44 coarse and long gill rakers). Spawns in small rivers. The bottom-deep-sea omul inhabits Baikal to a depth of 350 m. It is characterized by the highest height of the body and caudal fin, and a long head. Spawns in small tributaries of Baikal with a spawning route length from 3–5 km (Bezymyanka River and M. Chivyrkui River) to 20–30 km (B. Chivyrkui River and Bolshaya Rechka River). The diet is dominated by medium-sized macrohectopus (52%), fish (25%), benthic gammarid species (12%) and zooplankton (10%). Since 1933, Posolsky omul has been artificially bred at the Bolsherechensky fish hatchery.

Regulation of omul fishing is currently carried out on the basis of annual monitoring of the state of its stocks, in accordance with the federal law “On the Protection of Lake Baikal” (1999). The preservation of stable omul stocks in recent decades is largely due to the activities of fish hatcheries (Bolsherechensky and Selenginsky). From 1981 to 2006 The release of omul larvae averaged 1.3 billion specimens. (42.6% of the total migration of omul larvae into Baikal).

The omul fishery is determined by the structural and functional characteristics of the main morpho-ecological groups, the historical experience of the omul fishery on Lake Baikal and is aimed at catching the immature part of the herd during the feeding period (Fig. 4.14).

Rice. 4.14. Fishing for omul with a seine on Lake Baikal (photo by S. N. Podberezkin)

Source: Baikal Studies: textbook. allowance / N. S. Berkin, A. A. Makarov, O. T. Rusinek. – Irkutsk: Irkutsk Publishing House. state Univ., 2009. pp. 193-198.

Fishes of Baikal in questions and answers

493. How many species of fish live on Baikal?

In Baikal there are currently 52 species of fish belonging to 12 families:

1. Family Acipenseridae(sturgeon) are represented by one species -AcipenserbaeristenorhynchusnatiobaicalensisNik(Baikal sturgeon).

2. Family Salmonidae(salmonids) represented by: four genera -Salvelinus, Hucho, Brachymystax, Coregonus- and five types:a) SavlelinusalpinuscrythrinusGeorgy(Davatchan, char). It is sometimes mistakenly called trout. Davatchan is close to the Arctic Sea anadromous char (SalvelinusalpinusL.); b) HuchotaimenPallas(taimen); V) BrachymystaxlenokPallas(lenok); G) CoregonusautumnalismigratoriusGeorgy(Baikal omul); d)CoregonuslavaretusL. (whitefish).

Whitefish, like omul, are represented by several ecological populations of lake-river whitefish spawning in rivers and lake whitefish spawning in lakes (Barguzinsky, Chivyrkuisky, Malomorsky, etc.).

3. Family Thymallidae(grayling) is represented by one species -ThymallusarcticusPallas- Siberian grayling. Two varieties live in Baikal: black grayling (Th. arcticusbaicalensisDyb.) and white grayling (Th. arcticusbrevipinnusSwetowidow).

4. Family Esocidae(pike) is represented by one species -Esox. luciusL. (common pike).

5. Family Cyprinidae(cyprinid) is represented by eight genera -Rutilus- roach, Leuciscus- dace, Phoxinus- minnows, Tina- line, Gobio- minnows, Abramis- bream, Carassius- crucian carp, Cyprinus- carp - and thirteen species.

Genus Rutilus presented RutilusrutiluslacustrisPallas(Siberian roach, sorog).

Genus Leuciscus(dace) is represented by two types:

a) Leuciscus leuciscus baicalensis Dyb. ( Siberian dace );

b ) Leuciscus idus L. ( ide ).

Genus Phoxinuspresented in three types:

A) PhoxinuspecnurusPallas(lake galya y, moth);

b) P. czekanowckiiDyb. (Chekanovsky minnow);

V) P. phoxinusL. (common minnow).

Genus Tinarepresented by one typeTinatineaL. (tench, local name linok, cow-fish).

Genus Gobiorepresented by one typeGobiogobio su nocephalusDyb. (Siberian gudgeon).

Genus Abramisrepresented by one typeAbramisbramaorientalisBerg(eastern bream).

Genus Carassiusrepresented by the formCarassiusauratusgibelioBloch(goldfish).

Genus Cyprinusrepresented by one typeCyprinuscarpiohaematopterusTemm. etSchleg(Amur carp).

6. Family Cobitidae(loaches) is represented by two genera:Nemachillus(loaches), Cobitis(pinching).

Genus Nemachillus represented by one type Nemachillus barbatulus toni Dyb. ( Siberian char ).

Genus Cobitis also represented by one type Cobitis taenis sibirica Gladkov ( Siberian spined loach ).

7. Family Siluridae(catfish) represented by one genusParasilurus(catfish) and one speciesParasilurusasotusL. (Amur catfish).

8. Family Gadidae(codfish) represented by one genusLota(burbot) and one speciesLotalotaL. (burbot).

9. Family Percidae(perch) is represented by one genus Regsa (perch) and one speciesPercafluviatilisL. (perch).

Suborder of sculpinsCottoideiconsists of three families, 11 genera and 29 species.

10. Family Cottidae(sculpin gobies) is represented by two subfamiliesCottocomephorinae And Cottinae and seven species.

I. Family Abyssocottidaeis divided into 6 genera and 20 species of sculpin gobies.

Of the gobies, only three species are of commercial importance: yellowwingCottocomephorusgrewingkiDyb., longwing CottocomephorusinermisJakow, and big broadheadProcottusmajorTaliev.

12. Family Comephoridae(golomyanki) is represented by one genusComephorus(golomyanka) and two types:

a) Comephorus baicalensis (Pallas) ( big naked girl );

b ) Comephorus dybowskii Korotneff ( small golomyanka ).

In addition, Amur carp, eastern bream, and Amur catfish were brought to Baikal, and Ladoga ripus, Baunt vendace and peled were introduced into its basin.

494. How many endemic fish species are there in Baikal?

Of the 52 species of Baikal fish, 27 species are endemic. The group of endemic gobies is the most numerous in terms of species diversity. According to the latest data, there are 29 species of goby fish in Baikal, grouped into 11 genera and three families. Of these, 22 species belong to the familiesComephoridae And Abyssocottidae, are endemic. Subspecies of omul, sturgeon, and davatchan should also be considered endemic.

495. How many species of fish live in open Baikal?

There are five species of pelagic fish in open Baikal: pelagic gobies - yellowwing and longwing, two types of golomyanka - large and small, and omul. Other fish prefer bottom ecotopes, coastal areas and bays and are rarely found in open Baikal.

496. Is it possible to relocate Baikal organisms to other bodies of water?

Omul, for example, has been resettled and is successfully developing in reservoirs in England, Czechoslovakia, Japan, in the Irkutsk and Bratsk reservoirs and in the Ivano-Arakhlei lakes of the Chita region. There are observations that spawning schools have already formed in the Bratsk Reservoir, which entered the river to spawn. White. Omul was also resettled in the lake. Khubsugul and, according to Mongolian ichthyologists, a residential form formed there. It spawns in the tributaries flowing into this lake. Sturgeon from Lake Baikal were moved to the Ivano-Arakhlei Lakes. Among invertebrates, there was an attempt to relocate Macrohectopus to other reservoirs of our country, for example, to the Nurek reservoir. We do not yet have reliable results of the success of this event. The Glavrybvod of the Ministry of Fisheries of the USSR intends to resettle the amphipod Mycroropus into the water bodies of the European part of our country.

497. Can resettled organisms upset the ecological balance?

Issues of resettlement and acclimatization require a very careful approach, especially when it concerns such unique bodies of water as Lake Baikal. Without thinking carefully, without knowledge of the ecology of a reservoir, the biology of resettled organisms and their possible competition with natives (residential forms of organisms in a given reservoir), one can seriously disrupt the existing ecological balance in it and cause damage to traditional local fisheries.

At the same time, the resettlement of, for example, Sevan trout (gigarkuni) into the lake. Issyk-Kul has improved the species composition of commercial fish, and trout in this lake grows faster than in Sevan and reaches 2-3 times more weight. The resettlement of the herbivorous fish grass carp and silver carp into reservoirs and especially canals of Central Asia (including the longest Karakum Canal) saved irrigators from the very labor-intensive work of clearing the canal from overgrowing with aquatic vegetation.

The Nereis worm, which was resettled in the Caspian Sea, occupied more than half the area of ​​this reservoir over half a century and enriched the food supply of the Caspian sturgeon and other fish. In each individual case, the decision to relocate organisms to a new body of water must be preceded by a thorough study of the possible consequences, otherwise a good intention may turn into biological pollution. Sometimes this happens unintentionally, as happened, for example, with the aquatic plant of the Canadian villain. Having accidentally fallen into the reservoirs of the Old World, it has now occupied all the biotopes available to it. According to the observations of hydrobiologists, the villain has already appeared in the bays of Baikal, for example in Posolsky Sora, and is causing harm to fisheries. Dracena, after the construction of canals connecting the river basins of the European part, flowing into both the southern and northern seas, has spread throughout all reservoirs and currently serves as a serious obstacle to water intakes.

498. How many species of fish were moved to Baikal?

Amur carp ( CyprinuscarpiohaematopterusTemm. etSchled), Amur catfish ( ParasilurusasotusL.), eastern bream (AbramisbramaorientalisBerg.) brought to Baikal. But these fish are still rare. In the Baikal basin, Bauntovsky vendace (SorogonussardinelisBerg.), peled ( CoregonuspeledGrnel.), Ladoga ripus (CoregonusalbulaL.), and in the lake. Rotan appeared as a goose (PerccottusglehniDyb.).

499. What are the largest and smallest fish living in Baikal at present?

Baikal sturgeon (AcipenserbaerystenorhynchusnatiobaicalensisNik.), its length reaches 1.5-1.8 m, and its weight is 100-130 kg or more. The second largest and heaviest fish is taimen (HuchotaimenPall.) - its length is up to 1 m and weight up to 40-50 kg. The smallest fish of Baikal is the Gurvich broadmouth (ProcottusgurwiciTaliev.). Adult specimens of this fish weigh only 2-3 g. Minnows (PhoxinusphoxinusL.), or as locals call them, moths are one of the many fish in the bays of Baikal. But the insignificant size of this fish is the reason that there is still no fishing for it.

500. What are the most prolific fish in Baikal?

Burbot and sturgeon. A female burbot weighing about 4 kg lays up to 2.3 million pieces. caviar. The amount of eggs laid by sturgeon increases with the age of the females, reaching 350-400 thousand pieces.

501. What is the most numerous fish in Baikal?

Big and small golomyanka. Their total number and biomass is 2 times greater than all other fish living in the lake, and is about 150 thousand tons. The biomass of all other fish in Baikal is 74 thousand tons. If we assume that these fish in adulthood have an average weight is about 30 g, then 5.0 billion of these fish live in Baikal (the average weight of a golomyanka is 12-15 g, and a large golomyanka is about 50 g). But since the biomass of both species is approximately equal, and the weight indicators differ by more than 3 times, then, consequently, the relative abundance of the small golomyanka is approximately 3 times greater.

502. Why do the same fish lay different amounts of eggs in different years?

The amount of eggs that mature and are laid by fish depends on feeding conditions and the abundance or lack of food. With an abundance of food and favorable feeding conditions, more eggs are laid! In unfavorable years, when there is a lack of nutrients for the formation and ripening of eggs, fish may not go to spawn at all, and in some cases, in particularly unfavorable conditions, already formed eggs are completely or partially absorbed. For different species of fish, the amount of eggs depends on their biological characteristics. The omul lays up to 30 thousand eggs and does not care about it anymore. And goby fish, for example, have a very important feature - laying a relatively small amount of eggs, they protect it until the fry hatch. Males guard the egg laying. This probably allows them to survive the abundance of predatory gammarids in Baikal, which quickly destroy eggs if they are not protected. In addition to protecting the eggs, the males, by moving their fins, create an influx of fresh water to the clutches and thereby ensure a constant flow of oxygen.

503. On what environmental factors does the number of fish depend?

Water temperature during the feeding period, spawning conditions, survival rate of eggs, the nature of the bottom and oxygen supply of water during the embryonic development of eggs, from lighting conditions, chemical composition and salinity of water, from the presence of food organisms during the transition of larvae to independent feeding, from river water pollution and feeding areas, as well as the intensity of fishing for adult fish and compliance with fishing rules.

504. Why is a “population explosion” impossible in fish?

A female omul lays up to 30 thousand eggs. If all born fish survived, then after 4-5 generations Baikal would be completely filled with omul, and there would be more fish than water. About the same thing would happen if all the larvae born from the golomyanka survived to adulthood.

But this does not happen, because out of 10 thousand omul eggs, only 5-7 survive to adult fish. Already at the spawning grounds, even under normal conditions, more than half of the laid eggs die. And where the spawning grounds are polluted, the mortality rate is 90-95% or more. The same picture is in the ocean. Cod, for example, spawns up to 5 million eggs. If they all survived, then within 6 years the entire Atlantic basin would be completely filled with cod. But this does not happen, since from a huge number of eggs to adulthood, only a few fish survive, or at best dozens of fish.

505. Are there water deserts on Lake Baikal?

In the area of ​​maximum depths of Lake Baikal in the middle basin, where mixing is most vigorous, the water is always cold and clear. Here fishermen almost never catch fish, since there is very little of it there. Perhaps only random schools, carried by the current from stormy winds, may briefly end up in this area.

506. Are there cartilaginous fish in Baikal?

Fish with a predominantly cartilaginous skeleton in Baikal are represented by one species - the Siberian sturgeon. However, according to the classification, they belong to bony fish, not cartilaginous fish. Sturgeons belong to the suborder (but a different system to the order) of cartilaginous ganoids - cartilaginous fish.

507. Are there herbivorous fish in Baikal?

There are no herbivorous fish in Baikal, those for which plant food is the main food (such as silver carp, grass carp from the carp family, etc.). Some species of coastal bottom gobies eat ulotrix algae in small quantities, possibly also tetraspora. Algae fouling is eaten by the sorog in the summer. But special research on this issue has not yet been carried out. The information mentioned about the eating of algae by broad gobies was obtained from visual observations. But perhaps these fish collected animals that were located on these algae, and at the same time swallowed the algae themselves?

508. Are there red fish in Baikal?

Sturgeon fish (sturgeon, sterlet, beluga, etc.) were considered red fish in Rus'. The color of their muscle tissue (“meat”) is not red, but pale pinkish. It is called red for its taste and delicacy. Salmon fish, most of which are marine inhabitants, have red flesh. In fresh waters they only reproduce and spend the first period of life. In Baikal there are representatives of red fish in terms of delicious qualities - : sturgeon - and red in color of meat - Davatchan. They are found more often in deltaic areas of shallow waters. In Baikal itself, the Davatchans (SalvelinusalpinusvarerythrinusGeorgy) is rare, mainly in northern Baikal, mainly in the area of ​​Frolikha Bay and in coastal areas from the river. Tompa to V. Angara. In the lake Frolikha, from which the river of the same name flows and flows into Lake Baikal, is where the Davatchan population lives and reproduces. The fish probably enter Baikal from this lake, which is its main habitat.

509. Are there representatives of cod fish in Baikal?

The cod species include burbot, which lives in litter and in rivers - tributaries of the lake, as well as in the lake itself.

510. Are there fish migrations in Baikal? ?

The North Baikal population of omul migrates to the Small Sea to feed, sometimes reaching Kultuk - . Part of the Selenga omul population comes to these same areas to feed. Basically, it feeds in the Selenga shallow waters and in the open part of Lake Baikal after the water warms up. Spawning migrations occur in the rivers where omul lays eggs - Selenga, V. Angara, Kicher, B. and M. Chivyrkue, Barguzin, Bolshaya, Kultuchnaya, Abramikha, etc.

511. What factors limit the migration of fish in Baikal?

Acceptable water temperature ranges and food availability. Some species of fish (sculpin gobies, sand broadhead, bighead broadhead, etc.) are adapted exclusively to life on the bottom, and their migrations are very insignificant, and then only at the bottom. Others, such as golomyankas, are very sensitive to changes in water temperature and therefore perform vertical migrations in the water column. In the spring, the omul migrates along shallow waters, where food plankton develops a little earlier, and as the water in open Baikal warms up and the food it needs appears there, it begins to migrate throughout the entire water area. Migration of organisms is also caused by anthropogenic influences. Almost all organisms avoid places with contaminated water. However, when the concentration of harmful substances is greatly reduced by diluting industrial wastewater with clean Baikal water (1:10000), some organisms migrate to these wastewater.

512. What are pelagic fish?

Fish that live in the upper layers of the open part of Lake Baikal. Some of them - for example, yellowwing and longwing gobies - spend a significant part of their lives away from the shores and approach the shore only to lay eggs. Omul is also a pelagic fish, but it lives in the open part of Lake Baikal when the water warms up and a sufficient number of food planktonic organisms appear there. The actual pelagic fish, or rather bathypelagic fish, which are not even associated with the substrate by reproduction, include golomyanok. They live in deeper layers and near the bottom, and are almost never found near the shore, except in cases where, after the birth of larvae, dead females are thrown ashore by wind currents and waves.

513. Which pelagic fish in Baikal are of commercial importance?

Omul and yellowwing and longwing gobies.

514. Can Baikal fish change their color?

Omul, grayling, and whitefish change their color depending on the color of the substrate. Above the sandy bottom they become light; over dark stones - darker ones, matching the color of the stones; under artificial conditions, against the blue background of the bottom of the aquarium, they are gray-bluish. Moreover, only sighted fish change their color. Fish that are blinded or have their eyes covered with an opaque film are dark-colored, almost black.

515. Do deep-sea fish have eyes?

All deep-sea fish of Lake Baikal have eyes, but some deep-sea invertebrates lack visual pigment. Some marine animals living at a depth of less than 1800 m, that is, almost the same as in Baikal, have very large eyes and acute vision. Fish living at depths of more than 1800 m often have small eyes or no eyes at all.

516. Do fish make sounds and how?

Most fish species make different sounds. Among them are croaking, grunting, coughing, crackling, whistling, squeaking, drumming, etc.

Very little is known yet about the meaning of the sounds made by fish. Most fish do not have vocal cords. Most often, sounds are produced by the vibration of the swim bladder or the friction of individual parts of the skeleton against each other. Some species flap their fins or snap their teeth. The drumming sounds of the sea drummer fish apparently serve to scare away enemies. The toadfish makes the sound of a boatswain's pipe during the mating season. Other sounds are probably intended to communicate between individuals in a school, when danger approaches, etc. However, fish are also mute and do not make sounds. From the sea - this is the silent flounder. In Baikal, there have not yet been any special studies of what sounds lake fish make.

517. Do fish have good hearing?

Probably quite good, since sound travels almost 5 times faster in water than in air, and the response to it should be fast. However, extensive research has not yet been carried out. The Honolulu Laboratory of the National Marine Fisheries Administration in the Hawaiian Islands conducted research on hearing in tuna. They showed that tuna see and hear worse than humans (they do not perceive sounds with a frequency higher than 2 kilohertz, while humans hear sounds with a frequency of up to 15 kilohertz and even higher). The color of sound in water is also much poorer than in air, and scuba divers also say this. It is planned to conduct a study of hearing in fish on Lake Baikal after the construction of a special aquarium.

518. Do fish have a sense of smell?

It has been established that salmon in a complex river system find their place of birth by the odors of bottom sediments. The eel has a keen sense of smell, returning to its place of birth to reproduce tens of thousands of kilometers from its feeding grounds. Some fish, especially deep-sea ones, are able to detect their victims by smell. Experiments in aquariums on Lake Baikal revealed the ability to distinguish smell in bottom-dwelling coastal gobies. In a flow aquarium with a capacity of 7-8 m 3 The waters where the broad gobies were located allowed small grayling (100-150 g), which could not swallow the gobies living in the aquarium. However, as soon as the grayling was released into the water of the aquarium, the gobies instantly hid in secluded places, from where it was not easy to extract them. Even the release of a norn (weighing 15-20 kg), which eats them, caused them less “horror” than the presence of a small grayling. Grayling and omul themselves react negatively even to industrial wastewater from the Baikal Pulp and Paper Mill diluted 10 thousand times or more.

519. Do fish have a sixth sense organ?

Fish that constantly live in water, amphibians, as well as amphibian larvae have so-called lateral line organs - sensory organs located along the entire body. They consist of sensory cells with hair-like processes extending out. These organs detect the slightest fluctuations in water caused by any organism or object moving nearby. Some fish are able to detect a moving body at a distance of more than 15 m. Although other animals do not have similar organs, they should probably be considered specific auditory-tactile organs of aquatic vertebrates, since they perceive the oscillatory movements of the environment in which they live (as an auditory organ ), and its mechanical pressure (as a tactile organ).

520. How do deep-sea fish (animals) differ from fish living near the surface?

Deep-sea fish often lack a swim bladder, or it is very small. Their buoyancy is ensured mainly by fat, as in golomyankas. Many of them have large mouths and simply capture and strain large volumes of water. Animals that constantly live at great depths, as already mentioned, often lack organs of vision, or rather visual pigment, and therefore cannot see, but they have organs adapted to enable them to navigate and search for food. Organisms that constantly live at great depths are most often colorless or dirty gray in color. Almost all fish living close to the surface have a swim bladder, sighted eyes, their body is painted in different colors, etc.

521. In what pH range can fish live?

Fish live or are found in waters with a pH value between 5 and 9. However, changes in acidity can increase the toxicity of some common pollutants and cause the death of animals. At the same time, some species of marine fish adapt to an aquatic environment with an acidity of pH 3.7. Research on the reaction of Baikal fish to the acidity of the environment has not yet been carried out - the pH of Baikal water fluctuates slightly, mainly from 7 to 8.5, that is, in the neutral and slightly alkaline region. It is likely that Baikal fish are adapted to such a stable concentration of hydrogen ions.

522. How does light affect fish populations?

The daily (length of the day) and annual cycle of illumination affects the daily cycle of fish behavior, the maturation of reproductive products, metabolism, etc. Light penetrating from above allows fish to navigate, find food and avoid predators. Light is necessary for the growth of forage aquatic plants that serve as food for herbivorous fish, etc.

523. How does temperature affect fish populations?

Temperature changes, especially sudden ones, can be destructive for both adult fish and juveniles. Water temperature affects the rate of metabolic processes and behavioral energy, the rate of growth, maturation, migration and spawning of fish.

524. How do fish react to seasonal temperature changes?

In coastal shallow areas, bays andpaxthe water warms up earlier than in open Baikal.

Here the development of food plankton begins earlier, and pelagic fish approach the shores in the spring. Gobies lay eggs in coastal areas with rocky bottoms. Grayling rushes to spawn in rivers, and lake-spawning grayling lays eggs on rocky soils. At the same spring time, sor fish also spawn. After the water in open Baikal warms up, fish migrate throughout the water area, following accumulations of food organisms. In the fall, after feeding, when the temperature in the lake and in the spawning rivers approximately equalizes, the omul goes to spawn.

525. How does storm wind affect the behavior of fish?

In summer on Lake Baikal, with northwestern winds, warm surface waters are driven along with food plankton from the western to the eastern shores. Commercial fish schools also migrate beyond these waters. In place of warm water, cold, clear, dark blue water rises from the depths. This water is poor in both food organisms and fish. Fishermen know that they should not set nets for omul in cold water. But where there is yellowish-green warm water, there are fish, you can set up nets. But it is better to catch grayling in cold water, so it is usually caught with a hammering net with a three-foot net in coastal areas with a rocky bottom.

526. How is the age of fish determined?

Along the scales, on which rings are deposited, similar to the growth rings of trees. The age of the fish is determined by the number of such rings, and the growth rate during the season is determined by their width. The age of scaleless fish (gobies, golomyanok, etc.) is determined by otoliths - spherical calcareous stones in the inner ear. In otoliths, successive layers are also deposited from year to year. In a cross section, they are visible, as are the rings on the scales. By counting their number, the age of the fish is determined.

527. How do fish find their spawning river?

This question has long occupied the minds of scientists. However, a clear answer has not yet been received. It is even more mysterious how, when feeding in the ocean, salmon fish unmistakably find the very river where they were born. Experiments carried out with salmon made it possible to establish, as mentioned above, that fish find their influx by the specific smell of bottom sediments. And how, traveling across the expanses of the ocean, these fish find their river is still unknown. It is possible that fish during multi-kilometer spatial migrations use the hydrological and hydrodynamic features of water bodies; like, for example, eels, going to spawn in the Sargasso Sea, use equatorial currents. After spawning, their larvae return with the Gulf Stream to their feeding grounds in the rivers of Europe. But it is possible that some sensitive olfactory organs and navigational organs play a role here, or perhaps these organs together allow fish to find the mouth of spawning rivers, and in the river they navigate by familiar smells. Researchers still have a lot of work to do to solve this problem.

528. Do eels live in Baikal?

Eels do not live in Baikal. The habitat of eels is the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and the rivers of its basin from the European and American continents. Although eels could probably live in Baikal. We need to learn how to artificially reproduce them, since it is difficult for them to get from Baikal to the Sargasso Sea for spawning and breeding. Experiments on artificial propagation of eels are being carried out in Belarus and good results have been obtained.

bathhouse, vodka, accordion, and salmon.

Of course omul. Also grayling and whitefish. Well, golomyanka is a viviparous fish, the body of which is 30% fat. There is nothing like it anywhere else. As well as omul.

many people learned about this lake in connection with a personality that has set the teeth on edge... this fish is a putinka... although not. . this is not a fish, the patamushta has surfaced... will be deleted... I know…

From a culinary point of view - Baikal omul, and from a biological point of view - golomyanka. Golomyanka is endemic to Baikal, that is, it is not found anywhere else. The fish is deep-sea, has no swim bladder or scales, is translucent, the body consists of 35% fat, and is viviparous. Fat was considered healing. However, the Baikal omul is also endemic to Lake Baikal...

1. NERPA Endemic and the only mammal of Lake Baikal. It is at the top of the food chain of the reservoir, closes its entire energy flow and has a significant impact not only on the ichthyofauna, but also on the entire ecosystem of the lake. More details 2. BAIKAL OMUL Endemic to Lake Baikal, a fish of the whitefish genus of the salmon family. It usually weighs 1-1.5 kg; there are individuals weighing up to 7 kg. Omul entered Baikal from the Arctic Ocean through a system of rivers about 20 thousand years ago, during the last glaciation. Its first description was given by I. G. Georgi in 1775. More details 3.

SIBERIAN CEDAR Siberian cedar (botanical name - Siberian cedar pine - Pinus sibirica Du Tour). An evergreen tree reaching 35-44 meters in height and 1.8 meters in trunk diameter. Siberian cedar is a pharmacist tree; many beneficial properties of the tree itself have long been used by humans for medicinal purposes. The main advantage of cedar is its seeds, which in Russia are most often called pine nuts. More details 4. GOLOMYANKA This is a transparent fish without scales and a swim bladder, whose body consists of 35% fat. It lives at great depths of Lake Baikal and is viviparous. The significance of Golomyanka for Baikal is immeasurably great. The entire deep-sea layer of the lake is inhabited by golomyankas. They make up 3/4 of the biomass and 4/5 of the production of all fish. More details 5. BARGUZIN SABLE The Barguzin sable (Martes zibellina) is a mammal of the mustelid family, a characteristic inhabitant of the Siberian taiga. Agile and very strong predator for its size. Leads a terrestrial lifestyle, has well-developed hearing and smell, but weaker vision. The voice is a purring sound, similar to that of a cat. More details 6. STILT TREES In the northern part of Peschanaya Bay there are famous stilted trees, which have long become a symbol of Baikal. Mighty pines and larches with branches twisted by the wind rose above the ground on stilt roots. In stilted trees, the root neck and trunks are raised above the soil to a considerable height, up to 2-3 m, and therefore they stand on the roots, as if on stilts. More details 7. RELIC SPRUCE FOREST ON OLKHON ISLAND Relic spruce forest is the only large tract of spruce forest on Olkhon Island. It has been preserved on the slope of Mount Zhima since the Ice Age. Moisture-loving trees managed to survive only because the abundance of precipitation favors the preservation of ancient heat-loving plants. Elnik is located on the highest point of the island. More details 8. LONG-LIVING LARCH Long-living larch, which is more than 500 years old, is located on the territory of the Tunkinsky National Park, at the foot of the Tunkinsky Goltsy (Arshan resort, Tunkinsky district). The age of the larch is more than 500 years, the trunk diameter is 1.2 m, and the height is more than 30 m. More details 9. BAIKAL EPISHURA One of the most famous endemics of Lake Baikal. A species of planktonic crustaceans from the subclass copepods (Copepoda). The size of an adult crustacean is about 1.5 mm. Epishura plays a vital role in the pelagic ecosystem, inhabiting the entire water column and forming up to 90% or more of the biomass. More details 10. BAIKAL STURGEON Evolutionarily the oldest and largest fish of Lake Baikal.

Usually lives in the coastal zone of the eastern side of Lake Baikal at a depth of 20-50 m and in the Selenga shallow waters. The main food of the Baikal sturgeon are insect larvae, all types of crustaceans and Baikal broadheads. More details

In Baikal there are 53 species and subspecies of fish belonging to 13 families. Of these, more than half—31 species—are sculpin gobies. Sculpins are not of particular commercial value (although there was a time when they were also caught), but they are very interesting for scientists, primarily for evolutionary biologists. Outside Baikal, only two species are found: sand and stone broadhead; Most of the species apparently originated in Baikal itself. All fish of Baikal belong to three ecological and faunal complexes: Siberian (14 species and subspecies), Siberian-Baikal (10 species and subspecies) and Baikal (29 species). The Siberian complex consists of all-Siberian species that live in the bays (soras - the local name) of Lake Baikal. These are mainly carp, perch, and pike. This group also includes acclimatized species - carp, catfish and bream. The Siberian-Baikal complex is represented by grayling, whitefish and sturgeon fish that live in the coastal (up to 300 m) zone of the lake. The Baikal fish complex dominates the lake; it accounts for 56% of the total number of species and 80% of the total fish productivity of the lake.

Two species of golomyanka live in the water column of open Baikal. Golomyankas are viviparous fish; they do not lay eggs, but spawn from 1 to 3 thousand larvae into the water. These are the most numerous fish of Lake Baikal. With a body weight of 15-25 g, their total biomass is about 160 thousand tons, i.e. more than the biomass of all other fish combined. However, golomyankas have no commercial significance, since they do not form large aggregations.

Of the 53 species of fish that live in Baikal, only 15 are considered commercial. However, in gastronomic terms (and, accordingly, commercially) they are the most valuable. These are whitefish, white grayling, black grayling, lenok, taimen, sturgeon, burbot, perch, pike, roach, dace, ide, davatchan, crucian carp.

The main commercial fish of Lake Baikal is omul. Based on habitats and external characteristics, 3 groups of omul are distinguished: pelagic omul (reproducing in the Selenga River and feeding in the surface waters of Lake Baikal), coastal (spawning in the rivers of the northern end of the lake and feeding in the coastal zone) and bottom-deep-water, spawning in small rivers .

The second place in the Baikal fishery is occupied by the sor group of fish - roach, perch, pike, dace, ide and crucian carp.

Other commercial fish - grayling, whitefish, sturgeon, lenok, due to their comparative small numbers, are of interest as possible objects of fish farming, as well as recreational and sport fishing.

Some species were specially brought and released into the Baikal drainage basin in the middle of the 20th century, when there was a widespread point of view (later recognized as erroneous) that Baikal’s food supply was underutilized, and it therefore needed to be enriched with several imported commercial species. This is how the Amur carp, Amur catfish, and eastern bream appeared in the Baikal region. But there are also invaders who penetrated into the Baikal basin not by direct human intention, but involuntarily, most likely, together with the mentioned species of acclimatized fish brought in tanks from the Far East. This is a sleeper sleeper, a voracious predator with a huge head one-third the length of the body and a large toothy mouth (hence the name). Amur sleeper has absolutely no commercial significance, but due to its gluttony it can cause significant damage to fisheries, destroying juveniles of valuable fish species. Experts are alarmed by the fact that rotan is found almost in Baikal itself, in areas adjacent to the Selenga delta. And in ecology courses, it is apparently destined to become one of the classic examples of the so-called biological pollution of water bodies.

Excessive (including poaching) fishing has led, unfortunately, to the depletion of stocks of the most valuable fish species. Some of the largest representatives of the ichthyofauna, sturgeon and whitefish, have become rare in the lake. Their industrial fishing is officially prohibited.

Fishes of Baikal

Today in Baikal there are 54 species and subspecies of fish belonging to 15 families and 5 orders. All of them belong to three different groups: Siberian, Siberian-Baikal and Baikal.

Fishes of the Siberian group live in warm coastal waters and bays. In another way they are also called sor. These are mainly carp, perch, and pike. This also includes carp, catfish and bream.

Fish of the Siberian-Baikal group live in coastal waters at depths of up to 300 meters. This species includes grayling, whitefish and sturgeon. In the summer-autumn period they enter open Baikal.

Fish of the Baikal group make up 56% of all species in the lake. 27 species of fish in this group are endemic and are not found anywhere else in the world. They live at great depths.

Most of the fish that are found on Lake Baikal:

• Lenok
• Common taimen
• Arctic char
• Baikal omul
• Baikal whitefish
• Whitefish
• Baikal grayling
• Common pike
• Siberian dace
• lake minnow
• Common minnow
• Siberian roach
• Siberian gudgeon
• Goldfish
• Amur carp
• Siberian char
• Siberian spined loach
• Amur catfish
• Burbot
• River perch
• Rotan head
• 27 species of broadheads
• Yellowfly
• Big Golomyanka
• Malaya Golomyanka

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Fishes of Lake Baikal

The ichthyofauna of Baikal was formed as a result of the penetration of fish of various faunal complexes into the reservoir at different times and the evolution of the indigenous fauna.

In Baikal, together with acclimatized fish, there are 54 species and subspecies of fish belonging to 15 families and 5 orders. All fish of Baikal belong to three groups (complexes): Siberian, Siberian-Baikal and Baikal.

The Siberian complex consists of all-Siberian species that live in the coastal areas, bays and litters of Lake Baikal. They are also called sor fish. These are mainly carp, perch, and pike. This group also includes acclimatized species - carp, catfish and bream.

The Siberian-Baikal complex is represented by grayling, whitefish and sturgeon, which live in the coastal zone of the lake to depths of 300 m and enter the pelagic zone of open Baikal in the summer-autumn period.

The Baikal complex predominates in the lake - it accounts for 56% of the total number of species and 80% of the total fish biomass. The complex is represented by 29 species of sculpin, of which 27 are endemic.

These species live in the lake from the water's edge to maximum depths. Coastal sculpin gobies live together with representatives of other complexes and serve as food sources for them, on the one hand, and as competitors in food consumption, on the other.

To view species profiles, click on the name of the fish. A taxonomic list of fish from the Baikal region can be found here.

The section on fish is compiled based on the publications of V.M. Yakhnenko (2002) and N.I. Kozlova (2001).
We express special gratitude to I.B. Knizhin for consultations on the taxonomy of Siberian fish.

Baikal sturgeon
Lenok
Common taimen
Arctic char
Baikal omul
Baikal whitefish
Whitefish
Baikal grayling
Common pike
Bream
Ide
Siberian dace
lake minnow
Common minnow
Siberian roach
Siberian gudgeon
Goldfish
Amur carp
Tench
Siberian char
Siberian spined loach
Amur catfish
Burbot
River perch
Rotan head
Baikal bigheaded broadhead
Pied-winged shrew
Fat big-headed broadhead
Big-headed broadhead Talieva
Yellowfly
Long-winged broadmouth
Sandy shrew
Rock shrew
Big Golomyanka
Malaya Golomyanka
Elokhin broadmouth
White broadhead
Small-eyed broadhead
Deep sea trout
Rough broadhead, Herzenstein broadhead
Half-naked broadhead
Shellfish
Flathead
Sharp-snouted broadmouth
Short-headed broadhead, Boulenger's broadhead
Flat lobster
Broad-snout shrew
Speckled broadhead
Dark broadhead
Humpback broadhead
Narrow broadhead
Loose broadhead
Red broadhead
Great red broadhead
Dwarf broadhead

What kind of fish is found on Baikal? - you ask. And here it is:

Pike

It's no secret that the number of poachers is increasing every year. Accordingly, large-sized Baikal fish are being exterminated more and more often and more intensively. This also applies to pike. I was told that catching a 5-6 kilogram fish has become very rare. It is mainly caught using a spoon from a boat. I’ll tell you a secret (which experienced fishermen revealed to me), the best time to catch large fish is within one hour after the sun goes down.

Perch

Perch also became a victim of poachers. They say even stronger than pike. The earthworm is mainly used as bait. It is also easier to catch from a boat, but I have also seen it being caught from a coastal cliff. It's better if you bring your money with you.

Soroga

Siberian roach is not found always and not everywhere. They can also be caught from a boat or a rock. The fish is very beautiful and tasty, but don’t expect that you will be able to catch a lot of it.

Grayling

Grayling loves cold, clear water. Therefore, in the summer, when the water near the coast warms up, this fish moves further away. And you should catch it in the depths of Big Baikal. The easiest way to catch this fish is with a spoon. Baikal fishermen also use traditional gear. It is better to catch it near rocks and rivers throughout the day.

Baikal omul

Oh, this is the most famous fish of Lake Baikal. Even, one might say, legendary! This fish is a landmark not only of Baikal and Eastern Siberia, but of the entire country as a whole.

Here it is offered in any form - fried, dried, smoked. Almost on every corner and in every house we were offered this fish. But, unfortunately, experts note that this fish is on the verge of destruction.

The unusual aroma and very tender meat are why gourmets love this wonderful fish so much. Lightly salted omul is highly valued in Siberia. Many people who don’t particularly understand fish will think that the meat is rotten. At least I definitely can't force her to try. But experts know that this is where the delicacy of this dish lies.

The fame of Baikal fish goes far beyond Siberia. And its taste is legendary. Smoked or dried omul is the best gift that a Siberian brings to his friends in other cities of Russia. Having tried Baikal fish dishes once, many guests plan a trip to Baikal again in order to again experience the delicate taste of fried grayling and smoked whitefish, the aroma of hot smoked omul, which can be eaten several “tails” at a time, and of course, the unusual taste dried golomyanka.

Currently, there are 52 species of fish living in Baikal. Of these, only 15 are considered commercial fish. The most famous among them are omul, grayling and whitefish. Baikal sturgeon and lenok, taimen and burbot are found in smaller numbers. Sorog, perch, and ide live in the lake. The most important commercial areas are the Maloye More, the shallow waters of the Selenga and Upper Angara rivers, the Barguzinsky and Chivyrkuisky bays, as well as Proval Bay and Posolsky Sor (a shallow area separated from Baikal by a sandy spit - like a small lake). The total biomass of fish in Baikal is about 230 thousand tons, including commercial fish - about 60 thousand tons. The annual increase in fish is about 190-200 thousand tons. The average annual fish catch reached 13 thousand tons or more. Currently it is 3-4 thousand tons.


You can read more about it in a separate article.

BAIKAL FISH

1. Omul

Five populations of omul live in Baikal: Selenga, Posolskaya, Severobaikalskaya, Chivyrkuiskaya, Barguzinskaya


Before you even reach Baikal, you will meet its most famous and delicious representative - the Baikal omul. He will be everywhere - in cities, towns, railway stations. All the way you will be accompanied by salted omul, dried omul, and, finally, when you get to Baikal itself, freshly caught omul. The most popular is cold smoked omul. It is considered a real delicacy not only in our country, but also abroad. Smoked omul has a very special taste. The meat of this fish is very fatty and tender. When properly prepared, it acquires an unusual flavor, for which it is valued. The indigenous people call it “omul with a scent.” Most people who have tried this perfection at least once say that they have never eaten anything tastier.

2. Whitefish

In the Chivyrkuisky Bay, in the Small Sea, in the Severobaikalsky litter, the Baikal lake whitefish is found - a delicate juicy fish weighing up to three or more kilograms.

Fish pie stuffed with whitefish are signature dishes on Lake Baikal. There are also lake and river whitefish pyzhyan in Baikal. Fishermen around the fire, where the fish soup is boiling, can tell you so much about the habits of lake fish - you’ll listen to them!

3. Grayling

In spring, the rivers are free of ice. Swift, clean, “talkative”, they are “waiting” for grayling to spawn.


Baikal is home to a subspecies of Siberian grayling of two forms: black and white, which in a bright (nuptial) plumage will go to spawn in the fast tributaries of Baikal, jumping over waterfalls and creases up to a meter high with graceful jumps. After 14-17 days, larvae form from the eggs and roll into Baikal.

4. Sturgeon

Truly royal fish is called the Baikal sturgeon, a large fish (up to 100 kg in weight) with delicate black caviar, in adult females it can be up to nine kilograms.


About three centuries ago, a well-known supporter (zealot, preacher) of the Old Believer faith, Archpriest Avvakum Petrov, in “The Life Written by Himself,” assured that “the fish in it [Baikal] are very thick, much fatty, you can’t fry in a frying pan - everything will be fat...”. However, there cannot be “very dense” sturgeons in Baikal, because sturgeon prefers shallow waters, and in Baikal there are seven percent of them from the bottom area, and the Baikal sturgeon, as a result of overfishing, is listed in the Red Book.

5. Garbage fish

Along the rivers and streams, well-known fish in Siberia “came” into the lake: pike, perch, dace, ide, crucian carp, sorog, burbot, etc., but deep Baikal, as they say, did not accept them, since here there are different depths, different temperature, other feed. This ichthyofauna is perfectly located in the shallow bays of Baikal - in the litter, and lenok and taimen “came” along the large tributaries of Baikal and are located in the pre-estuary parts of the rivers.

6. Golomyanka

It is the most numerous in Baikal. The total number and biomass are twice as large as all other fish living in the lake, and amount to about 150 thousand tons. The peculiarity of the golomyanka is that it does not spawn, but gives birth to live larvae, which is why it is called a viviparous fish.


There are two species of golomyankas living in Baikal - large and small. Both species are found at various depths all the way to the bottom. Golomyankas, along with zooplankton, also eat their smaller brothers - juveniles. Despite this, the annual growth of golomyanka is about 150 thousand tons, i.e., within a year it completely renews its population.

Industrial fishing cannot be organized for golomyanka. It leads a dispersed lifestyle and is the main food for omul and Baikal seals, since its body is half composed of fat. The largest specimens of females of the great golomyanka reach 25 cm, males - 15 cm. Females of the small golomyanka grow up to 15 cm, males - up to 12 cm. The large golomyanka usually gives birth to its offspring in September-October, and the small one - in the spring, after the lake is freed from ice . At the same time, golomyankas rise to the surface layers so that the offspring have the opportunity to feed here on epishura, cyclops and macrohectopus fry. Large specimens of the large golomyanka give birth to up to 2.0-2.5 thousand larvae, small golomyanka - up to 1.5 thousand pieces. According to some authors, golomyankas die when their offspring are born; according to others, not all individuals die. By the way, golomyankas mature in the 2-3rd year of life. There are seven-year-old females and four-year-old males.

DISHES FROM BAIKAL FISH

The local highlight is lightly salted Baikal omul, the fame of its delicate taste is known far beyond the borders of Siberia. There are different ways of salting it, gutted and not gutted, depending on the cooking recipe and the time that has passed since the day of salting, the taste of the fish changes greatly. Freshly salted omul is so tender that even those who usually avoid fish eat several tails of it at a time. Among gourmets it is valued as an ideal snack for chilled vodka.
Many tourists try to take Baikal omul as gifts for their family and friends. For transportation, it is recommended to buy cold-smoked omul and pack it in paper, not in plastic bags, so as not to suffocate.

Fried fish

It is best to fry fresh lenka or fatty gray and white grayling (but not black), or whitefish.
The tastiest fish is freshly caught by a fisherman, not asleep, when no more than two hours have passed since the catch. Large whitefish are cut along the spine and then cut into large pieces so that they can be fried. The oil must be free of foreign odors. It is better to fry in butter, fresh melted seal fat or livestock fat. For 1 kg of fish you need about 100 grams of butter. First, the fish is cleaned all around and freed from scales, spread out, and the gills and entrails are removed. Spread out fish is not washed in running water so that it does not lose its taste. Only newcomers to Baikal wash it - real fishermen never wash gutted fish. To form a golden crust, the pieces are rolled in flour, to which salt and black pepper are added. Gray flour or crushed crackers are preferable. Properly cooked fish has an even, crispy skin that does not burst. Fry it in a large frying pan so that it goes in with the head. Whole fried fish has different tastes in different parts of the body. When the fish is fried on one side, it is turned over to the other side, and coarsely chopped onions are added to the frying pan. A dish with cooked fish is decorated with herbs and lemon slices.

Fish soup according to A. Burmeister's recipes

Historical background: In the 19th century, the main snack for Irkutsk residents was omul with cedar oil and green onions. Selenga was especially valued. When the first omul and freshly salted caviar were brought to the city, half the city gathered on the shore. Everyone bought as much as they could. At the beginning of the 19th century, a barrel of omul cost 13 rubles.

For fish soup, it is better to take fatty fish - grayling or whitefish. The fish is not washed if it is fresh. This makes the most delicious soup. For real fish soup there must be a lot of fish - a full pan. The fish is dipped in cold salted water and boiled for 7-10 minutes. When cooked, take out and finish cooking the muhler (broth), adding a pinch of rice, finely chopped potatoes and onions. If the fish is not pulled out, it will fall apart. Delicious fish soup is made over a fire made from deciduous and pine wood. It has been noticed that burning coals, falling into the pot, add a piquant taste to the broth, which is why local fishermen call it “smoky fish soup.” An unforgettable experience of real fish soup can only be obtained on the shores of Baikal: at dusk by the light of a fire, to the sound of the surf and the drinking song “The Glorious Sea - Sacred Baikal.”

On the eastern shore of the lake, fish soup is cooked according to a different recipe. In the Chivyrkuisky Bay, where a variety of fish are caught in the net: perch, burbot, pike, white grayling and whitefish, “triple fish soup” is cooked. To prepare it you need a large container. All fish are gutted, but not washed. Trash and noble fish are sorted. The sor is ripped open, but the scales are not removed. The noble one is cleaned all around from scales and ripped open. Rice, finely chopped potatoes and trash fish (crucian carp, burbot, ide) are placed in cold water. When the fish is boiled, it is pounded and squeezed into the main broth, the remains are removed along with gauze. Secondly, the perch is placed in clean gauze, also not cleaned of scales. When it is cooked, it is also squeezed out and the remains are removed along with gauze. The resulting broth is made from two types of fish; various spices are added to it. Then add pieces of noble fish, cleaned of scales, and cook for 7 minutes until the eyes of the fish turn white. Then the fish is taken out of the broth, additionally salted and served on the table in a separate plate.

Omul caviar

The taste of caviar depends on how you flog the fish - in the block (split only the belly) or in the layer (split only the spine). It is unacceptable for blood and bile to enter the caviar. For beating (freeing eggs from the film), a special cross is made from the crown of a young green larch. Select crowns 30-50 cm long, which have at least four shoots in different directions of 1.5-2 cm each. Then the cross is freed from the bark, clamped between the palms and turned in a container with caviar, as when making fire, periodically removing the screwed on one with a knife. her film. This operation continues until the entire film breaks and the eggs separate from each other. With high-quality beating, there should not even be two eggs in the film. Then the caviar is washed in water - the more water, the purer the product. For 2 calves, take an enamel container of at least 10 liters. The purest selected eggs settle to the bottom, and all the particles of film, blood and immature eggs float to the surface. The entire upper cloudy solution is drained. This procedure is repeated many times until the water with caviar is pure. If you shake such water with a layer of eggs at the bottom and look, then the color of the solution should be uniform, without any impurities. The caviar washing is completed, and you can start salting. There are two ways: five-minute and slow.
For five-minute salting, take boiled water, pour in as much salt as will dissolve, i.e. a supersaturated solution is made. Coarse salt is used (GOST 00).
The caviar is poured into cheesecloth and dipped in a hot salt solution. After five minutes, the bag is hung out to drain the brine. Caviar is ready to eat.

For slow salting, pour a lot of salt into cold water. Gauze with caviar is immersed in a cold saline solution for 6 hours. Then they hang it up in the same way so that the solution drains, and the caviar is ready.

Gourmets recommend eating chilled caviar with hot white bread and butter or rolling chilled caviar into hot pancakes. The caviar that is sold is prepared industrially in a different way using preservatives and is intended for long-term storage, so its taste is an order of magnitude lower than that of properly prepared caviar at home.

Splitting

Healthy fish are selected. According to the recommendation of the sanitary and epidemiological station, it is necessary to freeze it for at least 14 days, but Baikal fishermen know how to choose healthy food and consume it immediately after lifting the nets, as soon as it hardens in the cold.


Frozen fish is beaten from all sides with a hard object. After this, the skin is easily removed, and the frozen pulp is torn and separated from the bones. Pieces of frozen fish are consumed raw, dipped in a mixture of salt and black pepper.

Omul “with flavor”

In Siberia, salted omul, flogged and unflogged, and culturally salted is most valued.
True lovers and experts believe that pounded salted omul with its aroma - a peculiar piquant smell, and meat with a very tender consistency - is preferable to all other types of preparation.


To an unaccustomed person, such omul seems somewhat rotten (however, this only seems so, this is the specificity of the smell of delicious fish. Not everyone likes, for example, Roquefort cheese, but lovers will not exchange it for any other.

Other recipes for fish dishes of Siberian and Buryat cuisine can be read in the article about.

You can choose a recreation center on the coast of Lake Baikal.