Scientists of the Northern Water Problems Institute KarRC RAS told about the first results of research on carbon pools and fluxes in aquatic ecosystems of Karelia. The work is done for the tasks of the RITM Carbon Consortium on creating the Russian Climate Monitoring System (within a federal Key Innovative Project). Last year, research was conducted at three waterbodies in the Kivach Nature Reserve: a small forest lake Chudesnaya Lamba, the Sandalka River, the Chechkin Brook, and in their catchments. Scientists conducted meteorological observations, landscape survey, studied groundwater, hydrological, hydrophysical, hydrochemical, hydrobiological characteristics of water and bottom sediments, as well as developed techniques for monitoring greenhouse gas fluxes at the water-sediment and water-atmosphere interfaces.
The data were presented at the 8th All-Russian Scientific Conference “Hydrometeorology and Ecology 2024” by NWPI KarRC RAS leading scientists Natalya Belkina and Natalia Kalinkina.
Natalya Belkina, Head of the Sediment Research Group at NWPI KarRC RAS, spoke about the results of quantifying major carbon pools in water and sediments, greenhouse gas emissions from sediments to water and from water to air, as well as carbon outflow from the test site with river flow.
The outflow of total carbon from the catchment area of the model watercourses (Chechkin Brook, Sandalka River) peaks during the spring high-water period and decreases during the summer low-water period. The maximum value of specific outflow was recorded in the Sandalka River at the end of April (7.8 t/day), dropping to nearly zero in the summer low-water period (0.03 t/day) due to the decrease in water discharge to 0.01 m3/s.
– We determined the dynamics of the content of various forms of carbon in Lake Chudesnaya Lamba. Existing in a humid climate, the lakelet accumulates organic matter. The highest CO2 emission from sediment to water was recorded during the ice-covered period in April, and amounting to 110 mg/m2 per day, - said Natalya Belkina.
Natalia Kalinkina, Head of the Hydrobiology Laboratory at NWPI KarRC RAS, told about the contribution of plankton in Lake Chudesnaya Lamba to the formation of carbon dioxide fluxes.
– In small endorheic basins (having no outlets), which occupy most of Karelia's paludal territories, CO2 concentration depends mainly on the ratio of photosynthesis and respiration of the biota. To calculate carbon dioxide fluxes in the ecosystem, we customized the balance model of matter and energy fluxes. The results of the studies proved plankton metabolism was heterotrophic, with respiration exceeding photosynthesis by 30%. The contribution of plankton to carbon dioxide fluxes from the water surface of Lake Chudesnaya Lamba was 20-60% depending on the methods of calculating CO2 emissions, – noted Natalia Kalinkina.
The successful experience of model customization for different environmental conditions will enable its application for estimating matter and energy fluxes in waterbodies of different types in Karelia, which can play a significant role in CO2 emission into the atmosphere.
Also, the first year of activities resulted in the registration of the database “The thermo-hydrodynamic and gas regimes of waterbodies in the Kivach carbon testing site”, which includes measured data for current velocities and directions, water temperature and dissolved oxygen and CO2 concentrations. The database structure allows constructing various queries to analyze seasonal and daily variations in water temperature, current velocities and directions, and gas concentrations in water.
Note that Karelia is one of the five pioneer regions, along with Moscow, Siberia and the Far East, where unified methodological approaches are being worked out, which can later be disseminated to waterbodies in other regions of the Russian Federation.
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January 13, 2025
Scientists presented the first results of a study on carbon pools and fluxes in aquatic ecosystems of Karelia
A model of carbon emission by waterbodies was created by staff of the Northern Water Problems Institute (NWPI) KarRC RAS after their first year of working within the RITM Carbon scientific consortium. In 2024, Karelia became one of the five regions where unified methodological approaches to estimating greenhouse gas pools and emissions from waterbodies are being developed. In the future, this experience may be disseminated across the country.
A model of carbon emission by waterbodies was created by staff of the Northern Water Problems Institute (NWPI) KarRC RAS after their first year of working within the RITM Carbon scientific consortium. In 2024, Karelia became one of the five regions where unified methodological approaches to estimating greenhouse gas pools and emissions from waterbodies are being developed. In the future, this experience may be disseminated across the country.
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January 30, 2025
Heads of KarRC RAS scientific subdivisions informed about previous year’s work
January 29 completed the two-day session of the Learned Council of the Karelian Research Center RAS devoted to the results of its institutes' activities in 2024. The directors of the Institute of Applied Mathematical Research, Institute of Economics, Institute of Linguistics, Literature and History and the Head of the Department for Multidisciplinary Research delivered their reports.
January 29 completed the two-day session of the Learned Council of the Karelian Research Center RAS devoted to the results of its institutes' activities in 2024. The directors of the Institute of Applied Mathematical Research, Institute of Economics, Institute of Linguistics, Literature and History and the Head of the Department for Multidisciplinary Research delivered their reports.
January 29, 2025
Directors of KarRC RAS institutes recapitulate the results of 2024 activities
Studies of carbon pools and fluxes in the natural environment, monitoring of rare species numbers, searching for ways to control dangerous parasites, investigating the response of ecosystems to climate change and human impact - these and many other topics were addressed by Karelian scientists in the past year. The KarRC RAS Learned Council session on January 28 discussed the results of scientific activities of the Institute of Biology, Forest Research Institute, Northern Water Problems Institute and Institute of Geology.
Studies of carbon pools and fluxes in the natural environment, monitoring of rare species numbers, searching for ways to control dangerous parasites, investigating the response of ecosystems to climate change and human impact - these and many other topics were addressed by Karelian scientists in the past year. The KarRC RAS Learned Council session on January 28 discussed the results of scientific activities of the Institute of Biology, Forest Research Institute, Northern Water Problems Institute and Institute of Geology.
January 24, 2025
Genes for resistance of Eurasian bats to a dangerous fungal disease identified
Biologists from the Karelian Research Center RAS took part in a global study of a fungal infection in bats. The white-nose syndrome is a grave disease that has killed millions of chiropterans in North America in recent decades. In Eurasia, the pathogen occurs as well, but does not result in mass deaths of the animals. Thanks to the cooperation of scientists from different countries, from Spain to Japan, it became possible to detect which genes may be associated with resistance to the fungus in bats on our continent.
Biologists from the Karelian Research Center RAS took part in a global study of a fungal infection in bats. The white-nose syndrome is a grave disease that has killed millions of chiropterans in North America in recent decades. In Eurasia, the pathogen occurs as well, but does not result in mass deaths of the animals. Thanks to the cooperation of scientists from different countries, from Spain to Japan, it became possible to detect which genes may be associated with resistance to the fungus in bats on our continent.
January 22, 2025
New exhibition “Karelia – History in Stone” to open at the National Library of Karelia in April
Scientists of the Institute of Geology of the Karelian Research Center RAS became the leading partners in the new project “Stone Chronicles of Karelia”, which was launched on January 15 with funding from the Head of the Republic Grant Fund. The aim of the project is to preserve, popularize and use the geological and mining heritage of the region in education and tourism. For scientists, participation in the project provides new opportunities to popularize knowledge about the region's geological heritage. Thus, in April, a new exhibition “Karelia - History in Stone” will open at the National Library of Karelia as part of the project; other plans include school classes, lectures, quizzes and master classes for wide audiences.
Scientists of the Institute of Geology of the Karelian Research Center RAS became the leading partners in the new project “Stone Chronicles of Karelia”, which was launched on January 15 with funding from the Head of the Republic Grant Fund. The aim of the project is to preserve, popularize and use the geological and mining heritage of the region in education and tourism. For scientists, participation in the project provides new opportunities to popularize knowledge about the region's geological heritage. Thus, in April, a new exhibition “Karelia - History in Stone” will open at the National Library of Karelia as part of the project; other plans include school classes, lectures, quizzes and master classes for wide audiences.
January 17, 2025
Tracking of wild forest reindeer movements will help develop conservation actions for this rare species
Scientists in Karelia track the movements of the nationally red-listed wild forest reindeer using satellite collars and camera traps. This helps understand the current state of the population and what measures are needed to preserve it. Data have already been collected on the movements of reindeer in the north of the republic, and observations of females of the transboundary Kuhmo-Kamenoyeozero subpopulation in the west are underway. The study has shown that the female reindeer consistently use the same summer habitats but change their rutting territories and winter pastures. This information is important for planning the network of protected areas necessary to conserve this rare species.
Scientists in Karelia track the movements of the nationally red-listed wild forest reindeer using satellite collars and camera traps. This helps understand the current state of the population and what measures are needed to preserve it. Data have already been collected on the movements of reindeer in the north of the republic, and observations of females of the transboundary Kuhmo-Kamenoyeozero subpopulation in the west are underway. The study has shown that the female reindeer consistently use the same summer habitats but change their rutting territories and winter pastures. This information is important for planning the network of protected areas necessary to conserve this rare species.