Characterization of Diatoms of Kazakhstani Lakes by Microscopic and Spectral Methods

Abstract

Assessment of diatoms inhabiting any given water region is an essential part of an ecotoxicological study. Depending on the environmental conditions of the region, diatom communities may vary in their taxonomical content and can develop some morphological and functional deformations as a response to anthropogenic factors. In this project, the taxonomical content, and the morphological features of the diatoms of Kazakhstani lakes, namely Balkhash and the former Aral Sea are observed and characterized, in order to examine the effects of anthropogenic pollution caused by metal processing and agricultural activities respectively. The preliminary analysis of the samples demonstrates deviations of taxonomic contents of diatoms between the polluted and not polluted regions, showing the prevalence of species, more resistant to exposure to toxic factors. Less than 1% of deformations in diatom frustules from the field samples were observed in the first part of the project. The second part of the project is the assessment of the short-term exposure of laboratory cultures Cyclotella meneghininana and Nitzschia frustulum to heavy metals. As a result of the experiment, there were observed effects on cell viability, morphological and functional features of both cultures.