New data regarding ecology of freshwater pelagic amphipod Macrohectopus branickii and other crustaceans of plankton from the southern part of Lake Baikal

In this study, we present a list of crustaceans traced in plankton of the southern basin Lake Baikal in addition to some details regarding ecological peculiarities of the only known freshwater pelagic amphipod Macrohectopus branickii. The amphipod is an active predator among major parts of the Lake Baikal food chain. Its role in the lake’s ecosystem is similar to that of Antarctic krill and mysids in Europe and North America water bodies. As an active swimmer, M. branickii performs daily vertical migrations. Besides, the species also has horizontal migrations and migrating swarms, including time during breeding period, that hamper species studies. We were interested in clarify some features of the species ecology. As a material we used samples obtained in the 0 to 250 m water layer with a plankton Juday net every 7 to 10 days from 2013 until 2018 as a part of long-term ecological monitoring project of Lake Baikal pelagial. Sampling was conducted in the southern part of the lake off the shore of Bolshie Koty Village. The results showed the presence of one peak of young during breeding period, which is at its maximum in May. The maximum of the 1 to 6 mm group containing young individuals and males occurs in July, and during the same period, a slight increase in immature females in comparison with the first group can also be seen. This finding might be directly linked to the warming trend in Lake Baikal.