BACTERIAL SYNTHESIS AND DESTRUCTION OF ORGANIC-MATTER IN MICROBIAL MATS OF LAKE BAIKAL

The bacterial activity in microbial mats and sediments of Frolikha Bay (North Baikal) was studied. Arrival of allochthonous and autochthonou s organic matter (OM) and inflow of ground water whose composition is different from that of the Baikal water favor the development of bacte ria of different physiological groups. Studies of their distribution a nd activity in this region of Lake Baikal revealed their important rol e in OM production and destruction and gas generation in microbial mar s and sediments. Thioploca sp. was found to be the main component of t he microbial mats.