BACTERIAL METHANE PRODUCTION IN THE BOTTOM SEDIMENTS OF LAKE BAIKAL

Data on the activity of methanogens in bottom sediments of Lake Baikal are presented The number of methanogens varied from 5500 to 1 550 000 cell/ml; daily CH4 production ranged from 0.01 to 534.7 mu l/kg silt. The highest rates of methanogenesis were revealed in the sediments of Frolikha and Khakusy Bays and in the waste disposal zone of Baikal'sk . The bulk of CH4 is produced from CO2 + H-2 in deep-water sediments a nd from acetate in shallow-water sediments. In the sediment layers stu died, the bacterial CH4 production varied from 1.2 to 2500 mu l/m(2) p er day.