Russian scientists have discovered that Batiali Baikal residents are changing the color and carrying the sunglasses of Muslims for a lifetime in the dark. The research results are supported by the grant of Russian science fund published in a variety of magazines.
Despite the darkness, a unique life is happening in the depth of Baikal. For example, Ommatogammarus Albinus and Ommatammarus Flavus live there. These crustaceans patrol their lake bottom, eating everything falling from above.
Researching crustaceans from different depths, Russian scientists found that O. Flavus Red -Rared, caught at a depth of more than 650 meters, discolored and became pale, almost indistinguishable from their neighbors O. Albinus.
Biochemical analysis has explained everything. It is all about carotenoids – the pigments that the armor confirms from food. They are not only dyed, but also, as a cream from the skin, protecting against ultraviolet radiation.
According to scientists, Baikal crustaceans have their own “sunglasses”. O. Flavus at the small depth of his eyes is black and red in older ones. O. Albinus is red and pink, respectively. With the clear importance of vision for crustaceans, it is possible to assume that additional pigments at depths in the light penetrate more, helping to protect the clear cells from the destruction effect of ultraviolet radiation. This is a unique mechanism for protecting photosynthesis cells under the harsh conditions of Baikal.
The biggest surprise for scientists is the result of genetic analysis. Both types of crustaceans showed the equally low genetic diversity – a sign that their ancestors had survived in the past demographic disaster, reducing the number and the entire modern population came from a few survivors.
Now scientists have questions how to disperse and form two similarities in the species's environmental characteristics. The researchers believe that they could form in different lakes and meet later – after they dispersed enough to stop crossing.
In addition, despite the same genetic scarcity and living environment at the same depth, the representative of O. Flavus accumulates carotenoids and representatives of O. Albinus.
Biologists believe that the difference can be explained by another diet. O. Flavus -likes micro -micro -Carotenoids -rich carotenoids, while O. Albinus is a more miserable pickled man. Or, perhaps, their metabolism absorbs the same pigments. Therefore, food hobbies can become a barrier that one million years ago divided a look into two.
