Year: 2025, Number: 3, Pages: 91-101
We investigated the habitats of the underwater slope of Lake Baikal at depths ranging from 50 to 200 m using the remotely operated unmanned underwater vehicle Rovbuilder ZB-30 from the research vessel Papanin. Three areas in the northern basin of the lake were surveyed: near Cape Shartlay and Frolikha and Sosnovka bays. In zones of tectonic deformation and bottom disruption in the first two areas, we observed rocky, pebble-boulder, and clayey escarpments. Large holes or caverns were found at the lower edges of the escarpments, while the upper edges exhibited a layered structure. The slopes of some clayey escarpments contained numerous small caverns. The geomorphology is suggested to originate from gravitational or seismic collapse, subaqueous or thermal discharge, and gas release with sediment. The abundance of meiobenthos on the underwater slope and near the cavern entrances was assessed. A distinctive plant- microbial habitat was identified in Frolikha Bay, with chironomid larvae occupying the central area and large amphipods and gastropods along the periphery. In Sosnovka Bay, in addition to cone-shaped silty structures, yellow lumpy masses were found, which are presumably seal feces composed of amphipod cuticular structures.