Manchurian Wapiti Drowned in Baikal is Helpful in Understanding How Chemical Elements Accumulate in Animal Organism

Researchers of Tomsk Polytechnic University have dissected a carcass of a Manchurian wapiti drowned near Olkhon Island of Lake Baikal in December. The collected biomaterials will be helpful in understanding how geochemical elements depending on characteristics of mountain landscapes are distributed in living organisms. In the long run, besides fundamental conclusions, the researchers hope that will be able to form guidelines for the prevention of endemic diseases.

The interdisciplinary project entitled Impact of Lithological and Geochemical Characteristics of Mountain Landscapes of Siberia and the Far East on Formation of Elemental Composition of Mammalian Organism was supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation and will last four years (2020-2024). The research works are being conducted by the TPU researchers jointly with scientists from the Pacific Geographical Institute of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The TPU researchers carried out the research of the territories of Primorye and the Gornyi Altai. This year, they have already started the research of Baikalia, Transbaikalia and Buryatia. The territories for the project were chosen due to their specific chemical composition of rocks. During their expeditions, the TPU researchers collect samples of rocks, water, soils, vegetation and biomaterials.

"The case that occurred on Olkhon Island can be called unique. It is essential for the research of fodder impact on the formation of the elemental composition of a mammalian organism.

"The case that occurred on Olkhon Island can be called unique. It is essential for the research of fodder impact on the formation of the elemental composition of a mammalian organism.

Of course, we cannot pick up animals in protected areas. We cooperate with hunting sectors neighboring such territories or select objects for a biopsy in private households. Frequently, it is season work. A seasonal epizootic of animals can be seen on some territories during a winter. Therefore, we can collect bone material and wool samples. Therefore, it was a quite rare opportunity when as a result of an accident we were able to collect the samples of a brain, organs, bone material belonged to an animal from a nature reserve," says Natalya Baranoskaya, Professor of the TPU Division for Geology and Head of the project.

According to her, the Manchurian wapiti was tracked down in the water by wolves. During six hours, staff of Pribaikalsky National Park, a policeman and locals tried to rescue the animal. Due to the thin ice, it was impossible to come closer to the Manchurian wapiti. By the moment rescuers finally pull the animal ashore, it had been dead. The animal remains, which were not useful to the researchers for further examination, were delivered to countries of golden eagles for supplementary feeding.

"We prepare the collected samples for examination and carry out a wide range of analyses. These analyses are inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to determine chemical composition, instrumental neutron activation analysis conducted at the TPU Nuclear Research Reactor and scanning electron microscopy. Factually, these are analyses for all chemical elements of the periodic table. We have already obtained rather interesting data on the concentration of chemical elements in the brain and spinal cord of the animals on territories with different geochemical conditions. As a result of the four-year research work, we must identify the significance of every organic component and metal-organic complex inside the animal organism, which mostly determine its life. The solution of such a fundamental problem will assist in the prevention of human and animals' diseases," explains Natalya Baranovskaya.

More information:
Alina Borovskaia, avb39@tpu.ru

Provided by Tomsk Polytechnic University