During interdisciplinary research at the nearshore zone of Lake Baikal, the authors attempted to estimate the impact of ground waters in this area, assessing, in particular, the concentrations of different substances in beach ground waters and water below the water edge. This procedure involves analysis and comparison of water quality while sampling at three points along the transect: 1) above the water edge, interstitial ground waters of the beaches, 2) at the water edge and 3) below the water edge (near-bottom water layers). Water samples from the third point were taken using a sampler designed by the authors. The device is intended for collecting water samples near the bottom at the depth at least up to 2 m. It may be used in the shallows aboard of a boat (deeper than 2 m) or sampling the area by foot wearing a rubber short overalls (Figs 1, 2). The device allows researchers to extend the study area within the littoral zone (in case of a shallow slope it may encompass a half-kilometer wide area) without scuba diving equipment. It is advisable to sample in calm weather since big waves mix the littoral waters. The sampler consists of a 2 m long handle (the length may be extended for boat sampling) (Figs. 3, а, б: 1), a 5–6 cm wide, 2 cm thick and 50–60 cm long rectangular, elongated, wooden base (Figs. 3, а, б: 2) with two fixed Janet syringes (160 ml and more each) (Figs. 3, а, б: 4), metal grooves (Figs. 3, а, б: 8) with two cords running through (Figs. 3, а, б: 7). The syringe is filled with near-bottom water by pulling the cord attached to the plunger (Figs. 3, а, б: 6). Each syringe is inserted in a holder (Figs. 3, а, б: 3) fixed at the lower end of the base (aluminum holder 3–4 cm deep) with a hole in the center and the needle (Figs. 3, а, б: 5) adapter protrudes through it. Needle adapters terminate at the level of the lower end of the handle that allows, first, to collect water right near the bottom and, second, block the penetration of the adapters into soft, loose soft bottom clogging up the adapter holes. The syringe plunger is pulled by a cord passing through a groove at the base of the device. Regular monitoring as a part of interdisciplinary surveys in Baikal coastal zone has been undertaken by researchers of the laboratory of biology of freshwater invertebrates of the Limnological Institute SB RAS annually since 2013. Complex 10–14 day field studies are carried out during open water period in June and September. Sampling is carried out at 15–25 sites and cover the nearshore zone of the entire lake. Records from 25 regularly surveyed sites include chemical and microbiological analyses of water, estimation of the quality and quantity of zoo- and phytobenthos, assessment of some abiotic environmental parameters. During the whole period of the studies, near-bottom water was collected by means of a new sampler that gave a good account of itself. As a result, the researchers obtained data on the state of the nearshore zone in all parts of the lake, found out that domestic wastewater discharge into this zone causes filamentous algae bloom. Besides, evidence was provided on deterioration of the water quality in close proximity to settlements. The results obtained during the studies were published in a number of papers [e.g. Rapid ecological change ... , 2016; Groundwater contamination by ... , 2018; etc.].

Lukhnev Anton Gennadievich, Research Scientist, Limnological Institute SB RAS, 3, Ulan-Batorskaya st., Irkutsk, 664033, Russian Federation, e-mail: luhnev.ant@yandex.ru 

Timoshkin Oleg Anatolievich, Doctor of Sciences (Biology), Professor, Head of Laboratory, Limnological Institute SB RAS, 3, Ulan-Batorskaya st., Irkutsk, 664033, Russian Federation, e-mail: tim@lin.irk.ru

Lukhnev A.G., Timoshkin O.A. A New Sampler for Collecting Water near the Bottom in Nearshore Zones. The Bulletin of Irkutsk State University. Series Biology. Ecology, 2019, vol. 28, pp. 101-107. https://doi.org/10.26516/2073-3372.2019.28.101 (in Russian)

Kulikova N.N. Chebykin E.P., Timoshkin O.A., Zhuchenko N. A., Volkova E.A., Suturin N.A. Anthropogenic pollution of lake Baikal near-shore zone with chemical elements as a main factor of expansion of alga of the genus Spirogyra spp. Freshwater Ecosystems – Key Problems: Int. Conf., Irkutsk, Russia. Irkutsk, Megaprint Publ., 2018, pp. 212-213.

Timoshkin O.A., Bondarenko N.A., Volkova E.A., Tomberg I.V., Vishnyakov V.S., Malnik V.V. Massovoe razvitie zelenykh nitchatykh vodoroslej rodov Spirogyra Link и Stigeoclonium Kütz. (CHLOROPHYTA) v pribrezhnoj zone Juzhnogo Bajkala [Mass development of green Filamentous algae of the genera Spirogyra and Stigeoclonium (Chlorophyta) in the littoral zone of the southern part of Lake Baikal]. Hydrobiol. J., 2014, no. 5, pp. 15-26. (in Russian)

Suturin A.N. Chebykin E.P., Malnik V.V., Khanaev I.V., Minaev A.V., Minaev V.V. Rol’ antropogennykh factorov v razvitii ekologicheskogo stressa v litorali oz. Baikal (akvatoriya pos. Listvyanka) [Role of anthropogenic factors for development of ecological stress in Baikal littoral zone]. Geographiya i prirodnye resursy, 2016, no. 6, pp. 43-54. (in Russian). https://doi.org/10.21782/GIPR0206-1619-2016-6(43-54)

Timoshkin O.A., Malnik V.V., Sakirko M.V., Bondarenko N.A., Rozhkova N.A., Sheveleva N.G., Volkova E.A., Nepokrytykh A.V., Zaitseva E.P., Medvezhonkova O.V., Lukhnev A.G., Zvereva Y.M., Poberezhnaya A.E., Shirokaya A.A., Potapskaya N.V., Tomberg I.V., Domysheva V.M., Timoshkina E.M., Kupchinsky A.B. Ecological crisis in the coastal zone of Lake Baikal. 6th int. Vereshchagin Baikal Conf., 4^th Baikal microbiological Symp., Irkutsk, Russia. Irkutsk, 2015, pp. 40-42.

Timoshkin O.A., Malnik V.V., Sakirko M.V., Boedeker K. Ekologicheskiy krizis na Baikale. Uchenye stavyat diagnoz. [Ecological crisis in Baikal. Scientists make diagnosis]. Nauka iz pervykh ruk, 2014, no. 5, pp. 74–91. (in Russian).

Timoshkin O.A., Moore M.V., Kulikova N.N., Tomberg I.V., Malnik, V.V., Shimaraev M.N., Troitskaya E.S., Shirokaya A.A., Sinyukovich V.N., Zaitseva E.P., Domysheva V.M., Yamamuro M., Poberezhnaya A.E., Timoshkina E.M. Groundwater contamination by sewage causes benthic algal outbreaks in the littoral zone of Lake Baikal (East Siberia). J. Great Lakes Res., 2018, vol. 44, pp. 230-244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2018.01.008

Timoshkin O.A., Samsonov D.P., Yamamuro M., Moore M.V., Belykh O.I., Malnik V.V., Sakirko M.V., Shirokaya A.A., Bondarenko N.A., Domysheva V.M., Fedorova G.A., Kochetkov A.I., Kuzmin A.V., Lukhnev A.G., Medvezhonkova O.V., Nepokrytykh A.V., Pasynkova E.M., Poberezhnaya A.E., Potapskaya N.V., Rozhkova N.A., Sheveleva N.G., Tikhonova I.V., Timoshkina E.M., Tomberg I.V., Volkova E.A., Zaitseva E.P., Zvereva Yu.M., Kupchinsky A.B., Bukshuk N.A. Rapid ecological change in the coastal zone of Lake Baikal (East Siberia): Is the site of the world's greatest freshwater biodiversity in danger? J. Great Lakes Res., 2016, vol. 42. pp. 487-497. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2016.02.011