Ecological Approaches in the Process of Formation of the Bolshoe Toko National Park, Yakutia

The creation of a new protected area, especially on permafrost territory, along with the adoption of legislative measures, requires a thorough assessment of its ecological diversity and condition. In the planned Bolshoe Toko National Park (Yakutia, Northeastern Russia), the main protected area will be a unique deep-water mountain lake of glacial origin, Bolshoe Toko Lake. Our aim was to study the species composition of algal communities of Bolshoe Toko Lake by combining our new and previously known data on the flora of algae and cyanobacteria of the lake. For the first time by analyzing environmental parameters, we identified factors and hotspots of diversity of the lake ecosystem. In the planktonic microflora of the lake, 479 species belonging to six taxonomic phyla were identified. This allows us to talk about a biodiversity hotspot at Bolshoe Toko Lake. The presence of rare, new endangered and critically endangered species in the flora of the lake confirms the need to create a national park. Bioindication analysis and contour maps of ecological factors made it possible to assess the current sustainability of the ecosystem when developing a plan for the creation of a new protected area and to identify potential problem areas and factors affecting the ecosystem. One such factor is the development of the coal basin, which is already having a noticeable impact on the lake environment.