Diatoms are not only used to determine water pollution but also changes in the climate. They are used extensively in environmental assessment and monitoring.Diatoms are unicellular orgasms that collect energy from the sun through photosynthesis and are merely a few micrometers in size. Photosynthesis provides a living condition for humans, animals and other living organisms.

Two thirds of the total oxygen on earth is produced by diatoms living in seas and oceans.Currently, around 800 species of diatoms have been registered. The figure changes considerably at the global level. Experts consider that 80,000 species of diatoms live in freshwater and way more species in lakes and seas. Diatoms play a special role for the nature and ecology. It releases oxygen through photosynthesis. Two thirds of the total oxygen on earth is produced by diatoms living in seas and oceans. Most people believe that only trees and green plants produce oxygen. In fact, the vast majority of oxygen is produced by plants living under the sea. When did you find new species of diatoms in Mongolia? Out of 110 species, 64 species were found in small rivers and lakes surrounding Khentii Mountains. Some 20 species were found in the ecosystem of large lakes such as Khyargas and Uvs Lakes, as well as their branch rivers. Around 10 new species have been discovered from Khuvsgul Lake so far. It's highly possible to find new species from anywhere in Mongolia. I haven't researched Gobi regions though. England constantly monitors the quantity and location of plants recorded in the Red Book. This is impossible in Mongolia because the land is vast and there are only few researchers. Particularly, organisms with one cell and the fungus family haven't been researched much. Overall, it's crucial to study the different types of diatoms. Most countries around the globe have completed their basic research on diatoms in their local area. Yet, not even the study on basic plants have been completed here. Study on diatoms has reached a high level throughout the world. Where and for what reason are they used? How does studying diatoms contribute to the economy? More and more researchers are studying ways to use diatoms as a bioreactor because they can grow rapidly and create large amount of biomass within a short time if suitable conditions are provided. Several people have come to me in hopes to make a bioreactor together. Diatoms need a warm environment to grow well, but the temperature in Mongolia becomes extremely cold in winter. A large facility will be requires to domestically produce diatoms and this will cost considerably. The glass cell walls of diatoms at the bottom of an ocean or near an ocean thickens into a rock called "diatomite". There are countries and places that explore and use diatomite. The USA has a large deposit. The rock becomes a very good polisher and scrub, so after processing diatomite, it is used to polish small parts of computers. It can also be used as a fine chemical filter. Diatomite is commonly used to draw the white strips of pedestrian crossings because it reflects light and looks more vivid. Like so, it has many uses. You can make construction material if you find diatomite in large quantity. We haven't discovered a diatomite deposit in Mongolia yet.
More and more researchers are studying ways to use diatoms as a bioreactor because they can grow rapidly and create large amount of biomass within a short time if suitable conditions are provided.Mongolia has many rivers and lakes so studying all of them must require a lot of time and personnel. Currently, how many of them have been studied? Probably around 40 percent of Mongolia's total land have been covered. Researchers haven't been able to conduct a large scale research work. I mean, there are only one or two Mongolian researchers in this field. We're focusing on finding and recording new species of diatoms and doing environmental assessment. Mongolian rivers and lakes are in their natural state at the moment. Only few untouched rivers and lakes remain in the world. Most bodies of water are being used for production, agricultural irrigation and other purposes. Spanish researcher Miguel Alonso collected basic information from approximately 1,000 lakes in Mongolia for 10 years. There are some 20 lakes of tectonic origin like Lake Biwa in Japan. One of them is Khuvsgul Lake. The biggest is Baikal Lake. This type of lakes were created several million years ago. Until 1960, Lake Biwa had freshwater and people could drink directly from it. Now, it is contaminated.

I will probably discover many new things through my studies on diatoms. Lakes can't be evaluated by its diatoms. We need a collaborative research on physical and biological indicators and animals. Water is an important issue.My latest research works have become more wide-ranged. I studied if it’s possible to draw water from Orkhon River to the Oyu Tolgoi deposit from 2012 to 2014. It's hardly possible. The Orkhon River current decreased by two to three times since 1995. The river's ecosystem will face significant difficulties if the water current is reduced even more by drawing it to Oyu Tolgoi. I aim to expand the scope of this type of research and study the flow of large rivers, including Orkhon and Selenge Rivers. I will probably discover many new things through my studies on diatoms. Lakes can't be evaluated by its diatoms. We need a collaborative research on physical and biological indicators and animals. Water is an important issue. Mongolia has little fresh water sources so we need to use it efficiently. Agricultural, biological and forestry management are also very important. Several faculties and schools of the National University of Mongolia will soon launch a new master's program for natural resource management. Undergraduates will be trained for one-and-a-half to two years.
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