The Mongolian culture has an ingrained traditional respect for water and their cultural practices are aimed at maintaining water quality. The largest lake in Mongolia, known as the Blue Pearl, is sacred to Mongolians. The effects of climate change have had a negative impact on the livelihood of Mongolian herders, who have turned to this lake as a resource for food. Rutgers specialist in fisheries science and aquatic ecology Olaf Jensen has had a long-established research program in Mongolia, home to several endangered salmonids, including a species of grayling (Thymallus nigrescens) found only in Lake Hovsgol and taimen (Hucho taimen), the world’s largest trout. His research in Mongolia is focused on the ecology and conservation of taimen and Hovsgol grayling as well as the aquatic ecosystems on which they depend. Watch this video, edited by Rutgers Center for Digital Filmmaking student Gabrielle Gatdula, in which Jensen discusses his research in Mongolia.
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