The role of endemic diatom algae in the phytoplankton of Lake Baikal

An estimate of the role of endemic diatom algae of Lake Baikal, their contribution to numerical abundance and to biomass, was obtained on the basis of long-term monitoring in the pelagic zone, and in shallow water bays and near the mouths of rivers. Endemic diatoms are distributed over a major part of the lake, except for shallow-water bays. During a major part of the year, they dominate in biomass and in numerical abundance, making a major contribution to the rate of accumulation of modern sediments.