Taxonomic composition, some quantitative and ecological data on diatom species were investigated at two transects of the littoral zone of Lake Baikal: on the western shore near Bolshiye Koty Settle and on the eastern shore near Baikalsk. Twenty-eight dominant species found at both sites were considered as environment bioindicators. Biomass, interannual occurrence and patterns of vertical distribution in the coastal zone were studied for each of key species. Longterm observations showed that abundant benthic species of diverse saprobity level differ significantly in rates of development between western and eastern sections. This is attributed to the diverse trophic status of the studied transects. Xenosaprobiont and oligo-xenosaprobiont species play a primary role in the benthic diatom community on the western shore. Substitution by more tolerant species, belonging to o-β-, o-α-mesosaprobionts, was observed at the eastern transect.

Keywords: microphytobenthos, Bacillariophyta, index of occurrence, index of relevance, saprobity, Lake Baikal

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