We investigated populations of the diatom genus Didymosphenia from Lake Baikal, two localities in China, in Lake Karluk, Alaska, and in Lake Superior using quantitative shape analysis. Four different taxa were distinguished in the Lake Baikal material, two belonging to recognized species, and two of uncertain affinities. All populations from Lake Baikal were characterized by a common developmental trajectory, different from populations from other localities. All populations except those from Karluk Lake and Lake Superior could be distinguished from one another with a high degree of confidence on the basis of shape alone.
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Stoermer et al. (1986) studied this question.