Morphometric analysis of Stephanodiscus alpinus (Bacillariophyceae) and its morphology as an indicator of lake trophic status

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Abstract
Morphological variation in Stephanodiscus alpinus Hustedt is primarily a function of size variation. Specimens of a greater diameter have wider mantles and less densely packed areolae. They also have thicker and more of each of costae, spines and mantle fultoportulae according to the results of principal component analysis. However, major size-free components suggest that, for two specimens of similar size, the one with more costae will have thinner costae, the one with more spines will have thinner spines and the one with more mantle fultoportulae will have thinner fultoportulae. Spine: costae ratio is statistically uncorrelated with valve diameter and is apparently dependent on lake trophic status. Specimens from more eutrophic lakes tend to have fewer spines for the number of costae. Degree of variation in spine: costae ratio within assemblages apparently reflects the degree of spatial and/or temporal variability of lake trophic status.