Distribution of epiphytic macroalgae on the thalli of their hosts in Cuba

Abstract

We investigated the distribution of epiphytic macroalgae on the thalli of their hosts at eight localities along the southeastern coast of Cuba between June 2010 and March 2011. We divided he epiphytes in two groups according to their distribution on the host: those at the base of the thallus and those on its surface. We determining the dissimilarity between the zones and the species involved. We identified 102 taxa of epiphytic macroalgae. There were significant differences between the two zones. In 31 hosts, the number of epiphytes was higher on the surface of the thallus, whereas the number of epiphytes was higher at the thallus base in 25 hosts, and the epiphytes were equally distributed between the two zones in five hosts (R=−0.001, p=0.398). The mean dissimilarity between the two zones, in terms of the species composition of the epiphytic macroalgae, was 96.64%. Hydrolithon farinosum and Polysiphonia atlantica accounted for 43.76% of the dissimilarity. Among macroalgae, the structure of the thallus seems to be a determinant of their viability as hosts for epiphytes.

Macroalgae Species as Zonal Indicators of Coral Reef: A Case Study from Bet Shankhodhar Reef, India

“…This species was found in the fore reef zone of the western section of the reef. Two species of Caulerpaceae: Caulerpa racemosa The establishment of seaweeds or marine macroalgae within a habitat zone involves complex physical interactions as well as biological, ecological and chemical processes at the microscale [25]. These processes include release of propagules by reproductive adults, migration of propagules to suitable substrates, initial adhesion to the substratum surface, permanent attachment and further growth and development [25].…”

“…Two species of Caulerpaceae: Caulerpa racemosa The establishment of seaweeds or marine macroalgae within a habitat zone involves complex physical interactions as well as biological, ecological and chemical processes at the microscale [25]. These processes include release of propagules by reproductive adults, migration of propagules to suitable substrates, initial adhesion to the substratum surface, permanent attachment and further growth and development [25]. Availability of suitable substrate, light quantity and quality and nutrients are three major abiotic factors that control the settlement and growth of macroalgal communities within an ecosystem [6].…”

Algas epífitas en Padina durvillei y Padina crispata (Dyctiotaceae, Phaeophyceae) en el Pacífico tropical mexicano

“…De acuerdo con lo que mencionan Montañés et al (2003), Mateo-Cid et al (2014) y Galicia-García (2017), el orden Ceramiales y las familias Ceramiaceae y Rhodomelaceae son los de mayor frecuencia, misma situación que se ha presentado en otros estudios realizados principalmente en la costa Atlántica de México y escasamente en el Pacífico (Morales-Ayala y Viera- Quang-Young et al, 2006;Ortuño y Riosmena, 2007; Menezes de Széchy y Faria de Sá, 2008;Fricke et al, 2011;Diez-García et al, 2013), así como en el presente trabajo, donde se registraron 17 especies para el orden y 13 pertenecientes a estas familias.…”