Cyanobacteria and macroalgae from an arid environment mangrove on the east coast of the Baja California Peninsula

Abstract

Abstract We describe the assemblage of cyanobacteria and macroalgae on Avicennia germinans pneumatophores, Rhizophora mangle aerial roots, and within the tidal channel of a mangrove located in a lagoon bordering the east coast of the Baja California Peninsula, from samples collected every 2 months from May 2005 to May 2006. A total of 68 species were found: 21 cyanobacteria, 1 Xanthophyta, 25 Chlorophyta, 1 Ochrophyta-Phaeophyceae, 19 Rhodophyta, and 1 Anthophyta. Species richness varied between habitats; pneumatophores supported 29 species of algae, aerial roots supported 20 species of algae, and the channel bottom supported 46 species. Taxa common to the three habitats were Lyngbya sp., Vaucheria sp., Boodleopsis pusilla, Rhizoclonium riparium, and Bostrychia radicans. Mean wet weight algal biomasses on aerial roots and in the channel were 494 g root-1and 12,924 g m-2, respectively. The dominant species on aerial roots and on the channel bottom were Caulerpa sertularioides, Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis, and Spyridia filamentosa. The channel bottom also had Vaucheria sp. and two cyanobacteria (Oscillatoria sp. and Lyngbya sp.). Morphotypes of two cyanobacteria (Heteroleibleinia sp. and Johanesbaptistia sp.) are recorded in this habitat for the first time.