Marine algae from the oceanic atolls in the southwestern Caribbean (Albuquerque Cays, Courtown Cays, Serrana Bank, and Roncador Bank)

Abstract

A total of 171 taxa of benthic marine algae are recorded from four oceanic atolls in the southwestern Caribbean Sea (Albuquerque Cays, Courtown Cays, Roncador Bank and Serrana Bank). The algae were collected in the different geomorphological zones and bottom habitats occurring in these reef-complexes, and within a depth range from intertidal to 40 m. Of the total taxa found, 6 are Cyanobacteria, 61 Chlorophyta, 22 Phaeophyta and 82 Rhodophyta. Twenty seven taxa are new records for the Colombian Caribbean. The marine flora of these atolls is closely related with that of the northern Caribbean phytogeographical region.