On the structure, typology and periodism of a cystoseira brachycarpa J. Agardh emend. giaccone community and of a cystoseira crinita duby community from the eastern coast of Sicily (Mediterranean Sea)

Abstract

A study of a Cystoseira brachycarpa community from the coast near Catania and of a C. crinita community from the coast near Syracuse (eastern coast of Sicily) is presented. It is based on periodic sampling carried out throughout one year, permitting a better characterisation of the communities with regard to both their periodism and floristic composition. The study proved that the C. crinita community showed a reduced seasonal periodism compared with that showed by the C. brachycarpa community. A comparative study including all samples showed that the communities differ from each other not only in the dominance of the two Cystoseira species but also in their overall floristic composition.