Abstract
A taxonomic survey of the microphytobenthic communities was conducted in two intertidal mudflats of the Tagus estuary. These mudflats are located in different littoral zones of the estuary and had distinct sediment characteristics and salinity range. Sampling was performed monthly during low tide over a 14-month-period. Sediment cores were collected and brought to the laboratory, where the microalgae were harvested using the lens-tissue technique under light stimulation. Samples were examined using both light and scanning electron microscopy. The epipelic pennate diatoms dominated the microphytobenthic assemblages on both mudflats but cyanobacteria and euglenophytes were also found. Of the 52 taxa identified, 47 were pennate diatoms, five of which seem to be previously unreported for Portugal. The species more frequently found in the samples were Gyrosigma fasciola , Cylindrotheca cf. signata , Cylindrotheca closterium, Staurophora amphioxys and Navicula gregaria.
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