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Floristic composition of macroalgae associated with Rhizophora mangle (Rhizophoraceae) in two inlets of the Venezuelan Caribbean

Abstract:

An inventory of the phycoflora associated with Rhizophora mangle roots was carried out in the Carenero and Turpialito coves, located in the southeastern Caribbean of Venezuela. Bimonthly samplings were carried out at four stations (November 2012-September 2013), in which data on temperature and surface salinity of the water were taken and the macroalgae associated with five roots per station were collected. A total of 23 species were identified, corresponding to three phyla: 11 Chlorophyta, 7 Ochrophyta and 5 Rhodophyta, with 14 species common to both coves, distributed according to their functional morphotypes in 7 foliaceous, 7 siphonal, 4 corticate, 3 filamentous and 2 calcareous. articulated. The average values of temperature and salinity showed temporal differences in both coves. Specific richness ranged between 17 (Carenero) and 20 (Turpialito), with appreciable space-time changes only in Carenero. Seven are new records for the Gulf of Cariaco, Anadyomene sp., C. verticillata, H. tuna, U. rigida, H. spinella, D. implexa and D. delicatula. The topography and diversity of environments directly influenced the composition and assembly of the phycoflora associated with the roots of Rhizophora mangle, resulting in a difference in variability in the distribution and presence of algal species in each cove.