Floristic study of intertidal seaweeds of Hengam Island

Abstract

Persian Gulf is known as an environmental resource of unique species. In the present survey, the floristic composition of marine algae of Hengam Island in Hormozgan province was investigated. Sampling was performed at four stations of the tidal zone from March 2012 to April 2014.45 marine algae species were identified in Hengam Island including23, 11 and 11 species belong to Rhodophyceae, Chlorophyceae and Phaeophyceae, respectively. The most important genus regarding to the number of species were Caulerpa˛ Ulva˛ Hypnea˛ Gracilaria and Laurencia. Our results also showed that the highest growth of green algae was in late winter and early spring. Red algae showed the highest growth in late autumn and brown algae were distributed in the whole of year.

Keywords

• chlorophyta
• rhodophyta
• phaeophyta
• persian gulf