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MARINE MACROALGAL DIVERSITY IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA
Author(s) -
Wysor B.,
Kooistra W. H. C.F.,
Fredericq S.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of phycology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.85
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1529-8817
pISSN - 0022-3646
DOI - 10.1046/j.1529-8817.1999.00001-213.x
Subject(s) - panama , biology , flora (microbiology) , algae , ecology , biogeography , tropical eastern pacific , diversity (politics) , oceanography , pacific ocean , paleontology , sociology , bacteria , anthropology , geology
The marine flora of Panama remains poorly described to date, having been described from a few sporadic and species poor (<50 species) collections in the early half of the century and a couple of dedicated surveys in the latter half. With the exception of a few studies that have focused on particular genera or species, only a single marine floral survey has been published in the past three decades. In 1999 we collected marine algae from nearly 100 different collection sites along both coasts of Panama over a 10 month period of time. Over 1500 specimens have been curated, representing 250 Caribbean species and 117 Pacific species. This is an increase in algal diversity of approximately 100 and 50% for the Caribbean and Pacific flora, respectively, relative to Earle's compilation of 1972. We estimate that algal diversity in Panama may approach 450 species as the remaining 30% of the collection is identified and previous records are incorporated. Aspects of biogeography will be discussed in light of such extraordinary diversity over a relatively confined region.