Spatio-Temporal Variation in Cyanobacteria and Epiphytic Algae of Thalassia testudinum in Two Localities of Southern Quintana Roo, Mexico

Abstract

The leaves of Thalassia testudinum provide an ideal substrate for the establishment of small-sized algae with different morphologies that are abundant and diverse. There are few studies on epiphytism in Mexico, and most of them are floristic lists. The objective of this study was to analyze the taxonomic and morphofunctional composition of epiphytes in three climatic seasons, and their relationship with the phorophyte T. testudinum in two localities, El Uvero and Santa Rosa, in the south of Quintana Roo; three transects and fifteen quadrants were set in June and December (2014) and April (2015). A total of 84 epiphytic species were identified: 27 corresponded to Cyanobacteria, 10 to Phaeophyceae, 9 to Chlorophyta, and 38 to Rhodophyta. The highest specific richness was observed in Santa Rosa (73 species). The dry and summer rains seasons share a higher number of species compared to the winter rainy season. The crusty algae Hydrolithon farinosum was the dominant and most persistent species; in addition, filamentous algae presented great specific richness and coverage due to their morphology and reproductive strategies, which allowed them to successfully establish themselves on the phorophyte. This is related to the ecological succession of the epiphytes and seagrass phenology.