Zonación del fitobentos en el litoral sureste y adiciones a la flora marina de La Palma (Islas Canarias)

Abstract

The zonation of the seaweeds in the southeastern coast of the island of La Palma was examined in five localities. Although in some levels there are similarities with the patterns of zonation observed in other parts of the island, the vertical distribution of the seaweeds throughout this coast can be characterized by the singularities found in the lower eulittoral and in the upper sublittoral. In the lower eulittoral, a heterogeneous caespitose community mainly constituted by Corallina elongata, Jania adhaerens, Stypocaulon scoparium. Cystoseira compressa, Lobophora variegata and Padina pavonica is dominant. In the upper sublittoral, there are not bands of Gelidiaceae and Cystoseira abies-marina forms a narrow band at exposed places, whereas in slightly sheltered places is replaced by geniculate coralline algae, Dictyotaceae, Stypocaulon scoparium and Asparagopsis taxiformis. Four sea- weeds {Gastroclonium clavatum, Helminthocladia reyesii. Scinaia caribaea and Petalonia fascia) are reported for the first time from La Palma