New distribution limits of seagrass beds in West Africa

Abstract

Abstract The southern limit of the distribution of seagrass species along the west coast of Africa is not yet clearly defined. In March 2008 an expedition was organized in Senegal to search for seagrass beds from Dakar (14°45′15″ N, 17°30′31″ W) southwards to Tabakouta–Delta du Saloum (13°46′59″ N, 16°28′42″ W). Cymodocea nodosa and Halodule wrightii were observed in sandy areas of some protected bays of Dakar, around Sarène (14°16′18″ N, 16°54′17″ W), Joal Fadiouth (14°09′08″ N, 16°50′03″ W) and the Bamboung–Sourou area (13°50′08″ N, 16°33′09″ W), and they probably occur all along the coast of Senegal and beyond, perhaps much further south as well.