Macroalgae Associated with Mangroves in Australia: Rhodophyta

Abstract

New data are presented on the distribution of red algae associated with mangroves, based on collections from 1 12 localities around the entire Australian coastline. Records are presented for 24 species, most of which are members of the Bostrychia-Caloglossa association. The highest species diversity occurs in northern Australia and almost all of these are species otherwise widely distributed in tropical regions. Murrayella periclados is recorded for only three sites where it is not abundant. Species present in temperate waters include Bostrychia moritziana, Caloglossa leprieurii and Catenella nipae which have broad distributions in both tropical and temperate seas, as well as the widely distributed southern hemisphere temperate species B. harveyi and Stictosiphonia hookeri, and a single species restricted to temperate Australasia, B. tenuissima