Taxonomia e distribuição do gênero Caulerpa Lamouroux (Bryopsidales - Chlorophyta) no litoral de Pernambuco

Abstract

This paper analyze the taxonomy and distribution of the Genus Caulerpa in the coast of Pernambuco (07º30’S and 09º00’W) and in the Archipelago of Fernando de Noronha (03º51’S and 32º25’W). Sampling was carried out at the coast of Pernambuco from April/2004 to November/2005, in the intertidal zone of 32 beaches. In Fernando de Noronha collections were made in June/2006 in the intertidal and infralittoral (10, 15 and 21m depth) regions of eight beaches. Exsiccates of Caulerpa from the Professor Vasconcelos Sobrinho Herbarium (PEUFR) were also examined. The results showed that the Genus Caulerpa is represented in the coast of Pernambuco State by 16 infrageneric taxa and some species presented restricted distribution such as: C. kempfii Joly & Pereira, C. lanuginosa J. Agardh and C. serrulata (Forssk.) J. Agardh.. To Fernando de Noronha Archipelago it was registered three infrageneric taxa. In both studied localities the highest species diversity occurred on sandy substrate.