Diatomáceas epífitas em Galaxaura rugosa (J.Ellis & Solander) J.V.Lamouroux (Rhodophyta) no arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha,Pernambuco,Brasil

Abstract

Marine macroalgae are of fundamental importance in coastal ecosystems once they are primary producers and responsible for energy transference to several trophic levels. Besides, their stems support several organisms, both animals and plants which contribute to productivity increase in the coastal zones of the whole oceans. The Rhodophyta specimens, Galaxaura rugosa (J. Ellis & Solander) J.V. Lamouroux, were collected in June, 2006 and June, 2007 at three localities from Fernando de Noronha Archipelago (Atalaia, Porto and Cagarras) aiming to identify and quantify the epiphyte diatoms flora inhabiting the algae’ thallus. A total of 52 taxa were identified being distributed in the classes Coscinodiscophyceae (19%), Fragilariophyceae (21%) and Bacillariophyceae (60%), with 81% dominance of individuals with pennate symmetry. The following species characterized the floristic diatoms structure being considered very frequent once they are present in more than 70% samples analyzed: Diploneis bombus Ehrenberg, Nitzschia sp., Amphora sp., Biddulphia biddulphiana (J.E. Smith) Boyer, Grammatophora marina (Lyngbye) Kützing, Mastogloia binotata (Grunow) Cleve, Tryblionella coarctata (Grunow) Mann, Naviculalonga Grunow, Trachyneis aspera (Ehrenberg) Cleve, Psammodiscus nitidus (Gregory) Round in Mann, Rhabdonema adriaticum Kützing and Cocconeis scutellum Ehrenberg. Total diatoms density presented no significant variations among the several parts of the algae as well as among the three sampling sites presenting the minimum value of 5.000 cell.g-1.algae fresh weight in the apical part of specimens sampled in the Atalaia beach, and the maximum of 60.000 cell.g-1.algae fresh weight in the basal part of specimens from Porto beach. Results confirm that the Rhodophyta Galaxaura rugosa is a good hostess for epiphyte diatoms fixation having been observed the occurrence of these organisms in the whole stem of specimens collected with the higher densities in the basal parts, confirming the importance of these microalgae as primary producers at the diverse beaches of Fernando de Noronha.