Abstract
The macroalgal communities associated with pneumatophores, basal area of tree trunks and sediment surface in the mangrove forest at Sementa, Selangor consisted of nine main species. Biomass, frequency of occurrence and relative cover of the species along a belt transect, showed two major trends, a decrease in these parameters in the landward direction for Colpomenia sp. Gracilaria blodgettii and Gracilaria crassa and an increase in the landward direction for Dictyota dichotoma, Catenella nipae, Rhizoclonium sp. and Bostrichia radicans. Algal dominance varied with substratum. Pneumatophores were dominated by Caloglossa lepreurii and sediment surface by D. dichotoma. The 40 cm zone at the base of tree trunks was dominated by two algal species. The 0–20 cm region above the sediment surface was colonized by C. nipae, while the 20–40 cm region was dominated by Rhizoclonium sp. The study identified the importance of substrate in macroalgal colonization.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Beanland, W. R. & W. J. Woelkering, 1982. Studies on Australian mangrove algae: II. Composition and geographic distribution of communities in Spencer Gulf, South Australia. Proc. R. Soc. Vict. 94: 89–106.
Beanland, W. R. & W. J. Woelkering, 1983. Avicenna canopy effects on mangrove algal communities in Spencer Gulf, South Australia. Aquat. Bot. 17: 309–313.
Chapman, V. J., 1973. The algae. 2nd edn. Macmillan, London.
Chihara, M. & J. Tanaka, 1988. Species composition and ecology of macroalgae in mangrove brackish areas of East Indonesia. In K. Ogino and M. Chihara (eds), Biological System of Mangroves. Ehime University, Japan: 7–20.
Davey, A. & W. J. Woelkering, 1985. Studies on Australian mangrove algae. III. Victorian communities: Structure and recolonization in Western Port Bay. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 85: 177–190.
Dor, I. & I. Levy, 1984. Primary productivity of the benthic algae in the hard-bottom mangal of Sinai. In Por, F. D. & I. Dor (eds), Hydrobiology of the Mangal. The Ecosystem of the Mangrove Forests. Dr W. Junk Publishers, The Hague: 179–192.
King, R. J. & M. D. Wheeler, 1985. Composition and geographic distribution of mangrove macroalgal communities in South Wales. Proc. Linn. Soc., N.S.W. 108: 97–117.
Lambert, G., T. D. Steinke & Y. Naidoo, 1987. Algae associated with mangroves in southern African estuaries. I. Rhodophyceae. S. Afr. J. Bot. 53: 349–361.
Lugo, A. E. & S. C. Snedaker, 1974. The Ecology of Mangroves. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 5: 39–64.
Post, E., 1963. Zur Verbreitung and Okologie der Bostrychia-Caloglossa Association. Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol. Hydrogr. 48: 47–152.
Post, E., 1964a. Bostrychietum aus dem Nationalpark von Melbourne. Revue Algol. 3: 242–255.
Post, E., 1964b. Bostrychia tangatensis Post, synoptische Studie (Anna Weber van Bosse Zum Gedenken) Hydrobiol. Bull. 24: 584–602.
Post, E., 1966. Bostrychietum auf den Philippinen. Hydrobiologia 27: 344–351.
Rodelli, M. R., J. N. Gearing, P. J. Gearing, N. Marshall & A. Sasekumar, 1984. Stable isotope ratio as a tracer of mangrove carbon in Malaysian ecosystem. Oecologia (Berlin) 61: 326–333.
Tanaka, J. & M. Chihara, 1988. Macroalgal flora in mangrove brackish areas of east Indonesia. In K. Ogino and M. Chihara (eds), Biological System of Mangroves. Ehime University, Japan: 21–34.
Tide Tables, 1986. Tide Tables for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. The Hydrographer, Royal Malaysian Navy, The Ministry of Defence, 50634 Kuala Lumpur, 116 pp.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Aikanathan, S., Sasekumar, A. The community structure of macroalgae in a low shore mangrove forest in Selangor, Malaysia. Hydrobiologia 285, 131–137 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00005661
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00005661