Vertical distribution of coralline algae in the rocky intertidal of northern Chile

Abstract

Studies on crustose corallines present in the intertidal region at threelocalities in northern Chile (30-degrees-S), show that these algae arewell represented in exposed and protected sites, reaching up to 90%cover. Species composition differs between sites with the commonoccurrence of species or morphological variants of Spongites and asingle taxon attributed to Phymatolithon at the most exposed sites, andspecies of Lithophyllum and Titanoderma at more protected localities.The two Lithophyllum taxa recorded are distinguished by thepresence/absence of protuberances, cell size and degree ofcalcification, while Titanoderma taxa are segregated by the thickness ofthe thallus, hypothallic and perithallic cell size and shape. Spongitestaxa are distinguished on the basis of external morphology andanatomical features such as cell size, degree of calcification andpercentage of fusions between cells. The variability of these featureswithin each species is still unknown thus, the taxa remain withoutspecific epithet until further studies. Examination of specific typesrecorded for nearby regions are also required in order to clarify thetaxonomy of the group in these coasts.