Phenology and floristics of seaweeds from the offshore waters of Georgia

Abstract

Seaweeds were studied from Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary on the inner shelf and an area known as the "Snapper Banks' on the outer shelf. The seaweeds observed are seasonal; only a few plant persist through the winter. A gradual increase in number and size of plants and number of species was observed through June; by July-early August, when all 68 species were present, the quantity of plants also appeared maximal. Of the 68 species, 43 are species not previously reported from Georgia. In late August and September, when water temperatures were still near the seasonal high, there was a rapid decline in number of species and algal cover. -from Author