Stream Macroalgae of the Fiji Islands: A Preliminary Study
Stream Macroalgae of the Fiji Islands: A Preliminary Study
Date
1996-02
Authors
Sheath, Robert G.
Cole, Kathleen M.
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University of Hawaii Press
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Abstract
Twenty-seven stream segments sampled in August 1994 on the
three largest Fiji Islands ranged considerably in channel size (maximum width
1-20 m, maximum depth 20->100 cm) and mean current velocity (1-118 cm
sec-1 ). Water temperatures tended to be warm (23-30°C), pH was neutral to
slightly alkaline (7.2-8.6), and specific conductance was quite variable (40-510
mS cm-1 ). Mean number of species per stream segment was 2.6 and ranged
from one to five. In the 71 populations of stream macroa1gae sampled, only 15
species were identified: seven Cyanophyta, six Chlorophyta, and two Rhodophyta.
All of these species represent new records for the freshwater algal flora of
Fiji. Macroalgal cover ranged from <1 to >76% (mean ca. 36%) of the stream
bottom and was positively correlated to maximum depth and mean current
velocity. The most widespread species that occurred on all three islands were
the cyanophytes Phormidium retzii (C.Ag.) Gom. and P. subfuscum Klitz. and
the chlorophyte Spirogyra sp. 2 (17, 9, and 19 segments, respectively). Morphological
forms included nine mats, three free filaments, and one each of
gelatinous colonies, crusts, and tufts. Eleven of the 15 species were in the
vegetative state. There were nine species of stream macroalgae on Vitu Levu
and eight each on Vanua Levu and Taveuni. The Sorenson's similarity index
was highest for the last two islands and lowest for the first two islands.
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Sheath RG, Cole KM. 1996. Stream macroalgae of the Fiji islands: a preliminary study. Pac Sci 50(1): 46-54.
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