Algae. 2001; 16(4): 343-348.

New Records of Intertidal Epilithic Cyanobacteria from Hong Kong Shores

Sanjay Nagarkar

Department of Ecology & Biodiversity and Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong

As a part of species richness survey of intertidal, epilithic cyanobacteria around Hong Kong shores, the morphology and ecology of seven coccoid species are described, namely Aphanothece microscopica Nageli, Dactylococcopsis raphidioides Hansgirg, Gloeocapsa decorticans (A. Braun) Richter, Gomphosphaeria aponina Kutzing, Merismopedia elegans A. Braun, Myxosarcina burmensis Skuja, and Synechococcus aeruginosus Nageli. Myxosarcina burmensis Skuja belongs to Pleurocapsaceae, pleurocapsales, whereas the remaining species belong to the order Chrooccales and family Chroococcaceae. All seven species are new records from Hong Kong. Except for Gomphosphaeria aponina and Merismopedia elegans, they are recorded for the first time as epiliths from the marine environment. Most of the species were present only during winter and in the mid-and lower eulittoral zones.

Keywords : Chroococcaceae, Cyanobacteria, epilithic, Hong Kong, Pleurocapsaceae, rocky shore