A taxonomic and ecological study of benthic marine macroalgae was conducted in tbe Red Sea coast of Eritrea in December 1995 and January 1996. A general collection of seaweeds was done in the vicinities of the port town of Massawa (15°40'N, 39°25'E) and some islands in the Dahlak Archipelago. For the ecological part, a quadrat/transect sampling method was applied in three sites near Massawa. The intertidal distribution patterns and community structure were investigated with different multivariate techniques. A total of 97 taxa of seaweeds were identified of which 57 are newly reported for Eritrea. 27 belong to Chlorophyta with 14 newly reported; 17 and 10 for Phaeophyta; 53 and 33 for Rhodophyta. The number of taxa of seaweeds in Eritrea is more than expected. There is a considerable regional variation in the number of taxa recorded. Species and samples are basically distributed along a depth gradient. Two distinctive communities can be observed, a higher intertidal of Enteromorpha intestinalis and a lower one of Sargassum. Padina gymnospora has a wider distribution along the intertidal zone. Other associations occupy intermediate subzones. Gurgussum and Sheik Said Island have higher species diversities and are mare similar to each other compared to Resi Medri.
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