A provisional classification of algal-characterised rocky shore biotopes in the Azores

Recent studies of the rocky shores of the Azores archipelago have provided information on com~nunity stri~cture allowing provisional identification of plant-characterised biotopes (habitats and their associated co~iimunities). Although the Azores share some littoral and sublittoral biotopes with the Atlantic coast of mainland Europe. shores in the archipelago mostly lack the functionally important 'leathery macrophyte ' communities of fucoids and laminarians widespread in the North Atlantic. Intertidal biotopes are mainly turfs typical of warm-temperate and tropical regions, and characterised by articulated Corallinaceae or by non-coralline algae such as C l a r l o / ~ / ~ o ~ ~ spp., Gelidi~ulz spp.. Pte~wclarliella crr/~illtic~rtr, St!pocc~~llo~z sco/~crr.icr, and Vnlorzicr ~ltriclllaris. Subtidal algal bi-otopes are characterised by Dictyotn spp., Hcrlo/~ter-is$liciii~r. Sphner.ococ~c~~s cororlopifoli~rs and, most commonly, Zoilnrin touniefortii