SEM analysis of the epibenthic diatoms on eudendrium racemosum (Hydrozoa) from the Mediterranean Sea

In this work, the valve fne structure, morphology, and dimensions of the epibenthic diatoms living on the marine hydroid Eudendrium racemosum Cavolini were investigated through SEM analysis. Hydroid samples were collected from the Ligurian Sea (Mediterranean Sea), from October 2002 to October 2003, with monthly frequency, allowing definition of the annual cycle of diatom communities. Following several taxonomic/systematic papers, this foristics paper documents 32 new records of diatoms (13 araphid, 17 biraphid, 2 monoraphid), which have been classified into different growth forms (adnate, erect, motile, tube-dwelling). Moreover, new information on morphologic data and biodiversity in the Mediterranean Sea are ofered, indicating their ecological preferences. © TÜBİTAK