The marine algal flora of the Azores and its biogeographical affinities.

Copyright © 1995 Museu Municipal do Funchal.Studies on the marine algae of the Azores go back just over half a century. Although in comparisson to mainland European Atlantic coasts the Azores flora is less well-known, its isolated geographical position has encouraged a recent resurgence of algal interest resulting inn many new algal records. Currently 274 species are listed, comprising 45 Cholophyta, 52 Phaeophyta and 177 Rhodophyta. Ten species appear to be endemic (5 Chlorophyta, 5 Rhodophyta) but most are of taxonomically difficult groups (Cladophora, Corallinaceae, Polysiphonia) and their status is questionable. Several hypotheses have been proposed as to the floristic relationship of the Azores marine flora; some point to affinites with West Africa and Macaronesia, others to the Mediterranean or America. The situation is complex with different algal classes showing different affinities. A mix of southern and northern elements is presented in the flora together with those wich show transatlantic (Meditarranean-Caribbean) links. A few species are known only throught drift specimens. Results of new analyses using numerical methods and a more complete data set generally support these conclusions. Ordination of individual islands floras suggests some separations of algal floras according to geographic grouping