Date Received: 31-08-2020 / Date Accepted: 06-05-2021
This study aimed to obtain more knowledge about the ecological characteristics of the natural seaweed communities in the coastal areas of Phu Quy archipelago, Binh Thuan province. Usingthe line-intercept method and SCUBA diving, we conducted a study of24 survey stations in the coastal areas of Phu Quy archipelago from 2017 to 2018. The results showed that a total of 136 species belonging to 36families, 21 orders of 4 seaweed phyla was identified. Of the identified scpecies, the red seaweed (Rhodophyta) was the most abundant group with 67 species(44.85%). The seaweed species in Phu Quy archipelago were recorded in the tropical floras (P = 3.3). The seaweed species were mostly concentrated on hard bottomsfrom the tidal zone to the sub-tidal zone and a depth of 20m. The high biomass and density of seaweed were calculated at Hon Tranh Island. For example, the average coverage of seagrapes (Caulerpa) was 100% and the wet biomass weight from 500 to 10,880 g/m2in Hon Tranh Island; the coverage of brown seaweed (Sargassum) was from 35 to 60% and the wet biomass weight from 600 to 6.200 g/m2in the Mo Thay area, the East and Northwest of Phu Quy island. These research results are scientific bases for the conservation and development of seaweed communities in Phu Quy archipelago.
