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Occurrence of the alien seagrass Halophila stipulacea in Martinique (French West Indies)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 December 2013

Jean-Philippe Maréchal ,
Erik H. Meesters ,
Fabien Vedie  and
Claire Hellio
Jean-Philippe Maréchal*
Affiliation:
Observatoire du Milieu Marin Martiniquais, 14 rue Chery-Rosette, Fond Lahaye, 97233 Schœlcher, French West Indies School of Biological Sciences, King Henry Building, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO1 2DY, UK
Erik H. Meesters
Affiliation:
Wageningen IMARES, Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystem Studies, Department of Ecosystems Den Burg, The Netherlands
Fabien Vedie
Affiliation:
Direction de l'Environnement, de l'Aménagement et du Logement, BP 7212, 97233 Schœlcher, French West Indies
Claire Hellio
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, King Henry Building, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO1 2DY, UK
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: J.-P. Maréchal, Observatoire du Milieu Marin Martiniquais, 14 rue Chery-Rosette, Fond Lahaye, 97233 Schœlcher, French West Indies email: [email protected]
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Abstract

The occurrence of the tropical seagrass Halophila stipulacea (Hydrocharitaceae) is recorded for the first time on the Caribbean coast of Martinique (French West Indies, Caribbean Sea). Specimens were observed, since a large survey in 2006, on sandy substrates between 3 m and 32 m depths in this area. The species was found in mono-specific patches or mixed with other macrophytes as Syringodium filiforme (seagrass) and/or Ulva intestinalis (green alga). Halophila stipulacea was previously identified on the coasts of Dominica and St Lucia, two islands nearby our study area. While its presence was presumed to be in Martinique, it was never officially recorded. These findings off the coast of Martinique further define the distribution and widespread occurrence of this alien species within the Caribbean Sea.

Keywords

allochthonous speciesCaribbean SeaHalophila stipulaceamarine angiospermsMartiniqueWest Indies
Type
Research Article
Information
Marine Biodiversity Records , Volume 6 , 2013 , e127
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2013 

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