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Seaweed diversity patterns in Sub-Saharan Africa
Bolton, J. J.; De Clerck, O.; John, D. M. (2003). Seaweed diversity patterns in Sub-Saharan Africa, in: Decker, C.J. et al. (Ed.) Proceedings of the marine biodiversity in Sub-Saharan Africa: the known and the unknown, Cape Town, South Africa, 23-26 September 2003 [CD-ROM]. pp. 229-241
In: Decker, C.J. et al. (Ed.) (2003). Proceedings of the marine biodiversity in Sub-Saharan Africa: the known and the unknown, Cape Town, South Africa, 23-26 September 2003. University of Cape Town: Cape Town. 310 pp.
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Keyword
    Marine/Coastal
Authors  Top 
  • Bolton, J. J.
  • De Clerck, O., more
  • John, D. M.
Abstract
    A proper understanding of inshore marine ecosystems cannot be obtained without a thorough knowledge of marine vegetation. This paper summarises our knowledge of species diversity patterns of marine macroalgae in Sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting gaps. In Tropical East Africa the seaweed floras of Somalia and Mozambique are not well known. In Tropical West Africa, only a small number of countries are well-collected, although recent advances, including web-based systems, are ensuring that the information which is available can be more easily accessed. South Africa and Namibia have quite well documented seaweed floras, although detailed collections, especially in the subtidal, or detailed studies of taxa, particularly using molecular methods, anywhere in the region are likely to bring up new records and lead to the discovery of species new to science. South Africa has a very rich seaweed flora (ca. 850 species), due to the presence of species from three of the four major biogeographic regions in sub-Saharan Africa occurring within its borders. Figures for reasonably well-studied countries in Tropical East Africa are more than 400 species, whereas much of Tropical West Africa has lower numbers (e.g. 200 species in well-studied Ghana). Factors which may account for these major differences in seaweed diversity patterns are discussed. Training workshops in Africa are necessary to recruit a body of local scientists able to identify and work with seaweeds, and to make the wealth of information in the international literature available to African marine scientists. A network of national herbaria should contain a collection of correctly identified seaweed species.
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