A catalogue of Phaeophyta (brown algae) from Queensland, Australia

Abstract

A catalogue of 126 species of benthic marine brown macroalgae (Phaeophyta) hasbeen compiled for the coastline of tropical–subtropical Queensland,Australia. This number represents a significant decrease compared to the 139brown macroalgal species previously recorded for the State (Lewis 1985).Cutleria mollis Allender & Kraft,Padina gymnospora (KÜtzing) Sonder, andTaonia australasica J.Agardh are newly recorded forQueensland. With the exception of the genus Sargassum, ataxonomically difficult genus in urgent need of revision, misidentificationshave been corrected and erroneous records excluded from the flora. Species ofthe Fucales (59 species), particularly the genusSargassum (51 species), and the Dictyotales (31 species)comprise approximately three quarters of the total number of species recordedand often are ecologically important as dominant species in lower intertidaland subtidal communities. The flora is composed of predominantly tropicalspecies, but also includes temperate species which range into subtropicalsouthern Queensland. However, the geographical ranges of most species remainpoorly documented and little is known of their patterns of abundance orhabitat specificity. Consequently, it is not currently possible to determinethe conservation status of many Queensland brown algal species.