TAXONOMIC COMPOSITION OF ALGAL DRIFTS IN MEXICAN CARIBBEAN

Floating masses of macroalgae in large amounts are described as arriva ls on the shores of Cancun and Puerto Morelos State of Quintana Roo, M exican caribbean. In this study we have identified 40 species of unatt ached macroalgae as composing this drifts. 25 species of the total hav e commercial potential; 22 species are annuals, and 15 are perennials. In Cancun these drifts first appear in August and fade away by the fi rst half of November, whereas in Puerto Morelos they begin around the first week of November and disappear towards late February. It is very likely that the species source would be the strait located between Pu nta Cancun, Puerto Morelos and Mujeres and Cozumel Islands. Hurricane seasons are closely related to this phenomenon.