Distributional pattern of seagrasses in the Canary Islands (Central-East Atlantic Ocean)

The present knowledge of the marine phanerogams of the Canary Islands is po orly documented. Earlier studies of the marine phytobenthos along the Canar ian coasts provides little information on seagrass ecosystems and their dis tributional patterns. This contribution summarizes the available informatio n about the three species reported for the islands: Cymodocea nodosa (Ucria ) Ascherson, Halophila decipiens Ostenfeld and Zostera noltii Hornemann; an d their distributional records is analized in relation with the main oceano graphic and geomorphological conditions. Cymodocea nodosa and Halophila decipiens are present in shallow subtidal ar eas on diverse mobile substrata, whereas Zostera noltii has been reported f or intertidal communities in one eastern locality of Lanzarote Island, with historical records in Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria Islands. At present, the latter species is not found in any of the mentioned localities and prob ably its has disappeared due to anthropogenic activities (urban pollution, sediments disturbances). Most of the localities with seagrass communities are located in the eastern and southern coasts of the islands, always in sheltered areas, protected a gainst Trade Winds. The Vertical distribution of Cymodocea nodosa meadows r anges from (0.3) 2 to 35 m depth, whereas Halophila decipiens meadows are p resent between 6 to 40 m depth.