Marine brown algae (Phaeophyta) from the north coast of Papua New Guinea, with a description of Dictyota magneana sp nov.

The marine benthic brown algae of the north coast of Papua New Guinea (main ly from Madang province) are documented, based on collections made by the f irst author, between 1980 and 1990. All records [34 identified taxa (+Sarga ssum spp.)] are listed with bibliographic, taxonomic, nomenclatural and bio geographical notes. The specimens belonging to the genus Dictyota are ident ified according to recent species definitions. D. magneana De Clerck et Cop pejans is described as new to science. Only some representatives of the gen us Sargassum have been identified to species level. The phaeophycean flora of the north coast is very similar to that of the south coast (Port Moresby area); nevertheless some differences can be observed. (C) 2001 Adac/Editio ns scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.