Spatial and Temporal Variation of Macroalgae along the Southern Coasts of the Caspian Sea Relating to Environmental Parameters

Abstract Macroalgae are considered as primary producers in ecosystem food chain. This study investigated spatial and temporal variation of three species of macroalgae namely, Laurencia caspica (red macroalga) Enteromorpha intestinalis and Cladophora glomerata (green macroalgae) on the hard substrates of the southern Caspian Sea coasts and their relation with environmental factors. Seasonal sampling preformed through 8 sites from spring to winter 2014. According to BIO-ENV analysis salinity, pH and silicate were the best subset variables for explaining changes in the abundance over time of the hard-substrates macroalgae fauna under study. Result showed heterogenous distribution of macroalgae.with C. glomerata having dominant role and playing the most contribution to dissimilarities between sampling sites. Redundancy Analysis (RDA) plot revealed that L. caspica associated with temperature, E. intestinalis with pH and C. glomerata with phosphate and silicate contents in water.