A synthetic overview of marine phycological studies in the Macaronesian Archipelagos

Abstract

A synthetic overview of the marine phycological research done in the Macaronesian archipelagos is provided highlighting some of the most important findings. Starting with an overview of the historical knowledge of the algal flora of each archipelago, this study spans over: (i) the main figures and characteristics of the algal flora; (ii) the structure and dynamics of the most conspicuous macroalgal communities, with emphasis to macroalgal/herbivore interactions; and (iii) the uses and biotechnological potential of macroalgae. This study confirms the higher research effort developed in the Azores and the Canaries and show that these isolated island groups have a richer benthic marine algal flora than earlier reported. Several species so-called as introduced to the Macaronesian region are reviewed / questioned and their status discussed. Limpets and sea urchins are confirmed to act as the main struturing factors of intertidal and subtidal rocky communities. Recent applied research on Macaronesian marine macroalgae has demostrated that some species are used as food source by local populations, some other species are good bio-indicators of environmental pollution whereas another species are a promising source of bioactive compounds with biotechnological and pharmacological applications to promote human health.