Population Structure of the Macroalgae in the Reef Plateau of Piedade Beach (Jaboatão Dos Guararapes-PE)

Objective: This work analyzes the structure of macroalgae populations on the reef plateau of Praia de Piedade (08o 10 ’S and 34o 56’W), south coast of Pernambuco state. Methodology: The Releves method was used. Collections were carried out from January to March and May to July 2005 at stations E1 and E2, in the region between tides. Results: The following parameters were observed: the total number of species (T), the covering of each taxon (Ri), total covering (Rt), diversity (H ‘) and equitability (J). 56 infrageneric taxon were identified, being 31 Rhodophyta, 7 Ochrophyta and 18 Chlorophyta. The total coverage varied between 25.58% at station E2 in June and 85.54% at station E1 in July. The diversity varied from 1.74 to 2.7 bits.cel-¹ in the two periods. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that the macroalgae populations on the reef plateau have medium diversity and are formed by fouling, erect and epiphytic strata.