| A taxonomic and ecological study of epiphytic diatoms on prop roots of Rhizophora mangle L. at Parque Nacional del Este (Dominican Republic) and La Parguera (Puerto Rico) was conducted from March 1997 until January 1998, with bimonthly sample collections. The taxonomic analysis revealed 233 taxa, including species, varieties, and forms. Mastogloia and Amphora were the most representative genera in terms of number of species. Mastogloia delicatissima, Mastogloia pseudolacrimata, Mastogloia pseudolatecostata, Mastogloia rimosa, Mastogloia rostellata, and Diploneis subcinta are reported as a new records for the Caribbean Sea. The highest values of Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index (H ') were 5.05 for the Dominican Republic, and 4.783 for Puerto Rico. Maximum Redundancy (R) values were 0.351 and 0.207 for the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, respectively. Similarity Index Values (SIMI) for monthly comparisons between both stations ranged from 0.21 to 0.89. This represents the first taxonomic study of diatoms of the Dominican Republic. |
