New records and updated checklist of the seaweeds of the phycologically little-known coast of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates

A checklist of the benthic marine algae (seaweeds) of the Emirate of Fujairah is presented, with a total of 38 species: 9 brown algae (Ochrophyta, Phaeophyceae), 23 red algae (Rhodophyta), and 3 green algae (Chlorophyta). Of this number 17 species are new records and are based on samples collected in 2023 in shallow coastal waters with many from floating structures. Earlier records come mostly from intertidal surveys carried out in the late 1990s of open rocky shores that are common along the northern part of the 70 km long coastline of Fujairah. One of the seaweeds, namely Lomentaria strumosa, is only recorded from Fujairah and the neighbouring Sultanate of Oman. Just over 25% of the seaweed flora of Fujairah are not recorded from the more inhospitable coasts of those emirates bordering the southern basin of the Arabian Gulf. Just over 95% are known from southern Oman, including the neighbouring species-poor part of the coast of the sultanate. The low diversity of the seaweed flora of Fujairah and adjacent coast of Oman contrasts markedly with the exceptionally rich (over 350 spp.) coastal region lying further south that during the south-western monsoon season is influenced by upwelling of nutrient-rich and cooler water. The attached file is the accepted version of the article - you are advised to consult the published version if you wish to cite from it.

Citation

John, D.M., Olsson, P.O. New records and updated checklist of the seaweeds of the phycologically little-known coast of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. Sci Rep 15, 28697 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-08714-8

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Journal Article

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EISSN

2045-2322

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openAccess

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