The Ecology Of Marine Algae Of The Kenya Coast
Abstract
The Kenya coastline which is approximately
500 km long is characterised by almost continuous
elevated fringing reef plat forms. Wherever breaks
occur sandy or muddy beaches are found.
Due to the narrow continental shelf the
fringing reef~ are affected by the East African
Coastal Current which governs the conditions. r n
the upper layer of the sea. It is, in turn,
affected by the two major alternating monsoons
The hy-drography and climate of the coast are
reviewed.
The marine flora of Kenya is a rich one,
comprising approximately 300 species of algae, 12
species of marine angiosperm s and 8 species of
mangroves • Among the a1gae. Siphonales pre dominate
in the. Chlorophyceae, in the Phaeophyceae the
Fucales are a conspicuous part of the flora and
of the 300 species of algae, 160 species are
Rhodophy-ceae , majority of which are small in size ,
During the Present study 29 new species of algae
were recorded.
Citation
Shakuntala A. Moorjani (1977).The Ecology Of Marine Algae Of The Kenya Coast. A thesis submitted for the degree of doctor of Philosophy in the University of Nairobi.Publisher
University of Nairobi School of Biological Sciences,