• ALGAE
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.235-243
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• 2006

Benthic sediment samples ranging from poorly aggregated sand to complex, stratified mats were collected from six hypersaline ponds from March and July 1995 in the British Virgin Islands. Assemblages were analyzed with respect to species composition and abundance within visibly distinct layers in each mat sample. In individual ponds there was no apparent association between changing depth and the development of the benthic mats. Some species were present in all samples (e.g. Oscillatoria sp.) while others were restricted to single sites (e.g. Johannesbaptistia pellucida). Primary species included Microcoleus chthonoplastes, Phormidium spp., Coccochloris stagnina, and purple sulfur bacteria. Quantitative analysis of community structure included cluster and principal component analysis. Samples from individual ponds were often clustered; however, this was subject to seasonal variation. Mats collected in March were generally thicker and contained more layers than those in July. Variation among sites was not explained by the measured variation in environmental factors such as average pond salinity, depth, and oxygen concentration (mg/L). This study provides a detailed analysis of mat communities in hypersaline ponds and compares them with similar mat communities from other areas.