Microhabitat Preferences of Phaeophyta on Shore Platform of Dwarka, Gujarat Coast, India

This paper reports microhabitat preferences of Phaeophyta from the shore platform, Dwarka, Gujarat coast, India. Macroalgae distribution was tagged with shore platform’s zonal morphology. Macroalgae (Phaeophyta) were surveyed based on systematic random sampling for two years (April, 2013 to March, 2015). Total 21 species of Phaeophyta were identified through intensive fieldwork/in situ survey based on Line Intercept Transect and Quadrate based methods. Five groups of Phaeophyta were identified as per their zonal preference on the shore platform. On family level, most of the Sargassaceae showed a ubiquitous distribution on the shore platform while Dictyotaceae showed preference towards the subtidal and intertidal mixed zone of the shore platform.