Resumen del producto

Sargassum horridum is an ecologically important habitat that provides shelter to various organisms in the Gulf of California (GC). Acanthophora spicifera is an invasive seaweed in the GC that is currently sharing habitat with S. horridum. In this study, a comparison of the seasonal variation in the structure of epibionts associated with S. horridum and A. spicifera carried out April to July 2014 and February to March 2015 in Punta roca Caimancito. In S. horridum we quantified in 713, 396 epibionts in 1.53 m2 and identified 124 taxa representing 11 phyla, 15 classes, 33 orders, 43 families, 58 genera and 46 species. In A. spicifera, we quantified 432, 840 epibionts in 1.53 m2 and 90 taxa from seven phyla, 15 classes, 26 orders, 39 families and 34 species were identified S. horridum harbored 25 unique species and A. spicifera, seven. There were significant differences in richness and diversity between algae, months and seasons. While significant differences in abundance and equity were seen only for season. We found seasonal changes in Gastropod taxa, Protohyale yaqui, Leptochelia dubia, Ampithoe plumulosa and Podocerus fulanus, which are the most abundant in both algal communities. We conclude that both algae have a structure different community, this is due to having a different morphology that allows epibionts specificity to each. It does not represent changes in abundance during the months studied, because A. spicifera maintains its size and thus provide a more stable shelter to organisms.

Palabras clave: Algae; Gulf of California; epibionts; Sargassum horridum; Acanthophora spicifera

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