Phycofloristic study of the Rio Lagartos Lagoon, Yucatan, Mexico

A total of 46 taxa were found in Rio Lagartos coastal lagoon; 26 species of Rhodophyta, 18 Chlorophyta, and 2 Phaeophyta, from 21 collect stations in June and November 1995. The Jaccard Index was used to analyze the similarity of the flora, using a presence-absence matrix in space and time. A Multi Dimensional Scaling (MDS) and PCA (principal component analysis) of program was used to identify physiological habitats and zones. Three zones were identified (El Cuyo basin, Las Coloradas basin, and Rio Lagartos basin); their flora and environmental conditions characterized three habitats (mangrove, bottom and springs). A list of 46 species was registered from the literature, 20 of these species were shared with our records. These results presume different methodology and work intensity between the studies as well as species changes in time and space of the species, in relation to environmental changes.