Preliminary Checklist Study on Marine Algae (Chlorophyta) along the Coast between Tukra and Tolmetha, Libya

Abstract

Marine algae are important primary producers in coastal ecosystems and play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance and supporting marine biodiversity. However, information on their distribution along the Libyan coastline remains limited. This study aimed to document and provide a preliminary checklist of marine green macroalgae (Chlorophyta) along a 30 km stretch of coastline between Tukra and Tolmetha, northeastern Libya. Five sampling sites—Om al-Hajl, Ardanou, Soqba, Zaghrat, and Butraba—were surveyed from July 2017 to December 2019. Algal samples were collected manually from intertidal and shallow subtidal zones and identified using standard taxonomic procedures. In total, seven species representing six genera of Chlorophyta were identified. Om al-Hajl and Ardanou each hosted six species, Soqba had three, and Zahrat had four. Two species, Anadyomene stellata and Codium bursa, were present at all five sites, indicating their wide distribution along the study area. The findings provide baseline data on the diversity and composition of green macroalgae along this section of the Libyan coast, supporting future ecological, taxonomic, and conservation research.