and various marine worms. While the landward side has a small footing of 

 this type, it is probably not so prominent because of the lack of large 

 mussel beds and also the lack of general storm action which may be in a 

 large way responsible for the destruction and dispersing of the mussel beds 

 on the other three sides. 



Ill, 



THE FLORA 



While all three types (red, brown and green) of algae are found 

 around the island, they are primarily restricted to the top few feet. 

 Practically no algae exist below 30 feet except toward the end of the 

 summer, probably due primarily to the silting and turbidity at greater 

 depths. In the winter the local storms destroy most of the larger stands 

 of algae but in late spring and summer there is a tremendous growth taking 

 place, with measurements of as much as 1 foot being recorded in a 24-hour 

 period. 



The greatest variety of algae occurs in the top 10 feet. Much of the 

 algae in this region of the water column shows the effect of being grazed 

 upon by a wide variety of organisms. This variety of plant life also 

 provides an excellent habitat for many of the smaller invertebrates and is 

 thus an indication of a balanced reef community. 



Table 1. Algae Observed at Rincon Island 



Division 



Scientific Name 



Chlorophyta 



Rhodophyta 



Bryopsis oortioulans Setchell 

 Chaetomorpha aerea KOtzing 

 Cladophora triahotoma Kutzing 

 Codium fragile (Suringar) 

 Enteromorpha intestinalis (Linnaeus) 

 Ulva angusta Setchell and Gardner 

 Viva ealifomioa Dawson 



Bossiella sp. 

 Callithaxm.ion sp. 

 Covallina sp. 



Gigartina aanalioulata Harvey 

 Gigartina spinosa (Kutzing) 

 Eildenbrandia prototypus Nardo 

 Lithothrix aspevgillim Gray 

 Folysiphonia panioulata Dawson 

 Porphyra perforata Agardh 

 Prionitis lanaeolata Harvey 

 Rhodymenia paeifioa Kyi in 



61 



