Background and Aims:

In Mexico, knowledge of epiphytism in marine environments has focused on pasture communities, while for algae there are only four studies, two for the North Pacific of Mexico and two more for Veracruz. Due to the lack of information, the present work intends to contribute to the knowledge of the epiphytism presented in two species of Padina of wide distribution along the coasts of the Mexican tropical Pacific.

Methods:

Two sampling periods were carried out in four locations in Nayarit. The collected material was preserved in 4% formalin. Thallus determinations of Padina crispata and P. durvillei were made, observations of the epiphyte thallus were carried out and cuts were observed with stereoscopic and optical microscopes. The identification was carried out with specialized literature. In addition, a bibliographic review was made with works about the coasts of the Mexican tropical Pacific.

Key results:

In total 71 epiphytic species of Padina crispata and P. durvillei were identified, distributed in 51 genera, 35 families, 22 orders and four phyla. The order with the highest number of recorded species was Ceramiales with 17 species, followed by Corallinales with 14, while the best represented families were Corallinaceae and Ceramiaceae with 11 and nine species, respectively. Eight species were found for the first time in Nayarit, of which Acrochaetium barbadense is a new record for the Mexican tropical Pacific. The greatest richness of epiphytic species occurred in Padina durvillei (58, 80.5 %).

Conclusions:

The importance of Padina durvillei and P. crispata as basibionts for different groups of algae is highlighted, as well as the value they present in the knowledge of biodiversity.

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