The algae of the Thames estuary: a reappraisal

Abstract

The benthic marine algal (seaweed) flora of the tidal Thames was first described in detail by (1977a), prior to which there was only scant reference made to it in the literature. That study was undertaken in connection with a wider appraisal of the seaweed flora of Kent (including the Thames estuary), published as an atlas of species distributions (Tittley and Price, 1977b; Tittley et al., 1985). Since the original study, several other works have added to our knowledge of the algal flora. Zonal and seasonal changes were investigated at Woolwich in the middle reaches of the tidal river (Tittley, 1985); this was the first account of seasonal changes in macroalgal populations for any British estuary. Additional observations on the occurrence and distribution of benthic macroalgae have been made by (1982, 1983, unpublished data). The floristic composition, seasonality and distribution of algae in the freshwater reaches of the tidal river were investigated by (1990) as part of a suite of studies on the phytobenthos of the freshwater Thames (John and Moore, 1985a, b; John et al., 1989a b). The algae and macrophytes of the River Wandle, a south bank tributary that enters the tidal river near Wandsworth, were described by (1983).