Tycoplanktonic diatoms in reef flats around Moen Island (Weno) in Chuuk Lagoon, Micronesia

Abstract

The present study enhance the knowledge on the biodiversity of diatoms in Chuuk, Micronesia following the study on the seaweed-associated diatoms (Park et al. 2018). The phytoplankton samples collected from 5 sites of reef flats using a 20-μm mesh sized net, are analyzed. 124 diatom taxa are documented, of these, 86 species are additionally observed apart from the epiphytic diatoms. Most taxa are benthic as a tycoplanktonics, and the euplanktonic diatoms are rare. Although many taxa remain to unidentified status, we note some apparent differences in common and distinctive species that able to characterize the coral reefs diatom in Chuuk, Micronesia.