Large rock formations and sand areas mark the orography of the sea bottoms. In
the north bay, there are rocky platforms and reefs with the lichen Lichina
pygmaea, Lithophyllum byssoides, and Fucus guiryi as well as a rich flora of
cyanophyceans. There are also abundant eulittoral pools with an abundant and
rich flora of algae, including Caulerpa cylindracea. The infralittoral landscape is
completely dominated by Rugulopteryx okamurae, although it is possible to see
residual nuclei of the native vegetation such as Cystoseira tamariscifolia and
C. usneoides forests, which can be observed in better condition in areas of the
southern bay where the colonization by Rugulopteryx okamurae is not yet in an
advanced state. Typical circalittoral environments exhibit precoralligenous formations with Mesophyllum lichenoides and other corallinaceans and a good
development of maerl beds, as well as Laminaria ochroleuca and Saccorhiza
polyschides forests.
11. Al Hoceima. The National Park of Al Hoceima, to the west of the city of Al
Hoceima, includes the coastal cliff face and a good stretch of seabed. Among the
algal communities, the forests of Saccorhiza polyschides and Cystoseira
usneoides stand out. Shallow seaweed communities and littoral pools present
significant species richness. Submerged caves and tunnels are other elements of
interest.
12. Cape Tres Forcas. The Cape Tres Forcas is the most outstanding peninsula on
the Mediterranean coast of Morocco, designated by Morocco as a site of
biological interest in 2005. It has a spectacular coastal environment and has
been generally little explored. In the shallower bottoms, important communities
of photophilic algae are found such as Sargassum vulgare and Cystoseira
tamariscifolia; in the eastern shore, occasionally Acetabularia acetabulum;
and in deeper waters, Saccorhiza polyschides.
13. Chafarinas Islands. The archipelago is composed of three islands of volcanic
origin: Congress, Isabel II, and Rey. It is located 2 miles north of the Moroccan
village of Ras El Ma. Designated recently as SAC, it is one of the last nearly
virgin refuges of the Mediterranean. Access to the islands is restricted exclusively to military or scientific personnel, and diving activities are prohibited
except for scientific purposes.
Its rocky and steep coasts provide an ideal refuge for many species. On the
south side of the three islands, on sandy substrate and at shallow depth,
extensive meadows of Posidonia oceanica extend and to a lesser extent
Cymodocea nodosa. The shallow platforms host an important flora where one
can observe species such as Rissoella verruculosa and communities of different
species of Cystoseira. The abundance of Sargassum furcatum, a species especially abundant in both the photophilic and the hemisciophilous communities, is
noteworthy, as well as the presence of some tropical species such as
Acetabularia acetabulum.
8 Seaweeds and Seagrasses: The Marine Forests from the Alboran Sea
271
the north bay, there are rocky platforms and reefs with the lichen Lichina
pygmaea, Lithophyllum byssoides, and Fucus guiryi as well as a rich flora of
cyanophyceans. There are also abundant eulittoral pools with an abundant and
rich flora of algae, including Caulerpa cylindracea. The infralittoral landscape is
completely dominated by Rugulopteryx okamurae, although it is possible to see
residual nuclei of the native vegetation such as Cystoseira tamariscifolia and
C. usneoides forests, which can be observed in better condition in areas of the
southern bay where the colonization by Rugulopteryx okamurae is not yet in an
advanced state. Typical circalittoral environments exhibit precoralligenous formations with Mesophyllum lichenoides and other corallinaceans and a good
development of maerl beds, as well as Laminaria ochroleuca and Saccorhiza
polyschides forests.
11. Al Hoceima. The National Park of Al Hoceima, to the west of the city of Al
Hoceima, includes the coastal cliff face and a good stretch of seabed. Among the
algal communities, the forests of Saccorhiza polyschides and Cystoseira
usneoides stand out. Shallow seaweed communities and littoral pools present
significant species richness. Submerged caves and tunnels are other elements of
interest.
12. Cape Tres Forcas. The Cape Tres Forcas is the most outstanding peninsula on
the Mediterranean coast of Morocco, designated by Morocco as a site of
biological interest in 2005. It has a spectacular coastal environment and has
been generally little explored. In the shallower bottoms, important communities
of photophilic algae are found such as Sargassum vulgare and Cystoseira
tamariscifolia; in the eastern shore, occasionally Acetabularia acetabulum;
and in deeper waters, Saccorhiza polyschides.
13. Chafarinas Islands. The archipelago is composed of three islands of volcanic
origin: Congress, Isabel II, and Rey. It is located 2 miles north of the Moroccan
village of Ras El Ma. Designated recently as SAC, it is one of the last nearly
virgin refuges of the Mediterranean. Access to the islands is restricted exclusively to military or scientific personnel, and diving activities are prohibited
except for scientific purposes.
Its rocky and steep coasts provide an ideal refuge for many species. On the
south side of the three islands, on sandy substrate and at shallow depth,
extensive meadows of Posidonia oceanica extend and to a lesser extent
Cymodocea nodosa. The shallow platforms host an important flora where one
can observe species such as Rissoella verruculosa and communities of different
species of Cystoseira. The abundance of Sargassum furcatum, a species especially abundant in both the photophilic and the hemisciophilous communities, is
noteworthy, as well as the presence of some tropical species such as
Acetabularia acetabulum.
8 Seaweeds and Seagrasses: The Marine Forests from the Alboran Sea
271