New records of heterocystous cyanobacteria from Hong Kong rocky shores

The morphology and ecology of seven heterocystous cyanobacterial species collected from various rocky shores around Hong Kong are described in the present study. These are Dichothrix cf. baueriana, Dichothrix ef. spiralis. Hapalosiphon cf. welwitschii, Mastigocoleus testarum, Microchaete ef. grisea, Nostoc ef. calcicola and Scytonema cf. crustaceum. All these species are new records for Hong Kong and Dichothrix cf. spiralis, Hapalosiphon cf. welwitschii, Microchaete ef, grisea, Nostoc cf. calcicola and Scytonema cf. crustaceum are reported for the first time as marine epiliths. Most of the species were recorded from the upper eulittoral and supralittoral fringe and were present throughout the year. These species are new additions to the existing checklist from Hong Kong, which now includes a total of 72 marine epilithic species from this area.