| Seaweeds are an integral component of the Bay of Fundy coastal environment, yet historical records of seaweed biodiversity are vague and current records are nonexistent. This lack of detailed historical and current information precludes the assessment of changes in Fundy seaweed communities. For this reason, a seaweed diversity monitoring program was designed and implemented in the lower Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick, over the years 2000 and 2001. Results of this monitoring program have provided a detailed and specific baseline dataset which can act as a “before” picture for future assessments of floristic change. These results have also led to the conclusion that environmental stress is being reflected in the marine flora at Letite Point, NB, and further allowed the contribution of a seaweed perspective to Fundy marine conservation measures. In an effort to see this program maintained and expanded in the future, investigations into the streamlining of methods showed that the full complement of monitoring goals can be accomplished through a combination of genus-level abundance measurements in the lower intertidal and the collection of a site-specific species list. |
