The partially exposed reef bank of Praia de Jacaraípe is built by up to 40 cm thickness of crustose coralline red algae upon a Holocene reef community. This work aims to describe the flora composition and phytobenthic structure of this community that has not been studied yet. The survey was carried out during winter and summer. On the reef flat and reef border ten randon quadrats were sampled along 20 m transect in each habitat. There were twelve chlorophytes, four phaeophytes, 34 rhodophytes and one seagrass, totalizing 35 genera and 51 taxa. There was a seasonal variation of species richness only on the reef flat, less rich in winter. The articulate calcareous red algae had greater biomass and surface cover in both seasons. The space and temporal distribution of the flora is in agreement with the substrate type, hydrodynamic and seawater turbidity patterns found elsewhere in Brazil.
community structure; intertidal zone; macroalgae; seagrass
