Morphological Characteristics and Habitats of Red Seaweed spp. (Gracilariaceae, Rhodophyta) in Santubong and Asajaya, Sarawak, Malaysia.

Red seaweed , one of the largest genus in Division Rhodophyta inhabits Sarawak coastal water. This study was designed to identify the species of using morphological approach and to assess selected water quality parameters in habitats. Three field samplings were carried out in Santubong and Asajaya, Sarawak from November 2013 to December 2014. Overall, three species were identified namely , and , attached to net of cage culture in Santubong and root of mangrove trees in Asajaya. In addition, three different taxa of aquatic macroinvertebrates (polychaete, small crab, bivalve) and single species of red seaweed ( sp.) were observed in assemblages. An estimate of 37% to 40% of the upper part of the cage net in Santubong was covered by seaweeds and only 16% to 20% in Asajaya's mangrove. The study had provided better information on identification of and their habitat in Sarawak. Future work involving DNA barcoding of each species is in progress.