Long-term changes in macroalgae assemblages reveal a gradual biodiversity loss over the last 200 years in the hypereutrophic Guanabara Bay

Guanabara Bay, the second largest bay on the Brazilian coast, has tropical to subtropical, hypereutrophic water conditions. A survey of the macroalgae flora conducted over the past 200 years (1800–2013) yielded a list of 245 species, which represents 15.7% of the total macroalgae recorded in the Tropical Western Atlantic, while comprehends 29.9% and 50.2% of the marine flora in Brazil and Rio de Janeiro, respectively. When evaluating the macroalgal list throughout different periods, it is noticeable the gradual loss of biodiversity as anthropization increased over the last two centuries. The use of phytogeographic indexes and beta diversity confirmed the negative changes in macroalgae assemblages as a response to increasing environmental degradation. The use of floristic surveys to establish the reference conditions employing historical data and/or regionally referenced prove to be an efficient tool using macroalgae as an ecological indicator for water quality.