scholarly journals Arrival and proliferation of the invasive seaweed Rugulopteryx okamurae in NE Atlantic islands

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joao Faria ◽  
Afonso Prestes ◽  
Ignacio Moreu ◽  
Gustavo Martins ◽  
Ana Neto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
First Record ◽  
Ne Atlantic ◽  
Strait Of Gibraltar ◽  
Mediterranean Populations ◽  
Azores Archipelago ◽  
Ship Hulls ◽  
Invasive Seaweed ◽  
Recent Occurrence ◽  
Benthic Ecosystems ◽  
Molecular Characters

The present study reports the recent occurrence and expansion of Rugulopteryx okamurae in the Azores archipelago (NE Atlantic). Morphological and molecular characters confirmed the species identification. Quick surveys around the island of Sao Miguel showed that it has successfully colonized the island and is quickly expanding. In some locations, R. okamurae is currently the dominant organism smothering all other benthic biota and posing a serious threat to the benthic ecosystems across the region. The species first record dates from 2019 near the main harbour of the island, suggesting that its introduction was driven by human-assisted transport, via boat ballast waters or adhered to ship hulls and likely originating from the Mediterranean populations that have been proliferating in recent years across the Strait of Gibraltar.

scholarly journals Arrival and proliferation of the invasive seaweed Rugulopteryx okamurae in NE Atlantic islands

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
João Faria ◽  
Afonso C.L. Prestes ◽  
Ignacio Moreu ◽  
Gustavo M. Martins ◽  
Ana I. Neto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
First Record ◽  
Ne Atlantic ◽  
Strait Of Gibraltar ◽  
Mediterranean Populations ◽  
Azores Archipelago ◽  
Ship Hulls ◽  
Invasive Seaweed ◽  
Recent Occurrence ◽  
Benthic Ecosystems ◽  
Molecular Characters

Abstract The present study reports the recent occurrence and expansion of Rugulopteryx okamurae in the Azores archipelago (NE Atlantic). Morphological and molecular characters confirmed the species identification. Quick surveys around the island of São Miguel showed that it has successfully colonized the island and is quickly expanding. In some locations, R. okamurae is currently the dominant organism smothering all other benthic biota and posing a serious threat to the benthic ecosystems across the region. The species first record dates from 2019 near the main harbour of the island, suggesting that its introduction was driven by human-assisted transport, via boat ballast waters or adhered to ship hulls and likely originating from the Mediterranean populations that have been proliferating in recent years across the Strait of Gibraltar.

First record of Caulerpa prolifera in the Azores (NE Atlantic)

2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-160
Author(s):  
Eva Cacabelos ◽  
João Faria ◽  
Gustavo M. Martins ◽  
Carles Mir ◽  
Manuela Isabel Parente ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Stream ◽  
Species Recognition ◽  
First Record ◽  
Ne Atlantic ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
Distributional Range ◽  
Caulerpa Prolifera ◽  
Molecular Characters

Abstract This paper reports a recently discovered population of Caulerpa prolifera in the Azores (NE Atlantic), which becomes the westernmost record of this species in European waters. Morphological, anatomical and molecular characters were investigated for species recognition. The occurrence of the species in the Azores represents a northern expansion of its distributional range, covering now the whole Macaronesia region. It may have been brought by rafting from the western Atlantic through the Gulf Stream, but human-assisted transport may also have been involved in its arrival or dispersion.

scholarly journals The invasive species Asparagopsis taxiformis (Bonnemaisoniales, Rhodophyta) on Andalusian coast (Southern Spain): Reproductive stages, new records and invaded communities

2008 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. 5-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Altamirano ◽  
Antonio Román Muñoz ◽  
Julio De la Rosa ◽  
Agustín Barrajón-Mínguez ◽  
Agustín Barrajón-Domenech ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
New Record ◽  
New Records ◽  
First Record ◽  
Southern Spain ◽  
Strait Of Gibraltar ◽  
Asparagopsis Taxiformis ◽  
Invasive Seaweed ◽  
Exotic Invasive

ABSTRACT. The invasive species Asparagopsis taxiformis (Bonnemaisoniales, Rhodophyta) on Andalusian coasts (Southern Spain): reproductive stages, new records and invaded communities. The present study provides new records from Andalusian coasts of the exotic invasive seaweed Asparagopsis taxiformis (Delile) Trevisan. These records demonstrate that A. taxiformis has rapidly and widely expanded its distribution range in this region, from Almería to Cádiz (Strait of Gibraltar). The latter locality may represent the western geographical limit of the species in the Mediterranean Sea. Spermatangial heads and cystocarps were observed in the collected gametophytes. Additionally, we report the first record of the tetrasporophytic stage, Falkenbergia hillebrandii (Bornet) Falkenberg from the Andalusian coast, although tetraspores were not encountered in these samples. Consequently, information on the affected communities and arguments for considering A. taxiformis as an invasive species in the Andalusian coast are provided.Key words. Asparagopsis taxiformis, Bonnemaisoniales, distribution, Falkenbergia hillebrandii, invasive species, Mediterranean Sea, new record, reproductive stage, RhodophytaRESUMEN. La especie invasora Asparagopsis taxiformis (Bonnemaisoniales, Rhodophyta) en las costas andaluzas (Sur de España): fases reproductivas, nuevas citas y comunidades invadidas. El  presente trabajo aporta nuevas citas para las costas andaluzas de la especie exótica invasora de macroalga Asparagopsis taxiformis (Delile) Trevisan. Estas citas muestran que la especie ha aumentado ampliamente su área de distribución de manera rápida en esta región, desde Almería hasta Cádiz (Estrecho de Gibraltar). Esta última localidad representaría el límite occidental de la especie en el mar Mediterráneo. En las muestras recogidas de gametofitos se pudieron observar ramas espermatangiales y cistocarpos. Se aporta la primera cita del estadio tetrasporofítico, Falkenbergia hillebrandii (Bornet) Falkenberg en las costas andaluzas, aunque no se observaron tetrásporas en estas muestras. Se informa sobre las comunidades afectadas y se dan argumentos para considerar a A. taxiformis invasora en las costas andaluzas.Palabras clave. Asparagopsis taxiformis, Bonnemaisoniales, distribución, especie invasora, estadio reproductivo, Falkenbergia hillebrandii, mar Mediterráneo, nueva cita, Rhodophyta

First record of Norwegian killer whales attacking and feeding on a harbour porpoise

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Mel Cosentino
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
First Record ◽  
Harbour Porpoise ◽  
Sperm Whales ◽  
Killer Whales ◽  
Strait Of Gibraltar ◽  
Cetacean Species ◽  
The North ◽  
Northern Bottlenose Whales

Orcinus orcais a cosmopolitan species and the most widely distributed marine mammal. Its diet includes over 140 species of fish, cephalopods, sea birds and marine mammals. However, many populations are specialised on certain specific prey items. Three genetically distinct populations have been described in the North Atlantic. Population A (that includes the Icelandic and Norwegian sub-populations) is believed to be piscivorous, as is population C, which includes fish-eating killer whales from the Strait of Gibraltar. In contrast, population B feeds on both fish and marine mammals. Norwegian killer whales follow the Norwegian spring spawning herring stock. The only description in the literature of Norwegian killer whales feeding on another cetacean species is a predation event on northern bottlenose whales in 1968. Daily land-based surveys targeting sperm whales were conducted from the Andenes lighthouse using BigEyes®binoculars (25×, 80 mm). The location of animals at sea was approximated through the use of an internal reticule system and a graduated wheel. On 24 June 2012 at 3:12 am, an opportunistic sighting of 11 killer whales was made off Andenes harbour. The whales hunted and fed on a harbour porpoise. Despite these species having overlapping distributions in Norwegian waters, this is the first predatory event reported in the literature.

The Holocene to Recent ostracods of the Azores archipelago (NE Atlantic): Systematics and biogeography

2014 ◽  
Vol 112 ◽  
pp. 13-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo Piazza Meireles ◽  
Dietmar Keyser ◽  
Sérgio P. Ávila
Keyword(s):  
Ne Atlantic ◽  
The Holocene ◽  
Azores Archipelago

First record of the rare deep-sea polychaete Rhamphobrachium (Rhamphobrachium) agassizii (Annelida: Onuphidae) in European waters

2020 ◽  
Vol 100 (5) ◽  
pp. 719-724
Author(s):  
Andrés Arias ◽  
Hannelore Paxton
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
Deep Sea ◽  
North Atlantic Ocean ◽  
First Record ◽  
Polychaete Species ◽  
Azores Archipelago ◽  
The North ◽  
Deep Water Species ◽  
The North Atlantic ◽  
Water Species

AbstractRhamphobrachium (Rhamphobrachium) agassizii is reported from the Cantabrian Sea, Spain, from depths of 925–1207 m. This is its first record off the Iberian Peninsula and in European waters, representing its northernmost distribution in the North Atlantic Ocean to date. Previous reports of R. (R.) agassizii from the eastern and western North Atlantic demonstrate its apparent amphi-Atlantic distribution, which appears consistent with the distribution of the main Atlantic currents. It is a typical deep-water species with its deepest record at 2165 m from the Azores archipelago. The specimens were collected singly at two stations, attesting to the rarity of the species in contrast to its congener R. (Spinigerium) brevibrachiatum which was the most dominant polychaete species in a previous study.

scholarly journals Marine exotic isopods from the Iberian Peninsula and nearby waters

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e4408
Author(s):  
Gemma Martínez-Laiz ◽  
Macarena Ros ◽  
José M. Guerra-García
Keyword(s):  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Exotic Species ◽  
First Record ◽  
Effective Management ◽  
Recreational Boating ◽  
Strait Of Gibraltar ◽  
Worldwide Distribution ◽  
Distribution Ranges ◽  
Southern Side ◽  
Comprehensive Study

Effective management of marine bioinvasions starts with prevention, communication among the scientific community and comprehensive updated data on the distribution ranges of exotic species. Despite being a hotspot for introduction due to numerous shipping routes converging at the Strait of Gibraltar, knowledge of marine exotics in the Iberian Peninsula is scarce, especially of abundant but small-sized and taxonomically challenging taxa such as the Order Isopoda. To fill this gap, we conducted several sampling surveys in 44 marinas and provide the first comprehensive study of marine exotic isopods from the Iberian Peninsula, the southern side of the Strait of Gibraltar (northern Africa) and the Balearic Islands. Exotic species includedIaniropsis serricaudis(first record for the Iberian Peninsula and Lusitanian marine province),Paracerceis sculpta(first record for the Alboran Sea ecoregion),Paradella dianae,Paranthura japonica(earliest record for the Iberian Peninsula) andSphaeroma walkeri. Photographs with morphological details for identification for non-taxonomic experts are provided, their worldwide distribution is updated and patterns of invasion are discussed. We report an expansion in the distribution range of all species, especially at the Strait of Gibraltar and nearby areas.Ianiropsis serricaudisandParanthura japonicaare polyvectic, with shellfish trade and recreational boating being most probable vectors for their introduction and secondary spread. The subsequent finding of the studied species in additional marinas over the years points at recreational boating as a vector and indicates a future spread. We call for attention to reduce lags in the detection and reporting of small-size exotics, which usually remain overlooked or underestimated until the invasion process is at an advanced stage.

First record of beaching events for a calycophoran siphonophore: Abylopsis tetragona (Otto, 1823) at the Strait of Gibraltar

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 1587-1593
Author(s):  
Elena Guerrero ◽  
Karen Kienberger ◽  
Ana Villaescusa ◽  
Josep-Maria Gili ◽  
Gabriel Navarro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
First Record ◽  
Strait Of Gibraltar

First record of three brachyuran decapods (Inachidae, Polybiidae, Thiidae) from the Canary Islands (NE Atlantic)

Crustaceana ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 89 (10) ◽  
pp. 1175-1184
Author(s):  
Óscar Monterroso ◽  
Raül Triay-Portella ◽  
José A. González
Keyword(s):  
Canary Islands ◽  
Marine Algae ◽  
First Record ◽  
Ne Atlantic ◽  
Present Account ◽  
First Time

In the present account three brachyuran decapods,Macropodia linaresiForest & Zariquiey Álvarez, 1964 (Inachidae),Liocarcinus navigator(Herbst, 1794) (Polybiidae) andThia scutellata(Fabricius, 1793) (Thiidae), are recorded for the first time from the Canary Islands. This is the southernmost record ofM. linaresi. Crabs were caught in the frame of a dredging survey. Characteristics of the dredge stations are given, including the identification of 11 accompanying decapod species and 6 marine algae and plants characterizing their habitats.

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