An outbreak of the invasive macroalgae Rugulopteryx okamurae in Alicante Bay and its colonization on dead Posidonia oceanica matte

We report the first occurrence of Rugulopteryx okamurae in Alicante Bay, the northernmost location in the Iberian Mediterranean where this species was detected. Collected specimens were studied using a morphological and molecular approach. A rapid assessment survey was conducted to assess its presen...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Terradas-Fernández, Marc, Pena-Martín, Carolina, Valverde-Urrea, Miguel, Gran, Alicia, Blanco-Murillo, Fabio, Leyva, Laura, Abellán-Gallardo, Eleuterio, Beresaluze, Esther, Izquierdo, Andrés, del Pilar-Ruso, Yoana, Aguilar, Javier, Fernández-Torquemada, Yolanda
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2023
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/349380
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/349380
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85168003224
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Alicante Bay
Dead Posidonia oceanica matte
Exotic species
Mediterranean sea
Non-indigenous macroalgae
Rugulopteryx okamurae
Descripción
Sumario:We report the first occurrence of Rugulopteryx okamurae in Alicante Bay, the northernmost location in the Iberian Mediterranean where this species was detected. Collected specimens were studied using a morphological and molecular approach. A rapid assessment survey was conducted to assess its presence and abundance in the nearest beach-cast and infralittoral areas. The highest abundance was found over dead P. oceanica matte, occupying an important extension in the bay. We found detached fragments of R. okamurae dispersed by local hydrodynamics, accumulating on some tourist beaches in the region. The potential suitability of the Mediterranean for its spread necessitates monitoring programs to study its variation over time and potential impacts on native biota.