Emergence of an invasive ascidian in Canary Islands (Eastern Atlantic): Tracking the arrival and spread of Cnemidocarpa irene

This study documents the first occurrence and rapid expansion of the solitary ascidian Cnemidocarpa irene in natural marine habitats of Tenerife (Canary Islands). Native to the Indo-Pacific, C. irene had previously been introduced to the Caribbean, Brazil, and Cape Verde. It was first observed in Te...

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Autores: Turon, Xavier, Martín Solà, Marc, Moro Abad, Leopoldo, Hernández, José Carlos
Formato: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Recursos:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/414655
Acesso em linha:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/414655
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/105023432637
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palavra-chave:Biological invasion
Citizen science
DNA barcoding
Taxonomy
Tunicate
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spelling Emergence of an invasive ascidian in Canary Islands (Eastern Atlantic): Tracking the arrival and spread of Cnemidocarpa ireneTuron, XavierMartín Solà, MarcMoro Abad, LeopoldoHernández, José CarlosBiological invasionCitizen scienceDNA barcodingTaxonomyTunicateThis study documents the first occurrence and rapid expansion of the solitary ascidian Cnemidocarpa irene in natural marine habitats of Tenerife (Canary Islands). Native to the Indo-Pacific, C. irene had previously been introduced to the Caribbean, Brazil, and Cape Verde. It was first observed in Tenerife in 2020, though retrospective records through citizen science tools date its presence back to 2018. A total of 74 sightings along the island’s coasts were reported between 2018 and 2024, when it reached densities of ca. 2 individuals/aggregates per square metre in the initial introduction area. Thus, the species is undergoing a clear proliferation and a spatial expansion. Morphological and genetic analyses confirmed the identity of C.irene and its phylogenetic placement, closely related to other Cnemidocarpa and related genera such as Asterocarpa. This species shows concerning invasive characteristics, such as a fast expansion, abundance in natural habitats, and aggregative behaviour, suggesting potential threats to native biota. Due to its limited natural dispersal capacity, the introduction of C. irene to Tenerife is attributed to anthropogenic vectors, particularly oil platforms arriving at major Canary Island ports. The proximity of the initial records to port areas supports this hypothesis. Given the potential species’ ecological risks, the authors recommend close monitoring, manual removal where feasible, and strengthened involvement of citizen science. This case highlights the vulnerability of oceanic islands to marine biological invasions and the importance of ports and marinas as critical entry points, underscoring the need for proactive surveillance and early intervention strategies.This research was partially financed by project BlueDNA (PID2023-146307OB), funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities (MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033) and by ERDF/EU.Peer reviewedPensoft PublishersMinisterio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España)Agencia Estatal de Investigación (España)European CommissionTuron, Xavier [0000-0002-9229-5541]Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]202620262025info:eu-repo/semantics/articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501Publisher's versioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/10261/414655https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/105023432637reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSICinstname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)Inglés#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE##PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/AEI/Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2021-2023/PID2023-146307OB-C21info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/AEI/Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2021-2023/PID2023-146307OB-C22Turon, Xavier; Martín Solà, Marc; Moro Abad, Leopoldo; Hernández, José Carlos; 2025; Supplementary material: Alignment of the sequences used in the phylogeny reconstruction; Pensoft Publishers; https://doi.org/10.3391/ai.2025.20.4.172098.suppl1https://doi.org/10.3391/ai.2025.20.4.172098Síinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:digital.csic.es:10261/4146552026-05-22T06:33:51Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Emergence of an invasive ascidian in Canary Islands (Eastern Atlantic): Tracking the arrival and spread of Cnemidocarpa irene
title Emergence of an invasive ascidian in Canary Islands (Eastern Atlantic): Tracking the arrival and spread of Cnemidocarpa irene
spellingShingle Emergence of an invasive ascidian in Canary Islands (Eastern Atlantic): Tracking the arrival and spread of Cnemidocarpa irene
Turon, Xavier
Biological invasion
Citizen science
DNA barcoding
Taxonomy
Tunicate
title_short Emergence of an invasive ascidian in Canary Islands (Eastern Atlantic): Tracking the arrival and spread of Cnemidocarpa irene
title_full Emergence of an invasive ascidian in Canary Islands (Eastern Atlantic): Tracking the arrival and spread of Cnemidocarpa irene
title_fullStr Emergence of an invasive ascidian in Canary Islands (Eastern Atlantic): Tracking the arrival and spread of Cnemidocarpa irene
title_full_unstemmed Emergence of an invasive ascidian in Canary Islands (Eastern Atlantic): Tracking the arrival and spread of Cnemidocarpa irene
title_sort Emergence of an invasive ascidian in Canary Islands (Eastern Atlantic): Tracking the arrival and spread of Cnemidocarpa irene
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Turon, Xavier
Martín Solà, Marc
Moro Abad, Leopoldo
Hernández, José Carlos
author Turon, Xavier
author_facet Turon, Xavier
Martín Solà, Marc
Moro Abad, Leopoldo
Hernández, José Carlos
author_role author
author2 Martín Solà, Marc
Moro Abad, Leopoldo
Hernández, José Carlos
author2_role author
author
author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España)
Agencia Estatal de Investigación (España)
European Commission
Turon, Xavier [0000-0002-9229-5541]
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Biological invasion
Citizen science
DNA barcoding
Taxonomy
Tunicate
topic Biological invasion
Citizen science
DNA barcoding
Taxonomy
Tunicate
description This study documents the first occurrence and rapid expansion of the solitary ascidian Cnemidocarpa irene in natural marine habitats of Tenerife (Canary Islands). Native to the Indo-Pacific, C. irene had previously been introduced to the Caribbean, Brazil, and Cape Verde. It was first observed in Tenerife in 2020, though retrospective records through citizen science tools date its presence back to 2018. A total of 74 sightings along the island’s coasts were reported between 2018 and 2024, when it reached densities of ca. 2 individuals/aggregates per square metre in the initial introduction area. Thus, the species is undergoing a clear proliferation and a spatial expansion. Morphological and genetic analyses confirmed the identity of C.irene and its phylogenetic placement, closely related to other Cnemidocarpa and related genera such as Asterocarpa. This species shows concerning invasive characteristics, such as a fast expansion, abundance in natural habitats, and aggregative behaviour, suggesting potential threats to native biota. Due to its limited natural dispersal capacity, the introduction of C. irene to Tenerife is attributed to anthropogenic vectors, particularly oil platforms arriving at major Canary Island ports. The proximity of the initial records to port areas supports this hypothesis. Given the potential species’ ecological risks, the authors recommend close monitoring, manual removal where feasible, and strengthened involvement of citizen science. This case highlights the vulnerability of oceanic islands to marine biological invasions and the importance of ports and marinas as critical entry points, underscoring the need for proactive surveillance and early intervention strategies.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025
2026
2026
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
Publisher's version
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/10261/414655
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/105023432637
url http://hdl.handle.net/10261/414655
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/105023432637
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv #PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/AEI/Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2021-2023/PID2023-146307OB-C21
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/AEI/Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2021-2023/PID2023-146307OB-C22
Turon, Xavier; Martín Solà, Marc; Moro Abad, Leopoldo; Hernández, José Carlos; 2025; Supplementary material: Alignment of the sequences used in the phylogeny reconstruction; Pensoft Publishers; https://doi.org/10.3391/ai.2025.20.4.172098.suppl1
https://doi.org/10.3391/ai.2025.20.4.172098
Sí
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Pensoft Publishers
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Pensoft Publishers
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
instname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
instname_str Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
reponame_str DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
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repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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