Invasion of Batophora J. Agardh, 1854 (Chlorophyta: Dasycladales) in Formentera, Balearic Islands
[EN] We report on the 3 years expansion of a species of the genus Batophora J. Agardh in the coastal lagoon of Estany des Peix and surrounding areas (Formentera, Balearic Islands). The alga was first detected in May 2020 and it underwent a rapid proliferation in Estany des Peix, being present in a 1...
| Autores: | , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Estado: | Versión publicada |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2024 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) |
| Repositorio: | DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:digital.csic.es:10261/387414 |
| Acceso en línea: | http://hdl.handle.net/10261/387414 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Batophora invasion Formentera Balearic Islands Mediterranean Sea Invasió de Batophora Illes Balears Mediterrània |
| Sumario: | [EN] We report on the 3 years expansion of a species of the genus Batophora J. Agardh in the coastal lagoon of Estany des Peix and surrounding areas (Formentera, Balearic Islands). The alga was first detected in May 2020 and it underwent a rapid proliferation in Estany des Peix, being present in a 18% of its perimeter by November 2020, presence that was almost the same one year later. However, by September 2022 Batophora was present in almost 100% of the lagoon perimeter. In October 2022 the alga was found to be spreading to the deepest areas of the lagoon, being found in 93% of the prospected points. It colonized all the habitats present in the lagoon: from sandy habitats to Caulerpa prolifera (Forsskal) Lamouroux beds, rocky bottoms and Cymodocea nodosa (Ucria) Ascherson, Zostera noltii Hornemann and Ruppia cirrhosa (Petagna) Grande meadows. By November 2023 Batophora spread outside the lagoon, always close to the entrance, colonizing sandy habitats, shallow rocky habitats and even margins of Posidonia oceanica (Linnaus) Delile meadows. Batophora was also found at the channel connecting another lagoon (Estany Pudent) with the open sea. The invasion of Batophora threatens the lagoon habitats of the Freus d'Eivissa i Formentera MPA and we recommend a close monitoring of its spread. We also suggest some kind of management to avoid the spreading of the alga from Estany des Peix to La Savina harbour and to other sheltered areas from Formentera and Eivissa. |
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