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Diversity
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Marine Invasive Species
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Marine Invasive Species

A topical collection in Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This collection belongs to the section "Marine Diversity".

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Editors

Prof. Dr. Bert W. Hoeksema

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
1. Taxonomy and Systematics Group, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
2. Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands
Interests: stony corals; coral-associated fauna; coral reef conservation; coral taxonomy; coral trade; tropical marine biodiversity; marine invertebrates; marine biogeography; phylogeny reconstructions; marine invasives
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Adriaan Gittenberger

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Collection Editor
1. GiMaRIS, Rijksstraatweg 75, 2171 AK Sassenheim, The Netherlands
2. Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR Leiden, The Netherlands
Interests: marine biogeography; non-native marine species disperal; species interactions; non-native species impact assessment; ascidians; marine molluscs; population genetics; cryptic species detection and impact; non-native species monitoring and identification methods; climate change linked species establishment chances

Topical Collection Information

Dear Colleagues,

An increasing number of marine invasive species are expanding their ranges in seas all over the globe. As introduced species, they draw attention when they negatively affect populations of native species or when they harm fisheries, shipping, or other industries. Their role can be controversial, since they can be considered as enrichment of the local biota or as a compensation for the loss of native species, as if their introduction is part of a natural selection process in the competition for space.

From a biological perspective, marine invasives attract much attention. Some of the fundamental research questions related to them are species-dependent, while others address general patterns or processes. Often, an anthropogenic factor is involved in the migration of single species or entire species assemblages from their native area to a non-native range. Marine species may expand their ranges by transport in ballast water, as fouling organisms on vessels, oil platforms, flotsam, or shellfish, as escaped aquarium organisms, or by dispersal through new waterways. Once a species has been introduced, the way in which it further expands its range may become a subject of research (e.g., ocean sprawling), and one may debate when a species is really considered invasive. Occasionally, non-native species that increase in abundance and become a nuisance or pest are also considered invasive. One can study the way in which introduced species interact with the original native flora and fauna. It may also be important to identify the relevant ecological traits of introduced marine species that enable them to expand in their non-native range, such as diet or natural enemies. All these questions can be addressed in this Topical Collection on marine invasive species.

Prof. Dr. Bert W. Hoeksema
Dr. Adriaan Gittenberger
Collection Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • alien species
  • ballast water
  • fisheries
  • flotsam
  • fouling organisms
  • native range
  • non-native range
  • nuisance species
  • pest proportions
  • release of aquarium pets
  • species introductions

Published Papers (5 papers)

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2024

Jump to: 2023, 2022, 2021

9 pages, 4975 KiB  
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Finding a Pied-à-Terre: Harbour Infrastructure Facilitates the Settlement of Non-Native Corals (Tubastraea spp.) in the Southern Caribbean
by Bert W. Hoeksema, Roeland J. van der Schoot and Kaveh Samimi-Namin
Diversity 2024, 16(11), 697; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16110697 - 14 Nov 2024
Viewed by 412
Abstract
Semi-submersible platforms are used in the offshore oil and gas industry. They are specialised marine vessels that float on submersed drafts, which are composed of pontoons and columns and can serve as habitats for biofouling marine benthic communities. When these vessels sail from [...] Read more.
Semi-submersible platforms are used in the offshore oil and gas industry. They are specialised marine vessels that float on submersed drafts, which are composed of pontoons and columns and can serve as habitats for biofouling marine benthic communities. When these vessels sail from one place to another, either by using their own propellers or being towed, they can act as vectors for introducing non-native marine species. To establish themselves in new areas, these exotic species require suitable benthic habitats. Artificial substrates, such as harbour infrastructure where such vessels are moored, appear to be highly suitable for this purpose. In the present study, a mooring buoy and a harbour piling at Curaçao (southern Caribbean), frequently used by semi-submersible platforms, were found to be colonised by the sun corals Tubastraea coccinea and T. tagusensis at shallow depths. This report presents the first record of T. tagusensis as an introduced non-native species in the southern Caribbean, highlighting the potential role of harbour infrastructure in facilitating coral settlement at depths shallower than those typically observed. These findings underscore the ecological impact of artificial substrates in supporting invasive species and emphasise the need for monitoring programs and defouling facilities. Full article
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15 pages, 3333 KiB  
Article
Coexistence of Two Copepods, Recorded for the First Time, in NW Iberian Shelf: The Case of Oithona atlantica and the Allochthonous O. davisae
by Lara García-Alves, Andrea Ramilo, Santiago Pascual, Ángel F. González and Elvira Abollo
Diversity 2024, 16(1), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16010061 - 17 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1347
Abstract
This paper compiles the data regarding the first occurrence of Oithona davisae and O. atlantica in NW Spain, which is supported by morphological and molecular analysis. Additionally, we investigated the seasonal dynamics of the invasive O. davisae, revealing that its abundance is [...] Read more.
This paper compiles the data regarding the first occurrence of Oithona davisae and O. atlantica in NW Spain, which is supported by morphological and molecular analysis. Additionally, we investigated the seasonal dynamics of the invasive O. davisae, revealing that its abundance is conditioned by upwelling-downwelling patterns in the Rías Baixas of Galicia. Temperature was the most correlated factor, with higher abundances in upwelling relaxation-downwelling events. More studies in long-term zooplankton dynamics and molecular analysis are needed to determine if O. davisae is displacing other native species of the same genus, such as O. atlantica, in Galician waters. Full article
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2023

Jump to: 2024, 2022, 2021

16 pages, 1894 KiB  
Article
Compilation, Revision, and Annotation of DNA Barcodes of Marine Invertebrate Non-Indigenous Species (NIS) Occurring in European Coastal Regions
by Ana S. Lavrador, João T. Fontes, Pedro E. Vieira, Filipe O. Costa and Sofia Duarte
Diversity 2023, 15(2), 174; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020174 - 26 Jan 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2971
Abstract
The introduction of non-indigenous species (NIS) is one of the major threats to the integrity of European coastal ecosystems. DNA-based assessments have been increasingly adopted for monitoring NIS. However, the accuracy of DNA-based taxonomic assignments is largely dependent on the completion and reliability [...] Read more.
The introduction of non-indigenous species (NIS) is one of the major threats to the integrity of European coastal ecosystems. DNA-based assessments have been increasingly adopted for monitoring NIS. However, the accuracy of DNA-based taxonomic assignments is largely dependent on the completion and reliability of DNA barcode reference libraries. As such, we aimed to compile and audit a DNA barcode reference library for marine invertebrate NIS occurring in Europe. To do so, we compiled a list of NIS using three databases: the European Alien Species Information Network (EASIN), the Information System on Aquatic Non-indigenous and Cryptogenic Species (AquaNIS), and the World Register of Introduced Marine Species (WRiMS). For each species, we retrieved the available cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) mitochondrial gene sequences from the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD) and used the Barcode, Audit & Grade System (BAGS) to check congruence between morphospecies names and Barcode Index Numbers (BINs). From the 1249 species compiled, approximately 42% had records on BOLD, among which 56% were discordant. We further analyzed these cases to determine the causes of the discordances and attributed additional annotation tags. Of the 622 discordant BINs, after revision, 35% were successfully solved, which increased the number of NIS detected in metabarcoding datasets from 12 to 16. However, a fair number of BINs remained discordant. Reliability of reference barcode records is particularly critical in the case of NIS, where erroneous identification may trigger action or inaction when not required. Full article
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2022

Jump to: 2024, 2023, 2021

15 pages, 2150 KiB  
Article
ITS DNA Barcoding Reveals That Halophila stipulacea Still Remains the Only Non-Indigenous Seagrass of the Mediterranean Sea
by Catalina A. García-Escudero, Costas S. Tsigenopoulos, Vasilis Gerakaris, Alexandros Tsakogiannis and Eugenia T. Apostolaki
Diversity 2022, 14(2), 76; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14020076 - 22 Jan 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4439
Abstract
Non-indigenous species (NIS) are one of the major threats to the native marine ecosystems of the Mediterranean Sea. Halophila stipulacea was the only exotic seagrass of the Mediterranean until 2018, when small patches of a species morphologically identified as Halophila decipiens were reported [...] Read more.
Non-indigenous species (NIS) are one of the major threats to the native marine ecosystems of the Mediterranean Sea. Halophila stipulacea was the only exotic seagrass of the Mediterranean until 2018, when small patches of a species morphologically identified as Halophila decipiens were reported in Salamina Island, Greece. Given the absence of reproductive structures during the identification and the taxonomic ambiguities known to lead to misidentifications on this genus, we reassessed the identity of this new exotic record using DNA barcoding (rbcL, matK and ITS) and the recently published taxonomic key. Despite their morphologic similarity to H. decipiens based on the new taxonomic key, the specimens showed no nucleotide differences with H. stipulacea specimens (Crete) for the three barcodes and clustered together on the ITS phylogenetic tree. Considering the high species resolution of the ITS region and the common morphological variability within the genus, the unequivocal genetic result suggests that the Halophila population found in Salamina Island most likely corresponds to a morphologically variant H. stipulacea. Our results highlight the importance of applying an integrated taxonomic approach (morphological and molecular) to taxonomically complex genera such as Halophila, in order to avoid overlooking or misreporting species range shifts, which is essential for monitoring NIS introductions. Full article
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2021

Jump to: 2024, 2023, 2022

14 pages, 2586 KiB  
Article
How Do Biological and Functional Diversity Change in Invaded Tropical Marine Rocky Reef Communities?
by Larissa M. Pires-Teixeira, Vinicius Neres-Lima and Joel C. Creed
Diversity 2021, 13(8), 353; https://doi.org/10.3390/d13080353 - 31 Jul 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2858
Abstract
Evidence so far shows that most alien species (AS) have negative impacts on native biodiversity and are changing biodiversity in almost all environments. Here, we study eight rocky shores at four sites containing reefs with invaded communities and other not-invaded (control) communities, to [...] Read more.
Evidence so far shows that most alien species (AS) have negative impacts on native biodiversity and are changing biodiversity in almost all environments. Here, we study eight rocky shores at four sites containing reefs with invaded communities and other not-invaded (control) communities, to evaluate the effects of four marine invasive species on biological and functional diversity. We used the adjustment and selection approach of species abundance distribution models (SAD), taxonomic diversity indices and functional diversity indices based on hierarchical grouping matrices (FD—Functional Diversity). In addition to comparing invaded and not-invaded communities, we also performed the same analysis, but removed the invaders (AS removed) from the matrices. The geometric-series model was best adjusted to the majority of communities. The diversity indices suggest that the taxonomic diversity is lower in invaded communities, while the functional diversity indices suggest a change in the functional space of invaded and not-invaded communities, with a greater amount of functional space filled by species in the not-invaded communities. Taxonomic and functional diversity indices were successful in identifying processes that determine the biological diversity of invaded communities, as they seem to obey a pattern that reflects the reduced diversity of invaded communities. Full article
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