Benthic assemblages, biodiversity and invasiveness in marinas and commercial harbours: an investigation using a bioindicator group

Fouling communities on artificial marine structures are generally different from benthic communities in natural rocky habitats. However, they may also differ among different types of artificial structures. Two artificial structures in direct contact with arriving vessels were compared: floating pont...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biofouling (Chur, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2016-04, Vol.32 (4), p.465-475
Main Authors: Megina, Cesar, González-Duarte, Manuel M., López-González, Pablo J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biodiversity
Biological Assay - instrumentation
Biological Assay - methods
Cnidaria
commercial harbours
Communities
Contact
Ecosystem
Eudendrium
Floating structures
habitat barriers
Habitats
Hydrozoa
Hydrozoa - physiology
Industry
Introduced Species
Limnology - methods
Marinas
Marine
Marine Biology - methods
non-indigenous species
Pontoons
Recreational marinas
Rocks
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Summary:Fouling communities on artificial marine structures are generally different from benthic communities in natural rocky habitats. However, they may also differ among different types of artificial structures. Two artificial structures in direct contact with arriving vessels were compared: floating pontoons within recreational marinas, and sea-walls within commercial harbours. Natural rocky habitats were used as a reference, and the genus Eudendrium (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa) was chosen as a bioindicator. The assemblages were different among the three types of habitat studied, with different species characterising each habitat. The probability of finding an invasive Eudendrium species was significantly higher on pontoons. Diversity was the lowest on pontoons, but it was not significantly different between sea-walls and natural rocks. In general, a barrier to the spread of exotic species exists between harbours and natural rocky habitats. Floating pontoons seem to be a less suitable habitat for native fauna and a key element in marine biological invasions.
ISSN:0892-7014
1029-2454
DOI:10.1080/08927014.2016.1151500