We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Flotsam, an overlooked vector of alien dispersal from ports
Summary
Researchers used the bay of Gijon as a case study to examine whether anthropogenic floating litter acts as a dispersal vector for non-indigenous species (NIS), comparing communities on port substrates, nearby rocky beaches, and floating coastal debris. DNA barcoding and morphological identification of 717 organisms revealed 23 NIS including 6 invasive species, with flotsam harboring distinct community profiles dominated by Hexanauplia.
Anthropogenic litter is considered a potential vector for the dispersal of non-indigenous species (NIS) in marine ecosystems. Using the bay of Gijon (Southwestern Bay of Biscay) as a case study, we studied the composition and potential transfer of the communities inhabiting three different environment components: 1) natural and artificial substrates from the international port of Gijon, 2) six proximate rocky beaches and 3) floating litter collected in the adjacent coast. A total of 717 organisms were morphologically identified and DNA barcoded using COI and 18S genes. In total 23 NIS were detected, six of them considered invasive in the area. The taxonomic profiles of the three environment components were significantly different, flotsam containing higher proportions of Hexanauplia and less mollusks, echinoderms and polychaetes than ports and beaches. Contrary to expectations, floating litter showed higher densities of native and exotic species than beaches or port surfaces. This and shared haplotypes between port, flotsam and beaches in some invasive species may indicate that marine litter could represent a new habitat for species to disperse into new areas.