An outbreak of the invasive macroalgae Rugulopteryx okamurae in Alicante Bay and its colonization on dead Posidonia oceanica matte

• DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2023.103706
• Publication Date: 2023-08-10T15:57:47Z
• Authors: Marc Terradas-Fer...; Carolina Pena-Martín; Miguel Valverde-U...; Alicia Gran; Fabio Blanco-Murillo; Laura Leyva; Eleuterio Abellán...; Esther Beresaluze; Andrés Izquierdo; Yoana del Pilar-Ruso; Javier Aguilar; Yolanda Fernández...
• Keywords: Posidonia oceanica; Biota; Potamogetonaceae

We report the first occurrence of Rugulopteryx okamurae in Alicante Bay, northernmost location Iberian Mediterranean where this species was detected. Collected specimens were studied using a morphological and molecular approach. A rapid assessment survey conducted to assess its presence abundance nearest beach-cast infralittoral areas. The highest found over dead P. oceanica matte, occupying an important extension bay. detached fragments R. dispersed by local hydrodynamics, accumulating on some tourist beaches region. potential suitability for spread necessitates monitoring programs study variation time impacts native biota.