Flotsam, an overlooked vector of alien dispersal from ports

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2022.107879
• Publication Date: 2022-04-29T15:57:52Z
• Authors: Sara Fernandez; Aitor Ibabe; Fernando Rayon-Viña; Alba Ardura; Marlene Bartolomé; Yaisel J. Borrell; Eduardo Dopico; Mónica Gonzalez; Laura Miralles; Horacio Montes; Trinidad Pérez; Noemi Rodriguez; Eva Garcia-Vazquez
• Keywords: Marine debris; Litter; Marine ecosystem

Anthropogenic litter is considered a potential vector for the dispersal of non-indigenous species (NIS) in marine ecosystems. Using bay Gijon (Southwestern Bay Biscay) as case study, we studied composition and transfer communities inhabiting three different environment components: 1) natural artificial substrates from international port Gijon, 2) six proximate rocky beaches 3) floating collected adjacent coast. A total 717 organisms were morphologically identified DNA barcoded using COI 18S genes. In 23 NIS detected, them invasive area. The taxonomic profiles components significantly different, flotsam containing higher proportions Hexanauplia less mollusks, echinoderms polychaetes than ports beaches. Contrary to expectations, showed densities native exotic or surfaces. This shared haplotypes between port, some may indicate that could represent new habitat disperse into areas.