Abstract
Marine wood-borers of the Limnoriidae cause great destruction to wooden structures exposed in the marine environment. In this study we collated occurrence data obtained from field surveys, spanning over a period of 10 years, and from an extensive literature review. We aimed to determine which wood-boring limnoriid species are established in European coastal waters; to map their past and recent distribution in Europe in order to infer species range extension or contraction; to determine species environmental requirements using climatic envelopes. Of the six species of wood-boring Limnoria previously reported occurring in Europe, only Limnoria lignorum, L. quadripunctata and L. tripunctata are established in European coastal waters. L. carinata and L. tuberculata have uncertain established status, whereas L. borealis is not established in European waters. The species with the widest distribution in Europe is Limnoria lignorum, which is also the most tolerant species to a range of salinities. L. quadripunctata and L. tripunctata appear to be stenohaline. However, the present study shows that both L. quadripunctata and L. tripunctata are more widespread in Europe than previous reports suggested. Both species have been found occurring in Europe since they were described, and their increased distribution is probably the results of a range expansion. On the other hand L. lignorum appears to be retreating poleward with ocean warming. In certain areas (e.g. southern England, and southern Portugal), limnoriids appear to be very abundant and their activity is rivalling that of teredinids. Therefore, it is important to monitor the distribution and destructive activity of these organisms in Europe.
Highlights
The most economically important wood boring Crustacea in European waters belong to the Limnoriidae, isopods commonly known as gribbles
L. carinata has so far only been found in La Spezia and the Gulf of Naples, Italy [27], while L. tuberculata was reported occurring in the Black Sea, Aegean Sea [28,29], and southern England [35]
Of all three wood boring limnoriid species established in European waters, a range extension appears to have occurred in Limnoria quadripunctata and L. tripunctata, whereas occurrence records of L. lignorum (Table S1) seem to indicate a poleward contraction of the species distribution
Summary
The most economically important wood boring Crustacea in European waters belong to the Limnoriidae, isopods commonly known as gribbles. This family includes species that bore into marine algae and seagrasses [1,2]. Wood boring limnoriids evolved two key adaptations to use wood as substrate. The activity of limnoriids damages wooden man-made structures, such as piers, navigational dolphins, lock gates, and aquaculture facilities [6,7]. The costs of the damage inflicted by limnoriids have never been evaluated globally, but we estimate it to be of the order of billions of Euros worldwide
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