Abstract
During a field survey to monitor marine non-indigenous species in several marinas of the Archipelago of Madeira (Portugal), the invasive sabellid polychaete Branchiomma bairdi McIntosh, 1885 was detected for the first time on Madeira Island, reaching densities of 238–516 ind.m -2 . B. bairdi was originally described from the western Atlantic (from Bermuda to Caribbean Sea) but the origin of this species is still unknown. This species has been recorded as an invasive species for the Pacific coast of Panama, Gulf of California, Mediterranean Sea, Canary Islands, and Australia. Hull fouling is the most likely vector for the introduction of the species.
Highlights
Introductions of non-indigenous species (NIS) are common in coastal communities
This study provides the first record for the invasive fouling sabellid B. bairdi for Madeira Island, north-eastern Atlantic Ocean
The macrostylodes were two to three times longer than the microstylodes (Figure 2F) and this feature agrees with that recorded in the Gulf of California and Mediterranean Sea (Tovar-Hernández et al 2009 a; b; Arias et al (2013b); this is an unique character that prevents possible misidentifications with other species within the genus
Summary
The rate of biological invasions has increased significantly in recent years, in great part due to the transport of alien species on vessels hulls (bio-fouling) and/or in ballast waters. This phenomenon represents a great threat to the economic and ecological well-being of coastal marine ecosystems (Ruiz et al 2000; Ruiz et al 2009; CanningClode et al 2013). Branchiomma Kölliker, 1859 is a well-known genus of Sabellidae, with approximately 30 species, that are found in sheltered waters such as harbours, bays, floating docks, buoys, rocks, and on hulls of vessels (Tovar-Hernández and KnightJones 2006; Tovar-Hernández et al 2009a). Most species are circumtropical in distribution (Giangrande and Licciano 2004) and, according to Tovar-Hernández et al (2009a), at least four species are considered as potential invaders worldwide: B. luctuosum (Grube, 1870), B. boholense (Grube, 1878), B. curtum (Ehlers, 1901) and B. bairdi (McIntosh, 1885)
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