Abstract
The Pacific brown-banded sea-spider Ammothea hilgendorfi has been introduced to Venice (Mediterranean Sea: 1979–1981) and south England (NE-Atlantic: 1978). From the Channel Coast of south England it has spread to the southern North Sea Coast (Blackwater Estuary, Essex). The present paper reports further dispersal across the North Sea to the Atlantic coast of the European continent.
Highlights
Certain regions appear to be hotspots for marine species introductions as a relatively large proportion of new arrivals is recorded from the same geographic locations
Ammothea hilgendorfi is a sea-spider originally recorded from the Mid- and North Pacific (Bamber 2012)
In the years 1979–1981, it was found in the Lagoon of Venice in the Mediterranean Sea, probably introduced via intercontinental shipping (Krapp and Sconfetti 1983)
Summary
Certain regions appear to be hotspots for marine species introductions as a relatively large proportion of new arrivals is recorded from the same geographic locations. The possible role of survey effort should not be ruled out as an explaining factor, regions that combine intercontinental shipping, recreational shipping, and shellfish trade and culture are prone to receive a high proportion of alien species introductions. This is especially the case if such regions include estuarine areas, because those regions can accommodate marine, brackishwater, and freshwater species. As it is prohibited in The Netherlands to release shellfish from other continents into the environment, the main vector for primary introductions would appear to be intercontinental shipping. Any of the vectors mentioned can be involved in secondary introductions
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