Unusual blooming of invasive ctenophore Beroe ovata (Bruguière, 1789) and geographical range expansion based on morphology and molecular analysis

Abstract

The neritic ctenophore Beroe ovata (Bruguière, 1789) is a Beroida species frequently found along the western coast of the Atlantic, from northeastern USA to central Argentina. Here we report the geographical range expansion of Beroe ovata and its blooming from the Arabian Sea. In ctenophore the use of molecular tools to support conventional (morphological) identification offers a new perspective in the field of biogeography. The identification of this species is critical for both monitoring future blooms in the area and gaining a better knowledge of the genus diversity on a global scale. The density of the reported blooming was 189 ± 9 ind. m−3. The reported places for this taxon show that it has a subtropical and tropical affinity.