Watersiporidae (Bryozoa) in Iberian waters: an update on alien and native species

Oscar Reverter-Gil,Javier Souto

doi:10.1007/s12526-019-01003-4

Oscar Reverter-Gil, Javier Souto

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-019-01003-4

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Journal: Senckenbergiana maritima	Publication Date: Nov 14, 2019
Citations: 11	License type: open-access

Affiliation: University of Santiago de Compostela

Abstract

Species of the genus Watersipora comprise an important invasive fouling group but are difficult to identify up to species level. This problem, in conjunction with the recent re-description of several member species, requires the revision of previous records and newly collected material in order to more precisely determine their actual presence and distribution. Here, we revise the identity and distribution of alien and native species of Watersiporidae in Iberian waters based on newly collected material, historical collections, and bibliographic data. Four species of Watersipora are now known from here. Watersipora cucullata is the only native species, present in the Spanish Mediterranean. Watersipora subatra seems to have been introduced relatively recently in Iberian and European Atlantic waters and has been expanding to other Atlantic localities. Watersipora arcuata was collected for the first time in Europe at the SW Spanish Atlantic coast in 1990 and recently in Mediterranean marinas. Watersipora souleorum is known in Iberian waters from two localities in the Gulf of Cadiz and in Gibraltar. With the recent redescription of the genus Watersipora, W. complanata is no longer a member. A new watersiporid genus, Terwasipora gen. nov., is described for this species. In Iberian waters, T. complanata comb. nov. is considered a native species, frequent and abundant in shallow waters along the Atlantic coast.

Highlights

The bryozoan family Watersiporidae currently includes three genera (Bock and Gordon 2018a)
Taking into account the material we examined and the previous references that can be confirmed, W. subatra has been recorded from the Bay of Biscay from Santander and Gijon in the intertidal, on pontoons, ropes, and buoys; in many localities along the Galician coast from the intertidal to 12 m depth (ReverterGil and Fernández-Pulpeiro 2001, as W. subovoidea; and present work: see material examined and Figs. 2b, c and 3a–c); and in several localities along the southern half of Portugal from the intertidal to 32 m depth (Souto et al 2014 and Reverter-Gil et al 2014, both as W. subtorquata; and present work: see material examined and Fig. 2d)
Watersipora subatra is dispersed as fouling organism on vessels (Mackie et al 2012, as W. subtorquata) and exhibits a high capacity to grow on artificial substrates with anthropogenic disturbance (Viola et al 2018)

Summary

Introduction

The bryozoan family Watersiporidae currently includes three genera (Bock and Gordon 2018a). Some species of Watersipora are important invasive fouling organisms, reported in harbor areas all around the world (Gordon and Mawatari 1992; Mackie et al 2012; Ulman et al 2017). This wide dispersion, together with their simple morphology, lack of valid type material, or accurate descriptions of several species until recently, has produced widespread confusion (Ryland et al 2009; Vieira et al 2014).

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Discussion

Conclusion