Occurrence of the invasive brown seaweed Rugulopteryx okamurae (E.Y.Dawson) I.K.Hwang, W.J.Lee & H.S.Kim (Dictyotales, Phaeophyta) in Morocco (Mediterranean Sea)

Occurrence of the invasive brown seaweed Rugulopteryx okamurae (E.Y.Dawson) I.K.Hwang, W.J.Lee & H.S.Kim (Dictyotales, Phaeophyta) in Morocco (Mediterranean Sea)

Rugulopteryx okamurae, a brown alga native to the temperate western Pacific Ocean, was discovered for the first time in the Mediterranean Sea in 2002, in the Thau Lagoon (France). A new population of R. okamurae was discovered in Belyounech Beach with the observation of some specimens fixed near the harbour of Tanger (Strait of Gibraltar-Morocco). As well, the remarkable record of this alga stranded in M’diq beach (Alboran Sea-Morocco). Since its introduction R. okamurae has established in the Thau Lagoon (France), self-sustaining populations without displaying an invasive behaviour. Contrary, the newly discovered population in Morocco would classify as invasive. This new record gives the range extension, of this invasive alga, from the southwest of Alboran Sea to the southwestern limit of Gibraltar. The presence of this invasive seaweed in the area may affect negatively the native alga, seagrass and native fauna including fish community.

___

  • Agatsuma, Y., Kuwahara, Y., Taniguchi, K. (2005). Life cycle of Dilophus okamurae (Phaeophyceae) and its associated invertebrate fauna in Onagawa Bay, Japan. Fisheries Science 71: 1107–1114.
  • Altamirano, M. J., de la Rosa, J., Martínez, F.J.G., Muñoz, A. R. G. (2017). Prolifera en el Estrecho un alga nunca citada en nuestro litoral de origen asiático, "Rugulopteryx okamurae" ocupa ya una gran extensión. Quercus, no. 374, pp. 32-33.
  • Bax, N., Williamson, A., Aguero, M., Gonzalez, E., Geeves, W. (2003). Marine invasive alien species: a threat to global biodiversity. Marine Policy 27: 313–323.
  • Carlton, J. T. (2000). Global change and biological invasions in the oceans. In Invasive Species in a Changing World (eds Mooney, H. A. and Hobbs, R. J.), Island Press, Washington DC, USA, pp. 31–53.
  • De Clerck, O., Leliaert, F., Verbruggen, H., Lane, C. E., De Paula, J. C., Payo, D. I., Coppejans, E. (2006). A revised classification of the Dictyoteae (Dictyotales, Phaeophyceae) based on rbcL and 26S ribosomal DNA sequence data analyses. Journal of Phycology 42: 1271–1288.
  • Hwang, I. K., Lee, W. J., Kim, H. S., De Clerck, O. (2009). Taxonomic reappraisal of Dilophus okamurae (Dictyotales, Phaeophyta) from the western Pacific Ocean. Phycologia 48:1–12.
  • IUCN. (2009). Marine Menace. Alien invasive species in the marine environment. IUCN Global Marine Programme. Gland, Switzerland, 30 pp.
  • Kalnay, E., Kanamitsu, M., Kistler, R., Collins, W., Deaven, D., Gandin, L., Iredell, M., Saha, S., Whit,e G., Woollen, J., Zhu Y., Leetmaa, A., Reynolds, R., Chelliah, M., Ebisuzaki, W., Higgins, W., Janowiak, J., Mo K. C., Ropelewski, C., Wan J, Jenne, R., Dennis, J. (1996). The NCEP/NCAR 40-year reanalysis project. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 77, 437e470.
  • Jones, E., Thornber, C. S. (2010). Effects of habitat-modifying invasive macroalgae on epiphytic algal communities. Marine Ecology Progress Series 400: 87–100.
  • Molnar, J. L., Gamboa, R. L., Revenga, C., Spalding, M. D. (2008). Assessing the global threat of invasive species to marine biodiversity. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 6 (9): 485-492.
  • Monplamar. (2017). http://www.monplamar.com/la-alga-invasora-que-amenaza-los-fondos-marinos-de-tarifa/
  • Rilov, G., Crooks, J. A. (2009). Marine bioinvasions: conservation hazards and vehicles for ecological understanding, Chapter 1. In: (G. Rilov and J.A. Crooks, eds.) Biological invasions in marine ecosystems. Ecological studies 204. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, pp. 3–11.
  • Tokuda, H., Kawashima S., Ohno M., Ogawa, H. (1994). Seaweeds of Japan. Midori Shobo Co, Tokyo. 194 pp.
  • UNEP/ /MAP. (2015). Twelfth Meeting of Focal Points for Specially Protected Areas. United Nations Environment Programme Mediterranean Action plan, 9 pp.
  • Verlaque, M., Steen, F., De Clerck, O. (2009). Rugulopteryx (Dictyotales, Phaeophyceae), a genus recently introduced to the Mediterranean. Phycologia 48 (6) 536-54.
  • Womersley, H. B. S. (1987). The marine benthic flora of southern Australia. Part II. South Australian Government Printing Division 1-484.