Líffræðifélag Íslands - biologia.is
Líffræðiráðstefnan 2019
Erindi/veggspjald / Talk/poster E70
Höfundar / Authors: Alfonso A. Ramos-Esplá (1), Joana Micael (2), Halldor P. Halldorson (3), Sindri Gislason (2)
Starfsvettvangur / Affiliations: 1. Research Marine Centre of Santa Pola (CIMAR), University of Alicante, 03080 Alicante, Spain, 2. Natturustofa Sudvesturlands, 245 Sandgerdi, Iceland, 3 University of Iceland, Sudurnes Research Center, 245 Sandgerdi, Iceland
Kynnir / Presenter: Alfonso A. Ramos-Esplá
Non-indigenous species (NIS) are representing a serious problem worldwide, where ascidians are one of the most important taxa. However, little has been done to document the non-indigenous ascidians from Iceland, and over the past decade, only one species (Ciona intestinalis) has been reported. In order to contribute to the knowledge of this taxon, extensive sampling was carried out in the south and west of Iceland, during summer 2018, in ports and aquaculture facilities. In total eleven species have now been identified, four native and seven NIS, of which Diplosoma listerianum, Ascidiella aspersa and Molgula manhattensis, with Ciona cf. robusta and Botrylloides cf. violaceus, have now been recorded for the first time. The highest concentrations of NIS ascidians appear in the southernmost ports of the study area (Sandgerdi, Grindavik), with commercial and fishing activities, so the most likely vector has been maritime traffic (hull fouling and ballast water). The future expansion of these NIS around the island must be monitored, where recreational shipping plays an important role; without forgetting global warming that may facilitate access to the colder areas (north and east of Iceland), still free of these species.