Bibliographic Detail
Gittenberger, A., Rensing, M., Stegenga, H. & Hoeksema, B., 2010
Reference:
Gittenberger, A., Rensing, M., Stegenga, H. & Hoeksema, B. (2010). Native and non-native species of hard substrata in the Dutch Wadden Sea. Nederlandse faunistische Mededelingen No. 33: 21-75.
Abstract:
In the summer of 2009 a rapid assessment was done of marine algae and macrofauna
of hard substrata in the Dutch Wadden Sea. During a three week survey in July-
August, 83 localities were searched for native and non-native species. The survey was
carried out with a variety of methods: snorkeling, using a Remotely Operated Vehicle
(rov), checking fouling plates, and turning over rocks at low tide. The distributions
and salinitiy ranges were recorded for 129 species, 29 of which were cryptogenic or of
non-native origin. In addition, an inventory was made of published and unpublished
records. Eleven species and one subspecies were found to be new to the Dutch
Wadden Sea. One red alga (Ceramiaceae sp.) is probably a new species to Europe.
The sea-squirt Molgula socialis is recorded as new for the Netherlands. It is probably
widespread, may even be native and misidentified in the past as the non-native
American species M. manhattensis. The total number of non-native species in the
Dutch Wadden Sea has been raised to 64. The relatively high number of species that
was recorded as new for the area within only three weeks of fieldwork, may be at least
partly a consequence of the fact that the ongoing biodiversity research in this unesco
World Heritage Site is not focusing on hard substrata. However, it is also possible that
several species have settled relatively recently.