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AquaNISInformation system on aquatic non-indigenous and cryptogenic species |
Public domain: Introduction event account
| Species | Gracilaria vermiculophylla | |
| Date of the first record (?) | 2012 References (not structured): Minchin D, Nunn J (2013) Rapid assessment of marinas for invasive alien species in Northern Ireland. A report undertaken for the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Belfast. 96pp. Comments: First recorded in July 2012 by C. Beer. |
| Recipient region (?) | Country: Ireland LME: 24. Celtic-Biscay Shelf LME sub-region: Celtic seas References (not structured): Minchin D, Nunn J (2013) Rapid assessment of marinas for invasive alien species in Northern Ireland. A report undertaken for the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Belfast. 96pp. Comments: Found in Dundrum Bay in great numbers on the mid-shore found in entangled mats and hummocks over sandy mud and gravel. Also found in Carlingford Lough on the north and south shores near the entrance to the Lough in August 2012. |
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| Source region (?) | Unknown Comments: Source region is unknown but has been predicted to spread rapidly. May occur in Britain without being recognised. |
| Pathway / Vector (?) | Unknown References: Bermejo, R., MacMonagail, M., Heesch, S., Mendes, A., Edwards, M., Fenton, O., ... & Morrison, L. (2020). The arrival of a red invasive seaweed to a nutrient over-enriched estuary increases the spatial extent of macroalgal blooms. Marine Environmental Research, 158, 104944. References (not structured): Thompson MS, Staehr PA, Nyberg CD, Schwaerter S, Krause-Jensen D, Silliman BR (2007) Gracilaria vermiculophylla (Ohmi) Papenfuss, 1967 (Rhodophyta, Gracilariaceae) in northern Europe, with emphasis on Danish conditions, and what to expect in the future. Aquatic Invasions 2(2): 83-94. Comments: Almost certainly arrived either as natural surface drift or as a result of entanglement on vessel hulls or perhaps with movements of oysters. How it arrived in Europe remains unknown but vessels and culture activities have been suggested as routes of entry. In France it has been found close to oyster farms. As this red alga can survive under harsh environmental conditions and possesses a high vegetative dispersal potential, it can be easily transported from one estuary to another entangled in fishing nets, boat anchors, by migrating birds or by coastal currents as drift material |
| Habitat type (?) | Estuary Sheltered coastal area References: Bermejo, R., MacMonagail, M., Heesch, S., Mendes, A., Edwards, M., Fenton, O., ... & Morrison, L. (2020). The arrival of a red invasive seaweed to a nutrient over-enriched estuary increases the spatial extent of macroalgal blooms. Marine Environmental Research, 158, 104944. References (not structured): Minchin D, Nunn J (2013) Rapid assessment of marinas for invasive alien species in Northern Ireland. A report undertaken for the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Belfast. 96pp. Nyberg CD, Wallentinus I (2009) Long-term survival of an introduced red alga in adverse conditions. Marine Biology Research. 5(3). 2009. 304-308. Comments: Occurs in sheltered areas of bays with low gradient shores and capable of withstanding harsh conditions. This alga acts as a habitat-forming species in areas previously devoid of vegetation for some organisms, thereby increasing habitat complexity, enhancing epibenthic diversity and altering environmental conditions. In rocky intertidal habitats, seaweed attachment combined with critical physical factors, such as emersion time and wave exposure, results in clear zonation patterns. In mudflats, the lower slope, reduced wave exposure and weaker attachment of macrophytes to the substrate result in less evident and less consistent zonation patterns. This species occupies mudflats, which are protected by the European Habitat Directive. |
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| Wave exposure (?) | Sheltered References (not structured): Minchin D, Nunn J (2013) Rapid assessment of marinas for invasive alien species in Northern Ireland. A report undertaken for the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Belfast. 96pp. Comments: Only seen on low gradient sandy-mud and gravel shores that are sheltered. |
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| Salinity range (?) | Venice system: 5. α-Mesohaline [10-18psu] 6. Polymixohaline [18-30psu] References: Bermejo, R., MacMonagail, M., Heesch, S., Mendes, A., Edwards, M., Fenton, O., ... & Morrison, L. (2020). The arrival of a red invasive seaweed to a nutrient over-enriched estuary increases the spatial extent of macroalgal blooms. Marine Environmental Research, 158, 104944. References (not structured): Rueness J (2005) Life history and molecular sequences of Gracilaria vermiculophylla (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta), a new introduction to European waters. Phycologia 44(1): 120-128. Comments: According to Rueness (2005) the species has an optimal growth at 10psu. This could account for its occurrence on the mid and higher shore regions in the sites studied. This species is considered a euryhaline species, performing best under mesohaline conditions (optimal salinity between 10 and 20) |
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| Temperature range (?) | Unknown References: Bermejo, R., MacMonagail, M., Heesch, S., Mendes, A., Edwards, M., Fenton, O., ... & Morrison, L. (2020). The arrival of a red invasive seaweed to a nutrient over-enriched estuary increases the spatial extent of macroalgal blooms. Marine Environmental Research, 158, 104944. Comments: Maximum and minimum air temperatures were highest in June and August as expected for a temperate estuary in the Northern Hemisphere. The maximum air temperature during the week before the sampling varied from 12.3 0C (April 2017) to 26.0 (June 2017), and the minimum air temperature from 2.0 0C (April 2017) to 12.6 (August 2016) |
| Zonation / Substratum (?) | Benthic: Littoral (Benthic) Substratum: Soft (mud to pebbles) References (not structured): Minchin D, Nunn J (2013) Rapid assessment of marinas for invasive alien species in Northern Ireland. A report undertaken for the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Belfast. 96pp. Comments: Both attached and free plants were widely distributed on the shores and some carried to the high tide drift. |
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| Reproductive duration (?) | Not entered | |
| Reproductive seasonality (?) | Not entered | |
| Migration pattern (?) | Not entered |
| Population status (?) | Very abundant (Moderate level of certainty) References: Bermejo, R., MacMonagail, M., Heesch, S., Mendes, A., Edwards, M., Fenton, O., ... & Morrison, L. (2020). The arrival of a red invasive seaweed to a nutrient over-enriched estuary increases the spatial extent of macroalgal blooms. Marine Environmental Research, 158, 104944. References (not structured): Minchin D, Nunn J (2013) Rapid assessment of marinas for invasive alien species in Northern Ireland. A report undertaken for the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Belfast. 96pp. Comments: Abundance varies in Dundrum Bay it is very abundant on the mid-shore locally where it is the dominant alga. In Carlingford Lough it is common often found in shallow shore puddles. There are accounts of it being more widespread in Ireland but these have not been published. This species can bloom in areas previously devoid of native macrophytes, reaching high biomass densities that can lead to the occurrence of summer anoxic events; the future predicted temperatures for Ireland may enhance the growth of A. vermiculophyllum in Irish estuaries |
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| Species status (?) | Non-indigenous species References: Bermejo, R., MacMonagail, M., Heesch, S., Mendes, A., Edwards, M., Fenton, O., ... & Morrison, L. (2020). The arrival of a red invasive seaweed to a nutrient over-enriched estuary increases the spatial extent of macroalgal blooms. Marine Environmental Research, 158, 104944. References (not structured): Jan Rueness (2005) Life history and molecular sequences of Gracilaria vermiculophylla(Gracilariales, Rhodophyta), a new introduction to European waters. Phycologia: February 2005, Vol. 44, No. 1, pp. 120-128. Rueness J (2005) Life history and molecular sequences of Gracilaria vermiculophylla (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta), a new introduction to European waters. Phycologia 44(1): 120-128. Nyberg CD (2006) Attributes of non-indigenous seaweeds with special emphasis on Gracilaria vermiculophylla. Licenciate thesis, Göteborg University. Comments: The species was originally described from Japan. Now more widely distributed occurring on the Pacific coast of North America and American east coast. The species is often abundant in the shallow sheltered regions it has invaded since its first record in Europe in 2002 from the Wadden Sea. The addition of this species to Irish flora in a global change context could be considered a threat for biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, rather than an opportunity for the recovery of ecosystem functioning. |
| Created by | Dan Minchin, 2013-10-18 |
| Last update by | Dan Minchin, 2022-04-20 |