Anthropogenic Modifications to Estuaries Facilitate the Invasion of Non-Native Species

Abstract

New observations of non-indigenous species (NIS) in coastal waters, such as the Gulf of Cadiz (Spain) have increased since 1980 and more or less exponentially in the last five years. Ballast water has become the most significant pathway for unintentional introductions of NIS into marine ecosystems. For example, the marine larvae of crustacean decapods that inhabit the water column could be transported in ballast water. Although elevated concentrations of metals are toxic to many marine organisms, some of them have evolved effective detoxification, or avoidance mechanisms making it possible to consider they have a superior ability to withstand exposures to these toxicants. In this text, we try to reinforce the hypothesis that anthropogenic modifications (such as chemical alterations and modified environments) benefit NIS with broad environmental tolerances. Taking these risks into account, a reinforcement of efficient Ballast Water Management Systems to respond to today’s challenging environmental conditions is discussed.

A non-native fish species reaches the south-western European waters: the Atlantic croaker, Micropogonias undulatus (Acanthuriformes, Sciaenidae) and its invasion history in Europe

“…In the Gulf of Cadiz, a significant number of non-native species (NNS) is attributed to the northward expansion range in response to warming conditions ( González-Ortegón et al 2020a , González-Ortegón et al 2020b ). However, it is crucial to acknowledge that the introduction of species through human-mediated means, particularly via vessels, also plays a important role on the local biodiversity changes ( González-Ortegón and Moreno-Andrés 2021 ).…”

“…The recent upsurge in non-native marine and estuarine species introduction on a global scale ( Occhipinti-Ambrogi 2007 ) has been predominantly attributed to human activities (e.g. marine traffic, pollution) and the ongoing global climate changes ( Katsanevakis et al 2014 , González-Ortegón and Moreno-Andrés 2021 ). These intruded non-native species can exert significant influence on ecosystems, either by preying upon and/or competing with native species or by introducing parasites and pathogens that have the potential to jeopardise indigenous environments ( Chalkowski et al 2018 , Cerveira et al 2021 , Ortega-Jiménez et al 2024 ).…”

Niche modelling and molecular phylogenetics unravel the colonisation biology of three species of the freshwater planarian genus Girardia (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida)

“…3). The importance of this variable has been reported also for many other introduced plant and animal species (Johnston et al 2017;González-Ortegón and Moreno-Andrés, 2021;Rickart et al 2011;Salomidi et al 2013;Simkanin et al 2013), including terrestrial planarians ) and is also one of the main factors explaining the distribution of another introduced freshwater planarian, Dugesia sicula (Leria et al 2022). In that respect, it is noteworthy that the factor "tolerance for anthropogenic habitats" played no role in the explanation of the autochthonous distribution of D. subtentaculata in the Iberian Peninsula (Leria et al 2022).…”

Habitat Conditions of the Microbiota in Ballast Water of Ships Entering the Oder Estuary

“…It is estimated that exchanged ballast water is a vector for as much as a third of alien organisms [ 3 , 4 ]. Some of them are invasive [ 5 ] and pose a threat to native organisms and their habitats [ 6 ].…”