Dynamics of a biofouling community in finfish aquaculture: a case study from the South Adriatic Sea

Pica, Daniela; Bloecher, Nina; Dell’Anno, Antonio; Bellucci, Alessandra; Pinto, Tommaso; Pola, Lisa; Puce, Stefania

doi:10.1080/08927014.2019.1652817

Cited by 16 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…We found that epibiont abundance, biomass, coverage, and taxonomic richness associated with cultivated S. latissima increased throughout, and beyond, the growing season, which highlights the potential for seaweed farms in this region to provide new habitat for a diverse range of taxa including crustaceans, annelid worms, molluscs, bryozoans, ascidians, hydroids, echinoderms, and epiphytic algae. This demonstrates that even small-scale farms, like Porthallow Bay, may support both biodiversity enhancement and the provision of ecosystem services within the IMTA site, such as biofiltration and nutrient regulation [ 33 , 34 , 35 ] and local fisheries enhancement [ 8 , 12 , 22 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Epibionts such as bryozoans, bivalves, sponges, tunicates, and other algae may however improve water quality and host-plant health through biofiltration and nutrient addition [ 33 , 34 , 35 ], as well as mitigating disease risk [ 36 ]. In integrated macroalgal–shellfish farms, seaweed epibionts and their biofiltration services can enhance primary production through nutrient addition and improved water clarity and light penetration, thus benefitting commercially farmed shellfish and encouraging them to settle [ 21 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Development and Diversity of Epibiont Assemblages on Cultivated Sugar Kelp (Saccharina latissima) in Relation to Farming Schedules and Harvesting Techniques

Corrigan

Brown

Tyler

et al. 2023

Life

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Seaweed farming in Europe is growing and may provide environmental benefits, including habitat provisioning, coastal protection, and bioremediation. Habitat provisioning by seaweed farms remains largely unquantified, with previous research focused primarily on the detrimental effects of epibionts, rather than their roles in ecological functioning and ecosystem service provision. We monitored the development and diversity of epibiont assemblages on cultivated sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) at a farm in Cornwall, southwest UK, and compared the effects of different harvesting techniques on epibiont assemblage structure. Increases in epibiont abundance (PERMANOVA, F4,25 = 100.56, p < 0.001) and diversity (PERMANOVA, F4,25 = 27.25, p < 0.001) were found on cultivated kelps over and beyond the growing season, reaching an average abundance of >6000 individuals per kelp plant with a taxonomic richness of ~9 phyla per kelp by late summer (August). Assemblages were dominated by crustaceans (mainly amphipods), molluscs (principally bivalves) and bryozoans, which provide important ecological roles, despite reducing crop quality. Partial harvesting techniques maintained, or increased, epibiont abundance and diversity beyond the farming season; however, these kelp plants were significantly fouled and would not be commercially viable in most markets. This paper improves understanding of epibiont assemblage development at European kelp farms, which can inform sustainable, ecosystem-based approaches to aquaculture.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development and Diversity of Epibiont Assemblages on Cultivated Sugar Kelp (Saccharina latissima) in Relation to Farming Schedules and Harvesting Techniques

Corrigan

Brown

Tyler

et al. 2023

Life

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“…Hence, our results suggest that, at least for some particular NIS, the presence of sea-cages could promote the secondary spread from the hotspots of introduction (i.e., marinas/ports). Future assessments would need to address the potential role of aquaculture facilities as drivers during the introduced NIS invasion process, similarly to studies performed in other basins [9,88,89].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Non-Indigenous Species on Artificial Coastal Environments: Experimental Comparison between Aquaculture Farms and Recreational Marinas

Png-Gonzalez

Ramalhosa

Gestoso

et al. 2021

JMSE

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Globally, there is growing concern regarding the effects of the increasing anthropogenic pressures in marine communities. Artificial structures such as marinas and aquaculture facilities serve as invasion hotspots; hence, monitoring fouling communities on these structures can be valuable for detecting new invasions. In the current study, 24 settlement PVC plates were deployed for three months to compare the recruitment ability of these two artificial environments along the south coast of the offshore island of Madeira (NE Atlantic). The results showed higher variations in the species richness between regions (SW vs. SE) than between artificial habitats (sea-cages vs. marinas), although the community composition differed. Cnidaria and Bryozoa were the most representative groups in the aquaculture systems, while Bryozoa and Chordata were in the marinas. A sum of 18 NIS was recorded for the study, accounting for between 21.88% and 54.84% of the total number of species in the aquaculture facilities and marinas, respectively. The higher NIS percentage from the marinas was even more explicit in the SE coast, where Cradoscrupocellaria bertholletii, Parasmittina alba, and Botrylloides niger distinctly dominated fouling populations. The results suggest that at least some particular NIS previously reported in the studied marinas successfully colonized sea-cages. Future assessments need to address the potential role of aquaculture facilities as drivers for the secondary spread of NIS. Additionally, two new records are considered for Madeira: Eudendrium capillare and Ericthonius punctatus.

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“…Nevertheless, specific epibionts like bivalves and bryozoans have the potential to positively impact the local marine environment. They can improve water quality through biofiltration and serve as a food source for benthic organisms when they dislodge from the seaweed farm canopy and settle on the ocean floor [16], [17]. In the northeast Atlantic context, studies indicate that cultivated seaweed environments may equal or surpass the biodiversity found in their natural counterparts by offering 'hanging gardens' as an alternative suspended living space for marine organisms [18], [19].…”

Section: Direct Observationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrating environmental and ecological monitoring with seaweed farming

Berger,

Marshall,

Papazova

et al. 2024

Preprint

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We explore the biodiversity impacts of seaweed and shellfish farms in Pembrokeshire, UK, with a focus on using monitoring methods that are affordable and can be integrated into existing seaweed farming operations. Monitoring methods used include Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems (BRUVs), Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) and visual surveys of cultivation lines and natural settlement on farm infrastructure. BRUVs detected 13 motile fauna taxa, influenced mainly by site conditions, while PAM observed distinct patterns in dolphin and porpoise activity that changes between seasons. Visual surveys revealed colonisation of algal, hydroid, and bryozoan species on both the surface and seabed infrastructure, indicating that the farming structures serve as stable substrates for biodiversity accumulation. Apart from the natural settlement on infrastructure, our data does not show a conclusive link between biodiversity and farming due to the highly dynamic environment, small scale of operations, and relatively short monitoring timeframe. Despite these limitations, the data sets a crucial baseline for future studies and showed no negative impacts even as farming activities intensified over the monitoring period. The study aligns with what's feasible for time-constrained farm operators and forms a foundation for routine, integrated environmental and biodiversity monitoring.

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Dynamics of a biofouling community in finfish aquaculture: a case study from the South Adriatic Sea

Cited by 16 publications

References 44 publications

Development and Diversity of Epibiont Assemblages on Cultivated Sugar Kelp (Saccharina latissima) in Relation to Farming Schedules and Harvesting Techniques

Development and Diversity of Epibiont Assemblages on Cultivated Sugar Kelp (Saccharina latissima) in Relation to Farming Schedules and Harvesting Techniques

Non-Indigenous Species on Artificial Coastal Environments: Experimental Comparison between Aquaculture Farms and Recreational Marinas

Integrating environmental and ecological monitoring with seaweed farming

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