First records of non-indigenous species in port of Arzew (Algeria: southwestern Mediterranean)

Abstract

Maritime transport is considered to be one of the main factors to transfer non-indigenous species (NIS), through biofouling of ships’ hulls and ballast water. Therefore, ports and marinas constitute hot spots for the introduction of species carried by international shipping and therefore are important sites for initiating biological monitoring. In this study, the port of Arzew (Algeria, Southern Mediterranean) was surveyed for the presence of NIS and cryptogenic species. The fouling communities of floating submerged structures and the hull of a fishing vessel were sampled with a scraper blade. After fixing and separating, the organisms were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level. The results revealed the presence of 10 NIS and cryptogenic species, including: 1 Ascidiacea, 2 Bryozoa, 3 Crustacea, 1 Mollusca 1 Porifera, and 2 Polychaeta. Five species are reported for the first time from the Algerian coast. This study contributes to the knowledge of non-native species on the Algerian coast and in the Southern Mediterranean and establishes a baseline dataset for future assessments of NIS in ports of Algeria.

Modeling the risk of introduction of non-native species by biofouling on ships' hulls: case study of Arzew port (Algeria)

“…The implementation of environmental parameters in this study, as well as the shipping routes linking the ecoregions to the port of Arzew, allowed us to analyze on average the capacity of species to resist the stress generated by the voyage and their ability to adapt. The results are in line with Zenetos studies on the Mediterranean Sea (Zenetos et al, 2012), and with observations by (Grimes et al, 2018) and (Bensari et al, 2020) and other reports of introductions into the Mediterranean Sea. At the end of this study, we can suggest the introduction of speci c regulations on the re t of the two categories of ships: OIL/CHEMICAL TANKER and LPG TANKER.…”

Inventory and Geographical Affinities of Algerian Cumacea, Isopoda, Mysida, Lophogastrida and Tanaidacea (Crustacea Peracarida)

“…A significant number of NIS are found on the Algerian coast (106 species) (Bakalem unpublished data), including two Crustaceans Peracarida (Elasmopus pectenicrus and Eocuma sarsii) [4,116]. Recently, Bensari et al [117] identified two new NIS Peracarida: the Tanaidacea Zeuxo coralensis Sieg, 1980 (12 individuals) and the Isopoda Paracerceis sculpta (Holmes, 1904) (419 individuals) in the harbour of Arzew, species observed on the hulls of fishing ship and on a tyre-buoy; these authors attributed an established status to these species.…”