Unintentional dispersal of aquatic invertebrates via footwear and motor vehicles in a Mediterranean wetland area

Abstract

ABSTRACT1. Several human activities, such as actions for nature conservation, research and recreational activities, are closely associated with inland aquatic habitats that are usually considered as isolated island habitats. In this study, the possibility of unintentional dispersal of aquatic invertebrates among water bodies via footwear and motor vehicles was investigated.2. Mud samples collected from boots and from the tyres and wheel cases of cars used for field work by biologists (Camargue, Southern France) were hatched under laboratory conditions and also checked for the presence of unhatched propagules. A large number of organisms hatched and invertebrate propagules from a wide range of taxa were encountered (including Artemia, freshwater large branchiopods, Cladocera, Ostracoda, Rotifera, Turbellaria, Nematoda, etc.). The results also demonstrated that different research groups tend to transport the aquatic invertebrates typical for their respective study systems.3. Human dispersal of aquatic invertebrates has been studied mainly on large continental scales, such as in the case of transoceanic transport via ballast water in ships. This study provides evidence that dispersal via footwear and motor vehicles may result in frequent dispersal of aquatic invertebrates on a local scale, and we presume also occasionally over longer distances. Given the rapid spread of invasive zooplankton species (e.g. Artemia franciscana encountered in this study), we promote caution and recommend cleaning before transport of any equipment which comes in contact with water or aquatic sediment.

Human-mediated dispersal of aquatic invertebrates with waterproof footwear

“…In the present survey, we found higher richness of invertebrate taxa hatching from boots mud (including copepod and notostracan species) than in similar studies (Waterkeyn et al 2010a), although this variation depends on the taxonomical resolution attained in the survey. These authors also found ostracods and cladocerans with high prevalence in waterproof boots.…”

“…Anostraca, Ostracoda, and Cladocera were the groups that hatched in higher proportions of individuals, but the Protozoa (88 %) and Ostracoda (40 %) were the most prevalent in the analyzed samples. Waterkeyn et al (2010a) found all of these groups to be present in the egg bank of water bodies in the study area, and demonstrated that invertebrate propagules were transported by the sediment attached to footwear. This nonstandard vector may be an important mechanism connecting biogeographic islands and affecting metacommunity dynamics.…”

“…A recent approach to the study of human-mediated dispersal by waterproof boots estimated, for the first time, the potential of this mechanism to disperse aquatic invertebrates and the implications for aquatic metacommunities (Waterkeyn et al 2010a). Anostraca, Ostracoda, and Cladocera were the groups that hatched in higher proportions of individuals, but the Protozoa (88 %) and Ostracoda (40 %) were the most prevalent in the analyzed samples.…”

“…This entails the possibility of long-distance dispersal (Waterkeyn et al 2010a) and a potential invasion of alien species in a new territory. In this way, a recent study demonstrated how scientific activities can be a successful source for the dispersal of alien species by footwear; Candona furtosae Teeter 1980, a species only distributed in Florida, hatched in Spain from the sediment accumulated in boots that had been used by participants in an International Biogeography Society meeting (Valls et al 2014a).…”

How do freshwater organisms cross the “dry ocean”? A review on passive dispersal and colonization processes with a special focus on temporary ponds

“…What Old Romans called ''Mare Nostrum'' was crossed by several trade routes and people living on its shores have been sailing across it since at least 5,000 years, founding settlements and actively transporting goods (and drinking water) all around the lands surrounding this sea (Abulafia, 2011). Further to historical reasons, other more recent human activities still contribute to freshwater organisms dispersal: construction of canals connecting separated watersheds (Dumont, 1995), recreational boating (Albrecht et al, 2009;Bruckerhoff et al, 2014), trade in ornamental species for aquaria (Padilla & Williams, 2004;Marrone & Naselli-Flores, 2011;Havel et al, 2014), and ecotourism and/or scientific field-work (Waterkeyn et al, 2010) have been found to be responsible of dispersal and new species (even invasive) introductions. Trading of living fish for sport and professional fishing can be also responsible for the accidental introductions of (micro)organisms and a huge number of nonindigenous species are reported as ''invaders'' in freshwater ecosystems at a high frequency (Ruiz & Carlton, 2003;Havens & Beaver, 2014).…”