On the Presence and Ubiquity of the Exotic <i>Batophora</i> (J. Agardh) in the Mar Menor Lagoon (SE Spain)
We first report the presence of a species of the genus <i>Batophora</i> in the Iberian Peninsula, in the Mar Menor lagoon (Murcia, SE Spain). We detected this macroalga in November 2021. However, according to some observations, it could have been present in the lagoon at least since 2016...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/18/2909 |
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| author | Marc Terradas-Fernández Miguel Valverde-Urrea Federico López-Moya Yolanda Fernández-Torquemada |
| author_facet | Marc Terradas-Fernández Miguel Valverde-Urrea Federico López-Moya Yolanda Fernández-Torquemada |
| author_sort | Marc Terradas-Fernández |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We first report the presence of a species of the genus <i>Batophora</i> in the Iberian Peninsula, in the Mar Menor lagoon (Murcia, SE Spain). We detected this macroalga in November 2021. However, according to some observations, it could have been present in the lagoon at least since 2016, being described as a “rare” form of <i>Dasycladus vermicularis</i>. A further survey made during May 2022 confirmed the presence of this species in much of the perimeter of the Mar Menor. Morphologic analyses are not conclusive regarding the species description, but most traits point to <i>Batophora occidentalis</i> or <i>Batophora occidentalis</i> var. <i>largoensis</i>. A consensus sequence from the rbcL barcode gene was compared by the Blastn tool showing its closeness to other <i>Batophora</i> specimens, yet the specific level was unresolved. The recent confirmation of a <i>Batophora</i> species in a littoral lagoon from Formentera (Balearic Islands) with similar morphologic characteristics could indicate that both putative introductions are connected. Further morphologic and genetic analyses are required in order to know the origin and expansion of this genus along the Mediterranean coasts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:11:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ec310a0d0f0c485fa25b199b3def026e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:11:50Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-ec310a0d0f0c485fa25b199b3def026e2023-11-23T19:32:06ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412022-09-011418290910.3390/w14182909On the Presence and Ubiquity of the Exotic <i>Batophora</i> (J. Agardh) in the Mar Menor Lagoon (SE Spain)Marc Terradas-Fernández0Miguel Valverde-Urrea1Federico López-Moya2Yolanda Fernández-Torquemada3Department of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, 03080 Alicante, SpainDepartment of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, 03080 Alicante, SpainDepartment of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, 03080 Alicante, SpainDepartment of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, 03080 Alicante, SpainWe first report the presence of a species of the genus <i>Batophora</i> in the Iberian Peninsula, in the Mar Menor lagoon (Murcia, SE Spain). We detected this macroalga in November 2021. However, according to some observations, it could have been present in the lagoon at least since 2016, being described as a “rare” form of <i>Dasycladus vermicularis</i>. A further survey made during May 2022 confirmed the presence of this species in much of the perimeter of the Mar Menor. Morphologic analyses are not conclusive regarding the species description, but most traits point to <i>Batophora occidentalis</i> or <i>Batophora occidentalis</i> var. <i>largoensis</i>. A consensus sequence from the rbcL barcode gene was compared by the Blastn tool showing its closeness to other <i>Batophora</i> specimens, yet the specific level was unresolved. The recent confirmation of a <i>Batophora</i> species in a littoral lagoon from Formentera (Balearic Islands) with similar morphologic characteristics could indicate that both putative introductions are connected. Further morphologic and genetic analyses are required in order to know the origin and expansion of this genus along the Mediterranean coasts.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/18/2909alien speciesMediterranean SeaIberian PeninsulaalgaerbcL barcodeglobal change |
| spellingShingle | Marc Terradas-Fernández Miguel Valverde-Urrea Federico López-Moya Yolanda Fernández-Torquemada On the Presence and Ubiquity of the Exotic <i>Batophora</i> (J. Agardh) in the Mar Menor Lagoon (SE Spain) Water alien species Mediterranean Sea Iberian Peninsula algae rbcL barcode global change |
| title | On the Presence and Ubiquity of the Exotic <i>Batophora</i> (J. Agardh) in the Mar Menor Lagoon (SE Spain) |
| title_full | On the Presence and Ubiquity of the Exotic <i>Batophora</i> (J. Agardh) in the Mar Menor Lagoon (SE Spain) |
| title_fullStr | On the Presence and Ubiquity of the Exotic <i>Batophora</i> (J. Agardh) in the Mar Menor Lagoon (SE Spain) |
| title_full_unstemmed | On the Presence and Ubiquity of the Exotic <i>Batophora</i> (J. Agardh) in the Mar Menor Lagoon (SE Spain) |
| title_short | On the Presence and Ubiquity of the Exotic <i>Batophora</i> (J. Agardh) in the Mar Menor Lagoon (SE Spain) |
| title_sort | on the presence and ubiquity of the exotic i batophora i j agardh in the mar menor lagoon se spain |
| topic | alien species Mediterranean Sea Iberian Peninsula algae rbcL barcode global change |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/18/2909 |
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