Invasion
Invasion Description
1st Record: Portugal/Ria de Aveiro lagoon (1985, Abreu et al. 2011, 40 38 N, 8 43 W, 'previously referred to as Gracilaria verrucosa (Silva, 1985; Silva et al., 2004) or G. bursa-pastoris(Matos et al., 2006; Araujo et al., 2009', cited by Abreu et al. 2011)
Geographic Extent
Bahia de A Coruna/Spain/Bay of Biscay (2003, Rueness 2005); Faro/Portugal/Rio Formosa (2004, Rueness 2005); Portugal/Ria de Aveiro lagoon (1985, Abreu et al. 2011; 2003, Cacobelos et al. 2012; Chainho et al. 2015);
Vectors
| Level | Vector |
|---|---|
| Alternate | Oyster Accidental |
| Alternate | Fisheries Accidental (not Oyster) |
| Alternate | Hull Fouling |
| Alternate | Ballast Water |
Regional Impacts
| Ecological Impact | Competition | |
| In the Ria de Aveiro, Portugal, masses of Agarophyton vermiculophyllum have overgrown and smothered the native intertidal seagrass Zostera noltei (= Nanozostera noltii), depriving the seagrass of light and reducing growth rates (Cacobelos et al. 2012). | ||
| Ecological Impact | Food/Prey | |
| In the Ria de Aveiro, Portugal, overall replacement of Zostera noltei increases productivity of intertidal ecosystems, but reduces photosynthetic efficiency (Cacabelos et al. 2012). | ||
| Ecological Impact | Habitat Change | |
| In the Ria de Aveiro, Portugal, masses of Agarophyton vermiculophyllum have overgrown and smothered the native intertidal seagrass Zostera noltei (= Nanozostera noltii), depriving the seagrass of light and reducing growth rates. Agarophyton vermiculophyllum appears to be one of many factors contributing the decline of seagrass communities (Cacobelos et al. 2012). | ||