Invasion
Invasion Description
1st Records: Argentina/San Blas Bay (Orensanz et al. 2002, 40 32 S; 62 18 W); Schwindt et al. 2020
Geographic Extent
Argentina/San Blas Bay (Orensanz et al. 2002, 40 32 S; 62 18 W); Argentina/Bahia Anegeda (1999, Escapa 2004, 39 50- 40 40S, 62 10 W, apparently settled by recruits from San Blas Bay); Argentina/Bahia Blanca (2010, dos Santos and Fiori 2010, 38º 45´-39º, 30´S; 61º 55´-62º 30´W); Fiori et al. 2016; El Condor/Argentina/Atlantic Ocean, Mendez et al. 2015, (2010, Mendez et al. 2015), 41º03 S, 62 49 W)
Vectors
| Level | Vector |
|---|---|
| Probable | Oyster Intentional |
Regional Impacts
| Ecological Impact | Habitat Change | |
| Oyster beds of M. gigas in Bahia Anagada in Argentina supported higher concentrations of benthic invertebrates than adjacent marsh zones. However, the overall effect of the oyster beds was small, owing to the limited amount of hard substrate for oyster settlement (Escapa 2004; Herbert et al. 2016). Tide pools on the reefs provide a new habitat for a variety of native seaweeds (Croce and Parodi 2012). In surveys at El Condor, settlement of invertebrates in oyster beds did not consistently differ from control plots (36-41 S, Mendez et al. 2015) | ||