title: Benthic assemblages, biodiversity and invasiveness in marinas and commercial harbours: an investigation using a bioindicator group.
abstract: Fouling communities on artificial marine structures are generally different from benthic communities in natural rocky habitats. However, they may also differ among different types of artificial structures. Two artificial structures in direct contact with arriving vessels were compared: floating pontoons within recreational marinas, and sea-walls within commercial harbours. Natural rocky habitats were used as a reference, and the genus Eudendrium (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa) was chosen as a bioindicator. The assemblages were different among the three types of habitat studied, with different species characterising each habitat. The probability of finding an invasive Eudendrium species was significantly higher on pontoons. Diversity was the lowest on pontoons, but it was not significantly different between sea-walls and natural rocks. In general, a barrier to the spread of exotic species exists between harbours and natural rocky habitats. Floating pontoons seem to be a less suitable habitat for native fauna and a key element in marine biological invasions.
authors.affiliation: a Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Biología , Universidad de Sevilla , Seville , Spain.
authors.forename: Cesar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Megina
authors.affiliation: b Center for Marine Conservation, Departamento de Ecología , Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile , Santiago , Chile.
authors.forename: Manuel M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: González-Duarte
authors.affiliation: a Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Biología , Universidad de Sevilla , Seville , Spain.
authors.forename: Pablo J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: López-González
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D017753:Ecosystem; D037402:Hydrozoa / Q000502:physiology; D007221:Industry; D058865:Introduced Species; D055994:Limnology / Q000379:methods; D008386:Marine Biology / Q000379:methods
keywords: Eudendrium; Recreational marinas; commercial harbours; habitat barriers; non-indigenous species