TY - JOUR
T1 - Marine macroinvertebrates fouled in marine anthropogenic litter in the Moroccan Mediterranean
AU - Mghili, Bilal
AU - De-la-Torre, Gabriel Erique
AU - Analla, Mohamed
AU - Aksissou, Mustapha
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank Dr. Rakia Ayari, Dr. Nour Eutamene and Dr. Mohamed Keznine who helped us to identify the collected specimens.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2022/12
Y1 - 2022/12
N2 - The existence of floating marine litter in marine environments enhances the potential for the transport of fouling organisms using these substrates as vectors. In this study, we examined the fouling organisms on different types of litter stranded on two beaches of the Moroccan Mediterranean. The study revealed 13 fouling species belonging to 8 phyla (Arthropoda, Bryozoa, Annelida, Mollusca, Cnidaria, Echinodermata, Chlorophyta, and Ochrophyta) on marine litter. Rafting vectors were almost exclusively made up of plastics and could mainly be attributed to land-based sources. The most common fouling species were the crustacean Lepas pectinata, Lepas anatifera, Perforatus perforatus, and bryozoan species. More taxa were found on large litter than on small litter. Relative substratum coverage was highest for bryozoan sp. (31.0 %), green algae (29.0 %), Lepas anatifera (21.42 %), Lepas pectinata (17.8 %), and Perforatus perforatus (17.46 %). Our results suggest that the growing generation of plastic litter may enhance the probability of the introduction of non-native species into the Moroccan Mediterranean. Therefore, monitoring efforts are needed to identify vectors and the arrival of novel invasive species in this area.
AB - The existence of floating marine litter in marine environments enhances the potential for the transport of fouling organisms using these substrates as vectors. In this study, we examined the fouling organisms on different types of litter stranded on two beaches of the Moroccan Mediterranean. The study revealed 13 fouling species belonging to 8 phyla (Arthropoda, Bryozoa, Annelida, Mollusca, Cnidaria, Echinodermata, Chlorophyta, and Ochrophyta) on marine litter. Rafting vectors were almost exclusively made up of plastics and could mainly be attributed to land-based sources. The most common fouling species were the crustacean Lepas pectinata, Lepas anatifera, Perforatus perforatus, and bryozoan species. More taxa were found on large litter than on small litter. Relative substratum coverage was highest for bryozoan sp. (31.0 %), green algae (29.0 %), Lepas anatifera (21.42 %), Lepas pectinata (17.8 %), and Perforatus perforatus (17.46 %). Our results suggest that the growing generation of plastic litter may enhance the probability of the introduction of non-native species into the Moroccan Mediterranean. Therefore, monitoring efforts are needed to identify vectors and the arrival of novel invasive species in this area.
KW - Fouling biota
KW - Marine debris
KW - Mediterranean Sea
KW - Morocco
KW - Non-indigenous species
KW - Rafting
KW - Vector
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85140806722&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114266
DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114266
M3 - Artículo
AN - SCOPUS:85140806722
SN - 0025-326X
VL - 185
JO - Marine Pollution Bulletin
JF - Marine Pollution Bulletin
M1 - 114266
ER -
