Molecular barcoding confirms the presence of exotic Asian seaweeds ( Pachymeniopsis gargiuliand Grateloupia turuturu) in the Cantabrian Sea, Bay of Biscay

• Published in: PeerJ
• Main Authors: Montes, Marcos, Rico, Jose M., García-Vazquez, Eva, Borrell Pichs, Yaisel J.
• Other Authors: University of Oviedo, Spanish governments, Marine Observatory of Asturias (OMA), Research Group GRUPIN14-093
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: PeerJ 2017
• Subjects: North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3116; https://peerj.com/articles/3116.pdf; https://peerj.com/articles/3116.xml; https://peerj.com/articles/3116.html

Background The introduction of exotic species can have serious consequences for marine ecosystems. On the shores of the Cantabrian Sea (North of Spain) there are no routine examinations of seaweeds that combine molecular and morphological methods for early detection of exotic species making it difficult to assess in the early stages their establishment and expansion processes as a result of anthropogenic activities (e.g., shipping and/or aquaculture). Methods In this work we used both morphological identification and molecular barcoding (COI-5P and rbc L genes) of red algae collected in Asturias, Bay of Biscay (Gijón and Candás harbours) and from the University of Oviedo’s herbarium samples. Results The results confirmed the presence of exotic Asian seaweeds Pachymeniopsis gargiuli and Grateloupia turuturu Yamada on Cantabrian Sea shores. Several individuals of these species were fertile and developing cystocarps when collected, underlining the risk of possible expansion or continued establishment. This study constitutes the first report of the Asian P. gargiuli in this area of the Bay of Biscay. Conclusions Here the presence of the exotic species of the Halymeniales P. gargiuli is confirmed. We hypothesize that this species may have been established some time ago as a cryptic introduction with G. turuturu in Galician shores. The detection of these species on the shores of the Cantabrian Sea is relevant since introductions of Pachymeniopsis species could have been overlooked on other European coasts, probably mixed with G. turuturu and P. lanceolata . Our results confirm one new alien seaweed species that has been detected using molecular methods (COI-5P region and rbc L genes barcoding) on North Atlantic shores: the Asian native P. gargiuli . This demonstrates that routine screening for early detection of exotic algae in the Cantabrian Sea can be used for risk assessment. Genetic barcoding should be done using both rbc L gene and COI-5P regions since, although COI-databases are still poorer in sequences and ...