The most nothern records of the exotic ascidian Perophora japonica Oka, 1927 (Ascidiacea: Perophoridae) in the north-east Atlantic

• Published in: BioInvasions Records
• Main Authors: Minchin, Dan, Nunn, Julia, Picton, Bernard
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: Tunicate; Ireland; Introduction; Non-indigenous; Range expansion; Marine; Pacific; North East Atlantic
• Online Access: http://ku.oai.elaba.lt/documents/18161453.pdf; http://ku.lvb.lt/KU:ELABAPDB18161453&prefLang=en_US

The northwest Pacific colonial ascidian Perophora japonica Oka, 1927 was first reported from Ireland in 2012 from Carlingford Marina and with increased frequency by 2014. Colonies were found in three additional marine inlets: Strangford Lough in 2012, Mulroy Bay in 2013, and Clew Bay in 2015. Colonies overgrew marine algae and sessile invertebrates attached to floating pontoon units supporting a marina boardwalk, and were also found on the low shore and at depths of 24 m. The species should now be considered established in Ireland. It is unknown how this ascidian arrived, but it is likely to be from elsewhere in Europe either on the hulls of vessels, with commercial oyster movements, or with drifting algae. These are currently the most northern records for the species in the north-east Atlantic, the nearest records to Ireland being from Anglesey on the north coast of Wales.