Pseudechidna brummeri: an unexpected discovery in the North-East Atlantic raises concerns

• Published in: Marine Pollution Bulletin
• Main Authors: Parrinha, Joaquim, Seixas, Sónia
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2023
• Subjects: Pseudechidna brummeri; Introduced specie; White ribbon eel; North East Atlantic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.2/15060; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115637

Global changes are currently underway, resulting in the discovery and introduction of new species in unexpected locations. One notable case involves the Indo-Pacific species Pseudechidna brummeri, which was observed and captured on film during a nocturnal dive in Portugal. This situation raises the question: How did this species come to inhabit this area? Two primary explanations appear plausible: a) The species may have been introduced through ship ballast water, a common pathway for the unintentional transport of aquatic organisms. Given the proximity of a large port, this possibility gains significance. b) Alternatively, the species could have originated from a home aquarium, a factor that remains poorly understood. The potential for species to escape or be released from aquariums into natural ecosystems is an area that requires further investigation. Another pertinent question to consider is whether there is only one individual of this species or if there are more individuals present? This study had the support of national funds through Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, I. P (FCT), under the projects UIDB/04292/2020 granted to MARE, and LA/P/0069/2020, granted to the Associate Laboratório ARNET info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion