COLONIZATION OF ARTIFICIAL SUBSTRATES BY EXOTIC ASCIDIANS (TUNICATA, ASCIDIACEA) AT PATAGONIAN HARBORS

TATIÁN, MARCOS; LAGGER, CRISTIAN; SCHWINDT, EVANGELINA

Mar del Plata

Congreso; BIOLIEF 2011 - 2nd World Conference on Biological Invasions and Ecosystem Functioning; 2011

Although the dispersion of many ascidian species is a natural phenomenon on smaller scales, anthropogenic transportation has been the main causes of successful invasions of exotic ascidians species. The presence of ascidians in harbors and the movement of vessels contribute considerably to their transport between countries or continents, wich adults attached to vessel hulls being the most likely vectors.