IDEA   23902
INSTITUTO DE DIVERSIDAD Y ECOLOGIA ANIMAL
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
Contrasting systematic, biogeography and historical data to define ascidian invasions in the SW Atlantic (Argentine Sea)
Autor/es:
GASTON ALURRALDE ; CLARA GIACHETTI; TAMARA MAGGIONI; EVANGELINA SCHWINDT; MARCOS TATIÁM; NANCY CORREA; CRISTIAN LAGGER ; FABRIZIO SCARABINO; ANABELA TAVERNA ; EMILIA CALCAGNO; DIEGO GIMENEZ; MARCO MELONI; FRANCISCO SYLVESTER
Lugar:
Puerto Madryn
Reunión:
Conferencia; X International Conference on Marine Bioinvasions; 2018
Institución organizadora:
GEAC-CENPAT
Resumen:
The Southwestern Atlantic (SWA) is one of the poorest known regions in terms of biodiversity, in particular in the case of ascidians. This diverse group of animals has long time been considered in bioinvasion studies because of its association with negative ecological as well as economic impacts. Accurate species identification is crucial to detect and clarify invasion processes. Our aim is to permanently enhance the knowledge on species richness along the shelf and continental slope in order to upgrade the following ascidian statuses for the assessed area: native; exotic; cryptogenic (those whose status is still doubtful). We performed field samplings, including coastal and oceanic areas, and evaluated ship fouling communities. We also studied old museum collections and compiled data from specific taxonomic and global literature. The general survey of species reveals at the moment a hundred ascidian species, being 14 of them, species whose status is considered exotic or cryptogenic. From these, two species: Ascidiella aspersa and Styela clava, have been stated to reach ecological impact at the SWA but, their distribution is still limited. The distribution of A. aspersa is probably restricted by low temperatures, while S. clava is a recent introduction. The use of morphological and genetic tools to clarify species identities is the first step in the evaluation of invasion processes. Besides, the study of these processes also helps to better understand the native biodiversity of this wide and not completely know area.