TITLE:
Marine Species Introduced on the French Channel-Atlantic Coasts: A Review of Main Biological Invasions and Impacts
AUTHORS:
Valérie Stiger-Pouvreau, Gérard Thouzeau
KEYWORDS:
Invasive Species, French Channel-Atlantic Coasts, Halophyte, Macroalgae, Mollusks, Impacts, Remediation
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Ecology,
Vol.5 No.5,
May
29,
2015
ABSTRACT: The impacts of
anthropogenisation modify permanently the distribution patterns of brackish and
marine species. Globalization leads to a rapid increase of the numbers of
introduced species anywhere in the world. Biological invasions often result in
significant losses in the economic value, biological diversity and function of
invaded ecosystems. This review presents the main pathways of introduction of
non-indigenous species and the main benthic taxonomic groups being established
and/or invasive along the French Channel-Atlantic coasts. A focus is put on
main invasive marine species in the intertidal and subtidal zones of Brittany
(France), among macroalgae (Sargassum muticum, Grateloupia
turuturu, Undaria pinnatifida, Codium fragile and Gracilaria vermiculophylla), halophytes (Spartina
alterniflora) and benthic invertebrates (Mollusks: Crepidula fornicata, Crassostrea
gigas and Venerupis philippinarum). The species biology, introduction vectors, reproductive and
dispersal capacities are considered, together with proliferation patterns along
the Channel-Atlantic coasts. The ecological impacts of these species on the
environment are also described, as well as the European regulations existing to
limit alien species introduction and some examples of struggle against the
invaders including eradication trials and biomass valorization. Last, the
on-going impacts of global changes on alien species invasiveness along the Channel-Atlantic
coasts are discussed.