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The invasive Asian benthic foraminifera Trochammina hadai Uchio, 1962: Identification of a new local in Normandy (France) and a discussion on its putative introduction pathways

April 18, 2023

The invasive benthic foraminifera Trochammina hadai has been found for the first time in Europe along the coast of Normandy. Its native range of distribution is in Asia (Japan and Korea), and it has also been introduced along the coasts of western North America, Brazil and Australia. Morphological and molecular assessments confirm that specimens found in Le Havre and Caen-Ouistreham harbors belong to the Asiatic type. Like in Asia, T. hadai was found in transitional waters with muddy sediments. It exhibited high relative abundances (up to about 40%) confirming that T. hadai is a highly competitive species. In the present study, it was nearly absent from natural transitional waters and very abundant in heavily modified habitats like harbors, suggesting that ballast waters may likely be the vector of introduction. It was not recorded farther north along the coast of the Hauts-de-France. It is further hypothesized that the finding of a few specimens outside the harbor may facilitate the expansion of T. hadai in the English Channel by means of propagules dispersion.

Publication Year 2023
Title The invasive Asian benthic foraminifera Trochammina hadai Uchio, 1962: Identification of a new local in Normandy (France) and a discussion on its putative introduction pathways
DOI 10.3391/ai.2023.18.1.103512
Authors Vincent M.P. Bouchet, Jean-Charles Pavard, Maria Holzmann, Mary McGann, Eric Armynot de Chatelet, Apolyne Courleux, Jean-Phillipe Pezy, Jean-Claude Dauvin, Laurent Seuront
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Aquatic Invasions
Index ID 70242844
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
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