Lucia FORESTO, OCCHIPINTI-AMBROGI A., MOHAMED G., ROTA A.,
TAMBURINI M., FERRARIO J.
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy.
E-mail: lucia.foresto01@universitadipavia.it
COMPARISON AMONG METHODS FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF
NON-INDIGENOUS SPECIES IN FOULING COMMUNITIES
Abstract
Ports are considered hotspot areas for the introduction of non-indigenous species (NIS) and
their continuous monitoring is essential to promptly detect new arrivals. Unfortunately, there is
still a lack of coordination among countries for the application of a common protocol to assess
NIS presence. In 2018, a standardized method developed by the Smithsonian Institute (SERC,
USA) was applied for the first time in the Mediterranean Sea (Gulf of La Spezia, Italy) and
some efficiency in detecting NIS was observed. Currently, no specific studies have been
conducted to select the “best” method for monitoring NIS in fouling communities. In this
context, three different methods were tested in summer 2021, in a marina of the Ligurian
region. Fouling communities were collected: i) on horizontal PVC panels (SERC protocol); ii)
vertical panels; iii) by scraping a quadrat on vertical substrata in snorkelling. A total of 58
sessile taxa was identified, including 9 NIS. A one-way PERMANOVA test showed that samples
collected by the different methods were significantly different, confirming some variability in
species detection. In particular, 40 species were identified using the SERC protocol (including 9
NIS), 34 on vertical panels (7 NIS) and 29 in snorkelling (5 NIS).
Similar to previous studies carried out in the USA, the SERC protocol seems to be the most
effective method to detect NIS, as well as the entire fouling community, but it has to be
highlighted that snorkelling allowed to collect additional taxa not observed on the panels, and
to obtain a more detailed description of the community. Additional tests in other localities
would be recommended to confirm these preliminary results and promote the use of the SERC
method in port monitoring.
Key-words: Alien species, sampling methods, Mediterranean Sea, fouling communities, ports
Introduction
The Mediterranean Sea is considered the most invaded sea in the world, with high
establishment rates of non-indigenous species (NIS; Galil et al., 2018) and high
propagule pressure, partially due to intense commercial shipping and recreational
boating activities (Seebens et al., 2013; Ulman et al., 2019). Thus, the monitoring of
high-risk areas for NIS introduction is highly recommended for the detection of these
species, but a common approach among European countries has not been agreed yet.
This study aims to compare different methods suggested for baseline port monitoring, in
order to identify their advantages and limitations and suggest the most effective one for
NIS detection. In particular, we focussed on sessile macrofauna.
Materials and methods
This study was carried out in summer 2021 in the “Marina del Fezzano”, a marina
located in the Gulf of La Spezia (Italy, Western Mediterranean Sea) and hosting 250
berths for boats up to 25 m. Three different methods were compared: i) horizontal PVC
fouling panels (as in the protocol developed by SERC – Smithsonian Environmental
2nd Mediterranean Symposium on the Non-Indigenous Species (Genoa, Italy, 22-23 September 2022)
93
TAMBURINI M., FERRARIO J.
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy.
E-mail: lucia.foresto01@universitadipavia.it
COMPARISON AMONG METHODS FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF
NON-INDIGENOUS SPECIES IN FOULING COMMUNITIES
Abstract
Ports are considered hotspot areas for the introduction of non-indigenous species (NIS) and
their continuous monitoring is essential to promptly detect new arrivals. Unfortunately, there is
still a lack of coordination among countries for the application of a common protocol to assess
NIS presence. In 2018, a standardized method developed by the Smithsonian Institute (SERC,
USA) was applied for the first time in the Mediterranean Sea (Gulf of La Spezia, Italy) and
some efficiency in detecting NIS was observed. Currently, no specific studies have been
conducted to select the “best” method for monitoring NIS in fouling communities. In this
context, three different methods were tested in summer 2021, in a marina of the Ligurian
region. Fouling communities were collected: i) on horizontal PVC panels (SERC protocol); ii)
vertical panels; iii) by scraping a quadrat on vertical substrata in snorkelling. A total of 58
sessile taxa was identified, including 9 NIS. A one-way PERMANOVA test showed that samples
collected by the different methods were significantly different, confirming some variability in
species detection. In particular, 40 species were identified using the SERC protocol (including 9
NIS), 34 on vertical panels (7 NIS) and 29 in snorkelling (5 NIS).
Similar to previous studies carried out in the USA, the SERC protocol seems to be the most
effective method to detect NIS, as well as the entire fouling community, but it has to be
highlighted that snorkelling allowed to collect additional taxa not observed on the panels, and
to obtain a more detailed description of the community. Additional tests in other localities
would be recommended to confirm these preliminary results and promote the use of the SERC
method in port monitoring.
Key-words: Alien species, sampling methods, Mediterranean Sea, fouling communities, ports
Introduction
The Mediterranean Sea is considered the most invaded sea in the world, with high
establishment rates of non-indigenous species (NIS; Galil et al., 2018) and high
propagule pressure, partially due to intense commercial shipping and recreational
boating activities (Seebens et al., 2013; Ulman et al., 2019). Thus, the monitoring of
high-risk areas for NIS introduction is highly recommended for the detection of these
species, but a common approach among European countries has not been agreed yet.
This study aims to compare different methods suggested for baseline port monitoring, in
order to identify their advantages and limitations and suggest the most effective one for
NIS detection. In particular, we focussed on sessile macrofauna.
Materials and methods
This study was carried out in summer 2021 in the “Marina del Fezzano”, a marina
located in the Gulf of La Spezia (Italy, Western Mediterranean Sea) and hosting 250
berths for boats up to 25 m. Three different methods were compared: i) horizontal PVC
fouling panels (as in the protocol developed by SERC – Smithsonian Environmental
2nd Mediterranean Symposium on the Non-Indigenous Species (Genoa, Italy, 22-23 September 2022)
93