Federica GAZZOLA, FERRARIO J., GROSSO B., QUARONI D., TAMBURINI
M., OCCHIPINTI-AMBROGI A.
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences - University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
E-mail: federica.gazzola01@universitadipavia.it
THE ROLE OF RECREATIONAL BOATING IN SHAPING THE
STRUCTURE OF FOULING COMMUNITIES: COMPARISON
AMONG LIGURIAN MARINAS WITH DIFFERENT BOATING
TRAFFIC
Abstract
Ports are considered important sink and source areas of non-indigenous species (NIS) and the
role of recreational boating in the spread of NIS is well known. The artificial structures of ports
can host rich fouling communities, but the abundance of NIS can be influenced by several
abiotic factors. With this study we aimed to assess if marinas with different levels of boat traffic
host different fouling communities and NIS.
Fouling samples were collected with a hand-held rigid net at three closer marinas in San Remo
area (Liguria, Italy): Porto Sole (a marina with international recreational boat traffic), Porto
Vecchio (a marina for local fishing boats) and Ospedaletti (an incomplete and unused marina).
A total of 85 species (including 2 NIS) were found in the Ospedaletti marina, while 45 species
(8 NIS) and 47 (9 NIS) were observed in Porto Vecchio and Porto Sole, respectively. As
expected, a higher number of native species (including cryptogenic species) was observed in
Ospedaletti, while a higher number of NIS was observed in the two marinas attended by
boaters. The differences in fouling structure among the sites were also highlighted by a one-way
PERMANOVA test; and high dissimilarity values were observed between Ospedaletti - Porto
Vecchio and Ospedaletti - Porto Sole.
A higher number of NIS was observed in the two busier marinas, while only two NIS were
collected in Ospedaletti, underlining the key role of recreational boating in the spreading of
NIS.
Key-words: alien species, maritime traffic, biofouling, ports, Mediterranean Sea.
Introduction
The introduction and spreading of non-indigenous species (NIS) via shipping is a wellknown vector at global level and the monitoring of port habitats is considered an
important measure to early detect new invaders (Olenin et al., 2011; Seebens et al.,
2013). In the Mediterranean Sea, the primary role of recreational boats in introducing
NIS, and not only as secondary spreading vector, has only recently been acknowledged,
raising the urgency for the implementation of possible management strategies (Ferrario
et al., 2017; Ulman et al., 2019a). The role of shipping in influencing NIS establishment
in ports has been poorly studied in the Mediterranean Sea, mostly concerning the
comparison between fouling communities inhabiting commercial ports and marinas
(Ferrario et al., 2017; Tempesti et al., 2020, 2022), as well as the study of the biotic and
abiotic factors favouring NIS introduction in ports (Ulman et al., 2019b). The
assessment of key factors facilitating NIS introduction would help in the identification
of sites at highest risk of invasion, prioritizing their management. In this context, a
preliminary investigation was carried out to assess if the establishment of fouling NIS
2nd Mediterranean Symposium on the Non-Indigenous Species (Genoa, Italy, 22-23 September 2022)
38
M., OCCHIPINTI-AMBROGI A.
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences - University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
E-mail: federica.gazzola01@universitadipavia.it
THE ROLE OF RECREATIONAL BOATING IN SHAPING THE
STRUCTURE OF FOULING COMMUNITIES: COMPARISON
AMONG LIGURIAN MARINAS WITH DIFFERENT BOATING
TRAFFIC
Abstract
Ports are considered important sink and source areas of non-indigenous species (NIS) and the
role of recreational boating in the spread of NIS is well known. The artificial structures of ports
can host rich fouling communities, but the abundance of NIS can be influenced by several
abiotic factors. With this study we aimed to assess if marinas with different levels of boat traffic
host different fouling communities and NIS.
Fouling samples were collected with a hand-held rigid net at three closer marinas in San Remo
area (Liguria, Italy): Porto Sole (a marina with international recreational boat traffic), Porto
Vecchio (a marina for local fishing boats) and Ospedaletti (an incomplete and unused marina).
A total of 85 species (including 2 NIS) were found in the Ospedaletti marina, while 45 species
(8 NIS) and 47 (9 NIS) were observed in Porto Vecchio and Porto Sole, respectively. As
expected, a higher number of native species (including cryptogenic species) was observed in
Ospedaletti, while a higher number of NIS was observed in the two marinas attended by
boaters. The differences in fouling structure among the sites were also highlighted by a one-way
PERMANOVA test; and high dissimilarity values were observed between Ospedaletti - Porto
Vecchio and Ospedaletti - Porto Sole.
A higher number of NIS was observed in the two busier marinas, while only two NIS were
collected in Ospedaletti, underlining the key role of recreational boating in the spreading of
NIS.
Key-words: alien species, maritime traffic, biofouling, ports, Mediterranean Sea.
Introduction
The introduction and spreading of non-indigenous species (NIS) via shipping is a wellknown vector at global level and the monitoring of port habitats is considered an
important measure to early detect new invaders (Olenin et al., 2011; Seebens et al.,
2013). In the Mediterranean Sea, the primary role of recreational boats in introducing
NIS, and not only as secondary spreading vector, has only recently been acknowledged,
raising the urgency for the implementation of possible management strategies (Ferrario
et al., 2017; Ulman et al., 2019a). The role of shipping in influencing NIS establishment
in ports has been poorly studied in the Mediterranean Sea, mostly concerning the
comparison between fouling communities inhabiting commercial ports and marinas
(Ferrario et al., 2017; Tempesti et al., 2020, 2022), as well as the study of the biotic and
abiotic factors favouring NIS introduction in ports (Ulman et al., 2019b). The
assessment of key factors facilitating NIS introduction would help in the identification
of sites at highest risk of invasion, prioritizing their management. In this context, a
preliminary investigation was carried out to assess if the establishment of fouling NIS
2nd Mediterranean Symposium on the Non-Indigenous Species (Genoa, Italy, 22-23 September 2022)
38