Shipping traffic and introduction of non-indigenous organisms : Study case in two Italian harbours
In order to study the role of ballast water in introducing non-indigenous organisms in the Mediterranean Sea, the maritime traffic was analysed in the harbours of Naples and Salerno, which are important commercial ports in southern Italy. The 2001 data concerning the number of ships, the cruises’ length and the source of arrivals, were taken from harbours’ offices logbooks. In both harbours, the Mediterranean traffic was higher compared to the world sea-borne traffic that was mainly coming from North East Atlantic countries. The mean length of travels was of 1 week while the longest voyages were from Australia (3 weeks). A theoretical amount of ballast waters discharged during 1 year was provided by using an European model. A total of 55,738 and 118,339 ton of foreign ballast water are released annually in Naples and Salerno, respectively, to which theoretically correspond the entry of 4,977,403 (Naples) and 10,366,496 (Salerno) phytoplanktonic specimens.
Introduced Marine Algae and Vascular Plants in European Aquatic Environments
Literature compilations for all Europe revealed totally 529 introduced vascular plants (established or occasional) in aquatic environments, 214 being true aquatic or semiaquatic species. Species are listed for all countries and around 75% came from other continents. Totally, 72% occurred in freshwater surroundings, but only 37% in marine-brackish environments, some in both habitats (thus the sum is > 100%). For the aquatic and semiaquatic vascular plants corresponding figures were 95% and 17%. Around 50% are weeds, slightly more among the aquatic and semiaquatic species, and totally 20% have a potential to cause serious problems, of which 65% are aquatic. Of the 113 likely introduced marine macroalgae 27 are invasive. Tentatively, 40 marine microalgae were introductions, nearly 50% bloom-forming and/or toxic. Half of the introduced vascular plants are ornamentals or cultivated, and 43 species used in aquaria, but also occur as rice-field weeds. Other vectors have also been important. Macroalgae have mainly been spread accidentally as epibionts in aquaculture, with ship-fouling also being significant. Ballast is most likely the main vector for microalgae, but also mollusc movements contribute. For some algae and vascular plants different vectors have been involved in different areas. Effects, survival and dispersal strategies, management and utilization are exemplified.
A Critical Survey of the Marine Algae of Southern Australia. I. Chlorophyta
This paper is a survey of all the known marine Chlorophyta of southern Australia, from the south-west corner of Western Australia to about the Victoria- New South Wales border, and including Tasmania. Full references to each species are given, all established synonomy, the type locality of each species and where the type specimen is deposited, and a summary of the known distribution. Critical notes on many species are given also.