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Marine Ecological Assessment Research

The influence of a non-native species on habitat structure and functioning of benthic systems: case study of an introduced lugworm in the Solent.

The pervading opinion with regard to non-native species is that they are having or, will have, a negative impact on both biodiversity and ecosystems to a greater or lesser extent, with the emphasis usually on the former (Davis et al., 2011). Increasingly, this position is being challenged by ecologists (Bonanno, 2016; Davis
 et al., 2011; Hettinger, 2014; Katsanevakis et al., 2014; Pereyra, 2016; Schlaepfer et al., 2011; and, Zwerschke et al., 2016). The question is to what extent, if any, non-native species actually help maintain ecosystem structure and function and thereby, support ecological resilience to future environmental change. The identified presence of a species of lugworm new to UK shores, in conjunction with native lugworm (in particular Arenicola marina) habitat, presents a unique opportunity to study the effect of a benthic non-native ecosystem engineer species on valuable (economically and in conservation terms) UK intertidal habitats.

References

Bonanno, G. (2016). Alien species: to remove or not to remove? That is the question. Environmental Science & Policy, Volume 59, Pages 67–73.

Davis, M.A., Chew, M.K., Hobbs, R.J., Lugo, A.E., Ewel, J.J., Vermeij, G.J., Brown, J.H., Rosenzweig, M.L., Gardener, M.R., Carroll, S.P., Thompson, K., Pickett, S.T., Stromberg, J.C., Del Tredici, P., Suding, K.N., Ehrenfeld, J.G., Grime, J.P., Mascaro, J. and Briggs, J.C. (2011). Don't judge species on their origins. Nature, 474, 153–154. doi: 10.1038/474153a.

Hettinger, N. (2014). Non-native species. In: Ethics, Science, Technology and Engineering: A Global Resource, 2nd Edition. Editor Holbrook, J.B., 271-274, Macmillan Reference USA. ISBN-10: 002866213X.

Katsanevakis, S., Wallentinus, I., Zenetos, A., Leppäkoski, E., Çinar, M.E., Oztürk, B., Grabowski, M., Golani, D. & Cardoso, A.C. (2014). Impacts of marine invasive alien species on ecosystem services and biodiversity: a pan-European review. Aquatic Invasions, 9, 391–423.

Pereyra, P. J. (2016). Revisiting the use of the invasive species concept: An empirical approach. Austral Ecology, doi: 10.1111/aec.12340.

Schlaepfer, M. A., Sax, D. F. and Olden, J. D. (2011). The potential conservation value of non-native species. Conservation Biology, 25: 428–437. doi: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2010.01646.x.

Zwerschke, N., Emmerson, M. C., Roberts, D., and O'Connor, N. E. (2016). Benthic assemblages associated with native and non-native oysters are similar. Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 111, Issues 1–2, Pages 305-310. ISSN 0025-326X.



ResearchGate


#Don'tJudgeSpeciesOnTheirOrigins
2021 will mark the 10 year anniversary of the publication in Nature of an article titled, 'Don't judge species on their origins' (Davis et al., 2011). Perhaps the authors and others are planning to issue a follow-up? If their original paper is anything to go by it will be well worth reading because, as with all science, it's the testing and challenging of established ideas that grows and morphs our understanding.
© Copyright 2017 Peter Barfield, All rights reserved in all media.
Copyright applies for all images, video and texts so please contact me for permission to use.

Website by Ericaceous
  • Home
  • Ecological Assessment
    • Services
    • Research
    • Habitat mapping (Salina)
  • Marine Education
    • Services
    • Publications >
      • Journal of Conchology >
        • Acanthocardia paucicostata
        • Arcuatula senhousia
      • PMNHS >
        • Bearded fireworms
        • By-the-wind-sailor
        • Celtic sea-slug
        • Edible crab
        • Giant worm shell
        • Grey sea-slug
        • Lockdown, lookup
        • Marbled crab
        • Sally lightfoot crab
        • Starlet sea anemone
        • Striped dolphin
      • Natural history notes and observations >
        • A non-native lugworm (Arenicola sp.) in the UK
        • Elysia viridis, the solar-powered sea slug
        • Dog whelk basics
      • Something for the children
    • Aeolian marine species list >
      • Actinia cari
      • Actinia equina
      • Anemonia viridis
      • Condylactis aurantiaca
      • Aiptasia mutabilis
      • Calliactis parasitica
      • Hermodice carunculata
      • Sabella spallanzanii
      • Pachygrapsus marmoratus
      • Palaemon elegans
      • Percnon gibbesi
    • Dolphin Sightings, Aeolian Islands
  • Gallery
    • Licensing content
    • Isle of Wight >
      • Bembridge Ledges
      • Bonchurch Shore
      • White Cliff Bay
    • Montages >
      • Calendar, 2004
      • Calendar, 2006
    • North Cornwall >
      • Crackington Haven
      • Edible crab facts
      • Tregardock Beach >
        • Intertidal fauna and flora
    • Saltmarsh
    • Scotland >
      • Handa Island
      • Port of Tarbet, Sound of Handa
    • Sicily >
      • Santa Marina, Salina
    • Skomer >
      • Benthic fauna
    • Terrestrial species
  • Contact