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Non-native marine species thrive in artificial habitats. The expansion of coastal infrastructure
has raised concerns that the increase in artificial habitats could promote the spread of non-native species overall and into natural ecosystems. In the Santa Barbara Channel (SBC) in California, USA, the non-native bryozoan species Watersipora subatra (Ortmann, 1890) has so far only been found in ports and on offshore oil platforms.
To assess the distribution and dispersal potential of W. subatra between coastal infrastructure
and natural habitat in the SBC, we surveyed 61 open coastal sites,
including natural and artificial habitats, and evaluated the potential dispersal ability of W. subatra larvae from ports and oil platforms to natural reefs
based on survey results and three-dimensional biophysical models.
We found that these bryozoans have invaded natural reefs in the region. W. subatra was present on approximately 50% of oil platforms and reef sites on the mainland, but only on 17% of reef sites on offshore islands.
Modeling revealed high potential connectivity from a port to the nearest reef with W. subatra, located 4–5 km from the port mouth,
but spread to more distant locations would likely require intermediate stops or anthropogenic transport of spawning adults. In contrast, populations on offshore platforms were virtually unconnected to reef sites by ocean currents.
The study data pointed to potential opportunities to combat current and future invasions.
The centers of red ribbed bryozoan colonies are often dark red or orange and appear to be moribund. However, these seemingly dead central areas can produce new, active zooids through asexual reproduction, which spread outward in a red arc over the dark base layer—hence the name “red rib.” These new zooids have a lighter red or orange color. Each zooid has a tube-like structure with a black oval opening called an operculum. Each operculum is about 1 mm in size
They are often found on hard surfaces such as rocks and harbor walls, often in rock pools at low tide or in shallow subtidal zones down to a depth of about 10 m. When exploring rock pools, look above and below the rocks as well as among the algae.
Synonym: Schizoporella aterrima var. subatra Ortmann, 1890 · unaccepted (basionym)
has raised concerns that the increase in artificial habitats could promote the spread of non-native species overall and into natural ecosystems. In the Santa Barbara Channel (SBC) in California, USA, the non-native bryozoan species Watersipora subatra (Ortmann, 1890) has so far only been found in ports and on offshore oil platforms.
To assess the distribution and dispersal potential of W. subatra between coastal infrastructure
and natural habitat in the SBC, we surveyed 61 open coastal sites,
including natural and artificial habitats, and evaluated the potential dispersal ability of W. subatra larvae from ports and oil platforms to natural reefs
based on survey results and three-dimensional biophysical models.
We found that these bryozoans have invaded natural reefs in the region. W. subatra was present on approximately 50% of oil platforms and reef sites on the mainland, but only on 17% of reef sites on offshore islands.
Modeling revealed high potential connectivity from a port to the nearest reef with W. subatra, located 4–5 km from the port mouth,
but spread to more distant locations would likely require intermediate stops or anthropogenic transport of spawning adults. In contrast, populations on offshore platforms were virtually unconnected to reef sites by ocean currents.
The study data pointed to potential opportunities to combat current and future invasions.
The centers of red ribbed bryozoan colonies are often dark red or orange and appear to be moribund. However, these seemingly dead central areas can produce new, active zooids through asexual reproduction, which spread outward in a red arc over the dark base layer—hence the name “red rib.” These new zooids have a lighter red or orange color. Each zooid has a tube-like structure with a black oval opening called an operculum. Each operculum is about 1 mm in size
They are often found on hard surfaces such as rocks and harbor walls, often in rock pools at low tide or in shallow subtidal zones down to a depth of about 10 m. When exploring rock pools, look above and below the rocks as well as among the algae.
Synonym: Schizoporella aterrima var. subatra Ortmann, 1890 · unaccepted (basionym)
