Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Macroalgal Introductions by Hull Fouling on Recreational Vessels: Seaweeds and Sailors

  • Published:
Environmental Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Macroalgal invasions in coastal areas have been a growing concern during the past decade. The present study aimed to assess the role of hull fouling on recreational yachts as a vector for macroalgal introductions. Questionnaire and hull surveys were carried out in marinas in France and Spain. The questionnaires revealed that the majority of yacht owners are aware of seaweed introductions, usually undertake short range journeys, dry dock their boat at least once a year, and use antifouling paints. The hull survey showed that many in-service yachts were completely free of macroalgae. When present, fouling assemblages consisted mainly of one to two macroalgal species. The most commonly found species was the tolerant green seaweed Ulva flexuosa. Most of the other species found are also cosmopolitan and opportunistic. A few nonnative and potentially invasive Ceramiales (Rhodophyta) were found occasionally on in-service yachts. On the basis of the information gathered during interviews of yacht owners in the surveyed area, these occurrences are likely to be uncommon. However they can pose a significant risk of primary or secondary introductions of alien macroalgal species, especially in the light of the increase in yachting activities. With large numbers of recreational yachts and relatively rare occurrences of nonnative species on hulls, comprehensive screening programs do not seem justified or practical. The risks of transferring nonnative species may, however, be minimized by encouraging the behaviors that prevent fouling on hulls and by taking action against neglected boats before they can act as vectors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adams NM (1983) Checklist of marine algae possibly naturalised in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 21:1–2

    Google Scholar 

  • Arenas F, Bishop JDD, Carlton JT, Dyrynda PJ, Farnham WF, Gonzalez DJ, Jacobs MW, Lambert C, Lambert G, Nielsen SE, Pederson JA, Porter JS, Ward S, Wood CA (2006) Alien species and other notable records from a rapid assessment survey of marinas on the south coast of England. Journal of the Marine Biological Association UK 86:1329–1337

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ashton G, Boos K, Shucksmith R, Cook E (2006) Risk assessment of hull fouling as a vector for marine nonnatives in Scotland. Aquatic Invasions 1:214–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barcelo Marti MC, Gallardo Garcia T, Gomez Garreta A, Perez Ruzafa IM, Ribera Siguan MA, Rull Luch J (2001) Flora Phycologica Iberica, vol 1: Fucales. Universidad de Murcia, 192 pp

  • Belsher T, Bailly de Bois P, Salou N (1984) Expansion de l’algue d’origine japonaise, Sargassum muticum (Yendo) Fensholt, sur les côtes françaises de 1983 à 1984. Cahiers de Biologie Marine 25:449–455

    Google Scholar 

  • Blomster J, Maggs CA, Stanhope MJ (1998) Molecular and morphological analysis of Enteromorpha intestinalis and E. compressa (Chlorophyta) in the British Isles. Journal of Phycology 35:575–586

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blomster J, Hoey EM, Maggs CA, Stanhope MJ (2000) Species-specific oligonucleotide probes for macroalgae: molecular discrimination of two marine fouling species of Enteromorpha (Chlorophyceae). Molecular Ecology 9:177–186

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bossenbroek JM, Kraft CE, Nekola JC (2001) Prediction of long-distance dispersal using gravity models: Zebra mussel invasion of inland lakes. Ecological Applications 11:1778–1788

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boudouresque CF, Verlaque M (2002) Assessing scale and impact of ship-transported alien macrophytes in the Mediterranean Sea. In: Briand F (ed) Alien marine organisms introduced by ships in the Mediterranean and Black seas. Workshop Monographs nº 20. CIESM, Monaco, pp 53–63

    Google Scholar 

  • Brodie J, Maggs CA, John DM (2007) Green seaweeds of Britain and Ireland. The British Phycological Society, London, 250 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Buchan LAJ, Padilla DK (1999) Estimating the probability of long-distance overland dispersal of invading aquatic species. Ecological Applications 9:254–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carlton JT (1996) Biological invasions and cryptogenic species. Ecology 77:1653–1655

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carlton JT, Hodder J (1995) Biogeography and dispersal of coastal marine organisms: experimental studies on a replica of a 16th-century sailing vessel. Marine Biology 121:721–730

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Critchley AT, Farnham WF, Morrell SL (1983) A chronology of new European sites of attachment for the invasive brown alga, Sargassum muticum, 1973–1981. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 63:799–811

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dodgshun TJ, Taylor MD, Forrest BM (2007) Human-mediated pathways of spread for non-indigenous marine species in New Zealand. DOC Research and Development Series 266, Science and Technical Publishing, Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand, 44 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Elton CS (1958) The ecology of invasions by animals and plants. Methuen, London, 196 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher RL, Farrell P (1999) Introduced brown algae in the North East Atlantic, with particular respect to Undaria pinnatifida (Harvey) Suringar. Helgoländer Meeresuntersuchungen 52:259–275

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher RL, Manfredi C (1995) The occurrence of Undaria pinnatifida (Phaeophyceae, Laminariales) on the south coast of England. Botanica Marina 38:1–4

    Google Scholar 

  • Floerl O, Inglis GJ (2005) Starting the invasion pathway: the interaction between source populations and human transport vectors. Biological Invasions 7:589–606

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Floerl O, Inglis GJ, Hayden BJ (2005) A risk-based predictive tool to prevent accidental introductions of nonindigenous marine species. Environmental Management 35:765–778

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gorostias JM, Casares C, Fernandez JA, Perez B, Sarasua A (1987) Sobre la expansion de Sargassum muticum (Yendo) Fensholt en la costa Atlantica Europea. Lurralde 11:437–443

    Google Scholar 

  • Grosholz E (2002) Ecological and evolutionary consequences of coastal invasions. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 17:22–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hay CH (1990) The dispersal of sporophytes of Undaria pinnatifida by coastal shipping in New Zealand, and implications for further dispersal of Undaria in France. British Phycological Journal 25:301–313

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Inderjit, Chapman D, Ranelletti M, Kaushik S (2006) Invasive marine algae: an ecological perspective. Botanical Review 72:153–178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson LE, Ricciardi A, Carlton JT (2001) Overland dispersal of aquatic invasive species: a risk assessment of transient recreational boating. Ecological Applications 11:1789–1799

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnstone IM, Coffey BT, Howard-Williams C (1985) The role of recreational boat traffic in interlake dispersal of macrophytes: a New-Zealand case study. Journal of Environmental Management 20:263–279

    Google Scholar 

  • Knoepffler-Péguy M, Belsher T, Boudouresque CF, Lauret M (1985) Sargassum muticum begins to invade the Mediterranean. Aquatic Botany 23:291–295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kolar CS, Lodge DM (2001) Progress in invasion biology: predicting invaders. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 16:199–204

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lima FP, Ribeiro PA, Queiroz N, Hawkins SJ, Santos AM (2007) Do distributional shifts of northern and southern species of algae match the warming pattern? Global Change Biology 13:2592–2604

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lockwood JL, Cassey P, Blackburn T (2005) The role of propagule pressure explaining species invasions. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 20:223–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meinesz A (1999) Killer algae: the true tale of a biological invasion. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 360 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Meinesz A, Belsher T, Thibaut T, Antolic B, Mustapha KB, Boudouresque CF, Chiaverini D, Cinelli F, Cottalorda JM, Djellouli A, El Abed A, Orestano C, Grau AM, Ivesa L, Jaklin A, Langar H, Massuti-Pascual E, Peirano A, Tunesi L, de Vaugelas J, Zavodnik N, Zuljevic A (2001) The introduced green alga Caulerpa taxifolia continues to spread in the Mediterranean. Biological Invasions 3:201–210

    Google Scholar 

  • Meinesz A, Cottalorda JM, Chiaverini D, Braun M, Carvalho N, Febvre M, Ierardi S, Mangialajo L, Passeron-Seitre G, Thibaut T, de Vaugelas J (1997) Suivi de l’invasion de l’algue tropicale Caulerpa taxifolia devant les côtes françaises de la Méditerranée: situation au 31 décembre 1996. LEML and GIS Posidonie publications

  • Minchin D, Floerl O, Savini D, Occhipinti-Ambrogi A (2006) Small craft and the spread of exotic species. In: Davenport J, Davenport JL (eds) The ecology of transportation: managing mobility for the environment. Springer, The Netherlands, pp 77–97

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Mineur F, Belsher T, Johnson MP, Maggs CA, Verlaque M (2007a) Experimental assessment of oyster transfers as a vector for macroalgal introductions. Biological Conservation 137:237–247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mineur F, Johnson MP, Maggs CA, Stegenga H (2007b) Hull fouling on commercial ships as a vector of macroalgal introduction. Marine Biology 151:1299–1307

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministère de l’Écologie, de l’Énergie, du Développement durable et de l’Aménagement du territoire territoire (MEEDDAT) (2007) La plaisance en quelques chiffres (1er septembre 2006 au 31 août 2007). http://www.mer.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/plaisqqc2007_cle7b4b14-1.pdf. Accessed 26 May 2008

  • Perez R, Lee JY, Juge C (1981) Observations sur la biologie de l’algue japonaise Undaria pinnatifida (Harvey) Suringar introduite accidentellement dans l’Etang de Thau. Science et Pêche, Bulletin de l’Institut des Pêches maritimes 315:1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Perez-Ruzafa I, Menendez JL, Salinas JM (2002) Mapas de distribución de algas marinas de la Peninsula Iberica e Islas Baleares. XV. Undaria pinnatifida (Harvey) Suringar (Laminariales, Fucophyceae). Botanica Complutensis 26:147–151

    Google Scholar 

  • Ribera-Siguan MA (2002) Review of nonnative marine plants in the Mediterranean Sea. In: Leppäkoski E, Gollasch S, Olenin S (eds) Invasive aquatic species of Europe. Distribution, impacts and management. Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands, pp 291–310

    Google Scholar 

  • Schaffelke B, Hewitt CL (2007) Impacts of introduced seaweeds. Botanica Marina 50:397–417

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stokes K, O’Neill K, McDonald RA (2006) Invasive species in Ireland. Report to EHS Belfast, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Dublin. Quercus. Queen’s University, Belfast, 151 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams SL, Smith JE (2007) A global review of the distribution, taxonomy, and impacts of introduced seaweeds. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 38:327–359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Womersley HBS (2003) The marine benthic flora of Southern Australia, Rhodophyta, Part IIID, Ceramiales–Delesseriaceae, Sarcomeniaceae, Rhodomelaceae. Flora of Australia Supplementary Series, Number 18, Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra, 533 pp

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was funded by the EU contract ALIENS (Algal Introductions on European Shores) and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation Marine Aliens project. The authors are grateful to Herre Stegenga who helped with the determination of various taxa; Jaanika Blomster (University of Helsinki) for molecular identifications; the officers of the different marinas who granted complete access to the facilities; José Rico (University of Oviedo) for organizing the questionnaire survey in Spain; Gérard Blanchard and the LBEM (Laboratoire de Biologie et Environnement Marins) in La Rochelle; Jocelyne Oheix (Ifremer Sète), and Eloise Blake for their help in the sampling in La Grande Motte and Saint-Denis d’Oléron; the anonymous reviewers for their useful comments; and finally, all the yacht owners who participated in the questionnaire survey and allowed access to the hulls of their boats.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University of Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK

    Frédéric Mineur & Christine A. Maggs

  2. The Martin Ryan Marine Science Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland

    Mark P. Johnson

Authors
  1. Frédéric Mineur
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mark P. Johnson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Christine A. Maggs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Frédéric Mineur.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mineur, F., Johnson, M.P. & Maggs, C.A. Macroalgal Introductions by Hull Fouling on Recreational Vessels: Seaweeds and Sailors. Environmental Management 42, 667–676 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-008-9185-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-008-9185-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation