test Highly diverse epifaunal bryozoans on the invasive alien species Rugulopteryx okamurae (Ochrophyta) in the Strait of Gibraltar area, with the description of a new species|Mediterranean Marine Science

Highly diverse epifaunal bryozoans on the invasive alien species Rugulopteryx okamurae (Ochrophyta) in the Strait of Gibraltar area, with the description of a new species

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Published: Dec 15, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.41517
Keywords:
epibionts biofouling Bryozoa biodiversity western Mediterranean Sea
JOSÉ ANTONIO CABALLERO-HERRERA
Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, CSIC, Explanada San Andrés, Puerto Pesquero s/n, 29002 Málaga, España & Departamento de Biología Animal, Universidad Málaga, Campus de Teatinos s/n 29007, Málaga, España
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9186-6883
LAÍS V. RAMALHO
Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, CSIC, Explanada San Andrés, Puerto Pesquero s/n, 29002 Málaga, España & Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1459-3954
PABLO MARINA
Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, CSIC, Explanada San Andrés, Puerto Pesquero s/n, 29002 Málaga, España
ALEJANDRO MARTÍN-ARJONA
Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, CSIC, Explanada San Andrés, Puerto Pesquero s/n, 29002 Málaga, España
https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4921-5690
MANUEL M. GONZÁLEZ-DUARTE
Centro Oceanográfico de Cádiz, CSIC, Puerto Pesquero, Muelle de Levante, s/n, 11006 Cádiz, España
BEATRIZ RINCÓN RINCÓN
Centro Oceanográfico de Santander, CSIC, Avda. Severiano Ballesteros, 16, 39004, Santander, España
ÁNGEL MATEO-RAMÍREZ
Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, CSIC, Explanada San Andrés, Puerto Pesquero s/n, 29002 Málaga, España
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3825-3279
SANDRA MALLOL
Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares, CSIC, Muelle de Poniente, s/n, 07015, Palma, España
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0394-9794
JAVIER URRA
Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, CSIC, Explanada San Andrés, Puerto Pesquero s/n, 29002 Málaga, España
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0255-7246
Abstract

The invasive brown alga Rugulopteryx okamurae (Ochrophyta) has undergone a rapid expansion in the Strait of Gibraltar sinceits introduction in 2015, significantly altering coastal habitats. This study focused on analyzing the composition and structure of epifaunal bryozoan assemblages associated with R. okamurae populations on infralittoral rocky bottoms in the Strait of Gibraltar and adjacent areas (southern Spain). Seven samples were collected, each from one sampling station, using scuba diving techniques.  A total of 49 bryozoan taxa were recorded, 45 of which were identified at the species level. This level of biodiversity makes this area a hotspot for bryozoans. One cyclostomatid species, Favosipora infrarockensis Ramalho n. sp., is described here as new to science; three other species are recorded here for the first time in Spanish waters, and nine are newly recorded in the Strait of Gibraltar and the Alboran Sea. Multivariate analyses revealed the presence of two distinct sample groups, primarily influenced by the geographical location within the Strait of Gibraltar. The species richness per sample ranged from 4 to 29, showing a positive trend with the wet biomass of R. okamurae. Most species have a wide biogeographic distribution across the Atlantic and Mediterranean, while only 15.6% of them are endemic to the Mediterranean Sea. This study highlights the high diversity of epibiont bryozoans in the Strait of Gibraltar area, in this case associated with R. okamurae, which is an invasive species that represents a severe threat to local biodiversity and is causing profound changes to habitats and associated communities.

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