EASIN - European Alien Species Information Network

Agnese Marchini
6/23/2020 - 10:18 AM

Thread Opening Text:
I would like to report a publication where a new species alien to Europe is reported:
Gouillieux, B., Ariyama, H., Costa, A. C., Daffe, G., Marchini, A., Micael, J., & Ulman, A. (2020). New records of Ericthonius didymus Krapp-Schickel, 2013 (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Ischyroceridae) in European waters with a focus in Arcachon Bay, France and key to Ericthonius species. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 100(3), 401-412.
URL: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025315420000247

This amphipod was described in the beginning of 2000's in the Lagoon of Venice by Krapp-Schickel, T. (2013). New or amended data on Mediterranean Amphipoda: genera Dexamine, Ericthonius and Stenothoe. Zootaxa, 3613(2): 125-145. It was then assumed as an 'endemic' species there.
Following subsequent records in Arcachon (France, Atlantic: 2013-2017), Sao Miguel - Azores (Portugal: 2014), and  Port Camargue (France, Mediterranean: 2015), it was submitted to genetic analyses. Results showed strong affinity of E. didymus to other Indo-Pacific Ericthonius species.
The paper also states:

"Despite a first description in the Lagoon of Venice, the facts cited in Ulman et al. (2017) may suggest that E. didymus may be an introduced species. The new data presented here further corroborate this hypothesis: all the known European records of E. didymus (Lagoon of Venice, Arcachon Bay, Port Camargue and São Miguel, Azores) are from sites of intense shellfish trade, and/or shipping and boating, which are considered the most powerful
vectors of introduction of marine non-indigenous species in western Europe (Katsanevakis et al., 2013; Galil et al., 2014). And in fact, all these four sites represent ‘hotspots’ of introduction of marine species (Boudouresque et al., 2011; Lavesque et al., 2013; Chainho et al., 2015; Marchini et al., 2015). The distribution restricted to sites affected by human introductions, combined with the high genetic affinity of E. didymus with species of western Pacific distribution, its scarce capabilities of natural spreading, and the invasion history of other species within this genus (Marchini & Cardeccia, 2017), altogether suggest an exotic native origin and a human-mediated introduction of E. didymus."

Kostas Tsiamis
6/23/2020 - 10:28 AM

Dear EB Member,

Thank you for the post.
May I ask if the exact date of first collection is reported for Europe? 2000's in the Lagoon of Venice, but is there a year specified?
In addition, should the pathway of introduction assigned to aquaculture contamination and shipping (ballast, fouling or both)?

Thank you
The EASIN team

Agnese Marchini
6/23/2020 - 10:37 AM

Dear Kostas,
Krapp (2013) unfortunately does not report a specific year, but writes that she collected samples 'in the beginning of this century'.
The vector is most likely aquaculture (oysters) for France and Italy, and hull fouling for Azores, where the species was found in a recreational marina.
Best wishes,
Agnese

Kostas Tsiamis
6/23/2020 - 10:39 AM

Thank you, the species will be added in the EASIN Catalogue according to the information provided.

On behalf of the EASIN team,
Kostas

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