Non Native Species data - Distribution of Carpet Sea Squirt (Didemnum vexillum) in Holyhead Marina
dataset
https://portal.medin.org.uk/portal/start.php?tpc=007_4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313039353636
Didemnum vexillum is an invasive colonial ascidian that has become established world-wide having been identified in Japan, North America, northern Europe, and New Zealand, following a global expansion since the 1970’s. It forms sheet like colonies on natural and artificial hard substrata as well as benthic organisms including other ascidians and algae. The serious ecological and economic damage experienced in New Zealand and other temperate regions has led to a large investment in on-going research into the biological tolerances and spread of D. vexillum as well as rapid response, monitoring and management following introductions. In summer 2008 an MSc student from Bangor University carrying out a survey of non native species in marinas in North Wales found a sea squirt in Ho
lyhead Harbour that looked like the invasive non native species D. vexillum. A specimen was sent to a UK expert, who confirmed in November 2008 that it was very likely to be D. vexillum. Specimens were confirmed by Gretchen Lambert (pers. com. University of Washington, USA) as being D. vexillum. The purpose of this data capture was to assess the distribution and spread of the non-native species and possible threat to native species and biodiversity of the area.
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