Hotspot of Exotic Benthic Marine Invertebrates Discovered in the Tropical East Atlantic: DNA Barcoding Insights From the Bijagós Archipelago, Guinea‐Bissau
ABSTRACT This study aimed to explore and document putative exotic marine benthic invertebrate species in the Bijagós Archipelago, Guinea‐Bissau, to enhance understanding of marine biodiversity and address the extent of marine species introductions. The research was conducted in the Bijagós Archipela...
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| Format: | Article |
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Wiley
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70964 |
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| author | Carlos J. Moura Peter Wirtz Filipe T. Nhanquê Castro Barbosa Ester Serrão |
| author_facet | Carlos J. Moura Peter Wirtz Filipe T. Nhanquê Castro Barbosa Ester Serrão |
| author_sort | Carlos J. Moura |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT This study aimed to explore and document putative exotic marine benthic invertebrate species in the Bijagós Archipelago, Guinea‐Bissau, to enhance understanding of marine biodiversity and address the extent of marine species introductions. The research was conducted in the Bijagós Archipelago, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve located in Guinea‐Bissau. The study involved the region's first scuba‐diving survey of marine biodiversity. DNA barcoding was employed to assist in the identification of benthic invertebrate species. Molecular phylogenetic analyses were conducted with the available DNA barcodes to ensure accurate taxonomic assignments, detect cryptic species, and investigate the phylogeography of the taxa. The survey resulted in the discovery of 28 new species records for the Bijagós Archipelago, including octocorals, scleractinians, hydroids, bryozoans, barnacles, and ascidians. Among these, six species were documented for the first time in the East Atlantic: Stragulum bicolor, Nemalecium lighti, Diphasia sp., Amathia alternata, A. distans, and Symplegma rubra. Molecular analyses revealed pervasive cryptic diversity within species previously listed as exotic, suggesting that some, such as the hydroids Plumularia setacea, Obelia geniculata, and Dynamena disticha, are not exotic due to their restricted biogeographic distributions. Many other species reported as introduced present only a few genetic lineages capable of long‐distance dispersal due to human activities. The study highlights considerable gaps in the knowledge of West African marine biodiversity and suggests a substantial underestimation of the anthropogenic trade in exotic marine species between the Tropical East Atlantic and the Americas, and between the Indo‐Pacific, Mediterranean, and West Africa. Detailed taxonomic and genomic analyses are necessary for understanding marine exotic species' biogeography and adaptive traits. Our findings challenge current classifications of exotic species and underscore the need for improved monitoring and management to prevent the spread of non‐native marine species. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-86344d076e8b43f4965060f70f4776b8 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj-art-86344d076e8b43f4965060f70f4776b82025-08-20T03:14:22ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582025-03-01153n/an/a10.1002/ece3.70964Hotspot of Exotic Benthic Marine Invertebrates Discovered in the Tropical East Atlantic: DNA Barcoding Insights From the Bijagós Archipelago, Guinea‐BissauCarlos J. Moura0Peter Wirtz1Filipe T. Nhanquê2Castro Barbosa3Ester Serrão4CCMAR—Centre of Marine Sciences University of Algarve Faro PortugalCCMAR—Centre of Marine Sciences University of Algarve Faro PortugalINIPO‐National Institute for Fisheries and Oceanographic Research Bissau Guinea‐BissauIBAP—Institute for Biodiversity and Protected Areas Bissau Guinea‐BissauCCMAR‐CIMAR—Centre of Marine Sciences University of Algarve Faro PortugalABSTRACT This study aimed to explore and document putative exotic marine benthic invertebrate species in the Bijagós Archipelago, Guinea‐Bissau, to enhance understanding of marine biodiversity and address the extent of marine species introductions. The research was conducted in the Bijagós Archipelago, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve located in Guinea‐Bissau. The study involved the region's first scuba‐diving survey of marine biodiversity. DNA barcoding was employed to assist in the identification of benthic invertebrate species. Molecular phylogenetic analyses were conducted with the available DNA barcodes to ensure accurate taxonomic assignments, detect cryptic species, and investigate the phylogeography of the taxa. The survey resulted in the discovery of 28 new species records for the Bijagós Archipelago, including octocorals, scleractinians, hydroids, bryozoans, barnacles, and ascidians. Among these, six species were documented for the first time in the East Atlantic: Stragulum bicolor, Nemalecium lighti, Diphasia sp., Amathia alternata, A. distans, and Symplegma rubra. Molecular analyses revealed pervasive cryptic diversity within species previously listed as exotic, suggesting that some, such as the hydroids Plumularia setacea, Obelia geniculata, and Dynamena disticha, are not exotic due to their restricted biogeographic distributions. Many other species reported as introduced present only a few genetic lineages capable of long‐distance dispersal due to human activities. The study highlights considerable gaps in the knowledge of West African marine biodiversity and suggests a substantial underestimation of the anthropogenic trade in exotic marine species between the Tropical East Atlantic and the Americas, and between the Indo‐Pacific, Mediterranean, and West Africa. Detailed taxonomic and genomic analyses are necessary for understanding marine exotic species' biogeography and adaptive traits. Our findings challenge current classifications of exotic species and underscore the need for improved monitoring and management to prevent the spread of non‐native marine species.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70964alien speciesanthropogenic dispersalconservation biogeographycryptic biodiversityDNA barcodingGuinea‐Bissau |
| spellingShingle | Carlos J. Moura Peter Wirtz Filipe T. Nhanquê Castro Barbosa Ester Serrão Hotspot of Exotic Benthic Marine Invertebrates Discovered in the Tropical East Atlantic: DNA Barcoding Insights From the Bijagós Archipelago, Guinea‐Bissau Ecology and Evolution alien species anthropogenic dispersal conservation biogeography cryptic biodiversity DNA barcoding Guinea‐Bissau |
| title | Hotspot of Exotic Benthic Marine Invertebrates Discovered in the Tropical East Atlantic: DNA Barcoding Insights From the Bijagós Archipelago, Guinea‐Bissau |
| title_full | Hotspot of Exotic Benthic Marine Invertebrates Discovered in the Tropical East Atlantic: DNA Barcoding Insights From the Bijagós Archipelago, Guinea‐Bissau |
| title_fullStr | Hotspot of Exotic Benthic Marine Invertebrates Discovered in the Tropical East Atlantic: DNA Barcoding Insights From the Bijagós Archipelago, Guinea‐Bissau |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hotspot of Exotic Benthic Marine Invertebrates Discovered in the Tropical East Atlantic: DNA Barcoding Insights From the Bijagós Archipelago, Guinea‐Bissau |
| title_short | Hotspot of Exotic Benthic Marine Invertebrates Discovered in the Tropical East Atlantic: DNA Barcoding Insights From the Bijagós Archipelago, Guinea‐Bissau |
| title_sort | hotspot of exotic benthic marine invertebrates discovered in the tropical east atlantic dna barcoding insights from the bijagos archipelago guinea bissau |
| topic | alien species anthropogenic dispersal conservation biogeography cryptic biodiversity DNA barcoding Guinea‐Bissau |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70964 |
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