Invasion and ecological impact of the biofouling tube worm Hydroides elegans (Polychaeta: Serpulidae) in Korean coastal waters

Biofouling, the colonization of submerged surfaces by organisms including microorganisms, plants, algae, and animals, involves both natural and artificial environments. The serpulid worm Hydroides elegans, known as an invasive species in global port areas, creates extensive aggregations of calcareou...

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Main Authors: Sang Lyeol Kim, Ok Hwan Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Marine Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1416546/full
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author Sang Lyeol Kim
Ok Hwan Yu
author_facet Sang Lyeol Kim
Ok Hwan Yu
author_sort Sang Lyeol Kim
collection DOAJ
description Biofouling, the colonization of submerged surfaces by organisms including microorganisms, plants, algae, and animals, involves both natural and artificial environments. The serpulid worm Hydroides elegans, known as an invasive species in global port areas, creates extensive aggregations of calcareous tubes. In 2019, H. elegans was found attached to the research vessel ISABU in Korea, and a phylogenetic analysis was conducted to identify the species and determine its genetic characteristics. Following its detection, mesocosm experiments with plastic panels (PP, PE, PET, and EPS) were undertaken to investigate its recruitment and adaptation processes within new ecosystems. During the 12-week experiment, the biomass of H. elegans increased on all plastic types, significantly contributing to the overall biomass accumulation. This invasive species has replaced the previously prevalent native species Hydroides ezoensis, achieving dominance over other taxonomic groups in biomass. These findings demonstrate the significant ecological disruptions caused by non-indigenous species introduced through maritime activities, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced preventative and monitoring strategies
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publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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series Frontiers in Marine Science
spelling doaj-art-d3c84dfaa17f4f2ca089a0b51d2e1d992025-01-09T10:03:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452025-01-011110.3389/fmars.2024.14165461416546Invasion and ecological impact of the biofouling tube worm Hydroides elegans (Polychaeta: Serpulidae) in Korean coastal watersSang Lyeol KimOk Hwan YuBiofouling, the colonization of submerged surfaces by organisms including microorganisms, plants, algae, and animals, involves both natural and artificial environments. The serpulid worm Hydroides elegans, known as an invasive species in global port areas, creates extensive aggregations of calcareous tubes. In 2019, H. elegans was found attached to the research vessel ISABU in Korea, and a phylogenetic analysis was conducted to identify the species and determine its genetic characteristics. Following its detection, mesocosm experiments with plastic panels (PP, PE, PET, and EPS) were undertaken to investigate its recruitment and adaptation processes within new ecosystems. During the 12-week experiment, the biomass of H. elegans increased on all plastic types, significantly contributing to the overall biomass accumulation. This invasive species has replaced the previously prevalent native species Hydroides ezoensis, achieving dominance over other taxonomic groups in biomass. These findings demonstrate the significant ecological disruptions caused by non-indigenous species introduced through maritime activities, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced preventative and monitoring strategieshttps://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1416546/fullbiofoulingtube wormnon-indigenous speciesbiodiversityecological
spellingShingle Sang Lyeol Kim
Ok Hwan Yu
Invasion and ecological impact of the biofouling tube worm Hydroides elegans (Polychaeta: Serpulidae) in Korean coastal waters
Frontiers in Marine Science
biofouling
tube worm
non-indigenous species
biodiversity
ecological
title Invasion and ecological impact of the biofouling tube worm Hydroides elegans (Polychaeta: Serpulidae) in Korean coastal waters
title_full Invasion and ecological impact of the biofouling tube worm Hydroides elegans (Polychaeta: Serpulidae) in Korean coastal waters
title_fullStr Invasion and ecological impact of the biofouling tube worm Hydroides elegans (Polychaeta: Serpulidae) in Korean coastal waters
title_full_unstemmed Invasion and ecological impact of the biofouling tube worm Hydroides elegans (Polychaeta: Serpulidae) in Korean coastal waters
title_short Invasion and ecological impact of the biofouling tube worm Hydroides elegans (Polychaeta: Serpulidae) in Korean coastal waters
title_sort invasion and ecological impact of the biofouling tube worm hydroides elegans polychaeta serpulidae in korean coastal waters
topic biofouling
tube worm
non-indigenous species
biodiversity
ecological
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1416546/full
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AT okhwanyu invasionandecologicalimpactofthebiofoulingtubewormhydroideseleganspolychaetaserpulidaeinkoreancoastalwaters