Is the invasive Caprella scaura Templeton, 1836 displacing its resident congener Caprella equilibra Say, 1818 in marinas of the South Iberian Peninsula? A long-term spatio-temporal approach.

ABSTRACT

Although marine invasions are increasingly a matter of concern, the impact of invasive species in the ecosystem and their ability to replace native taxa is still little understood. Data from 2011 to 2021 in marinas of the Southern Iberian Peninsula supported that the invasive amphipod Caprella scaura is replacing the resident Caprella equilibra over time. Six marinas where C. equilibra was abundant in 2011 and C. scaura was absent, are now dominated by C. scaura. Although this displacement is more evident in Mediterranean shores than in Atlantic coasts, it is very variable between marinas. The spreading of the invasive species in marinas of the Alboran Sea mainly occurred from 2011 to 2017, preventing C. equilibra from regaining its former distribution. The ultimate factors responsible for the displacement, such as the aggressive behaviour of C. scaura, environmental influences or physiological performance in a global warming context, should be further investigated experimentally.