Disentangling the biogeography of ship biofouling

摘要: Aim The movement of biofouling organisms by ships results in the transfer marine species across biogeographical boundaries on a global scale. We used barnacles, relatively well-studied taxon, to investigate extent which modern commercial vessels disperse beyond their current known ranges. Location Vessels predominantly operated North Pacific; sampling was conducted Los Angeles (CA), Portland (OR), Ketchikan (AK) and Apra Harbor (GU). Methods Barnacles were collected from submerged surfaces vessel hulls identified lowest taxonomic unit using combination molecular phylogenetic techniques. Their native non-native geographical ranges assessed compared with voyage history vessels. Results Forty distinct groups barnacles (22 assigned species) detected 15 vessels. Six these recognized have world-wide distribution, due natural anthropogenic dispersal. Sixteen routes that extend barnacles' distributions, including 12 sampled outside range. Main conclusions A diverse suite barnacle is continuous motion globally hulls, potential scale this underscored documented richness for ship what about fleet estimate roughly 680,000 separate arrival events per year US ports distributed both Atlantic Pacific coasts. Genetic methods revealed high previous studies, real rate likely be much higher than because (1) it not all (2) only subset successfully sequenced. Our limited knowledge total pool flux around globe constrains our ability analyse interpret processes affecting distribution patterns Anthropocene.