From Chile to the South African west coast : first reports of the Chilean stone crab Homalaspis plana (H. Milne Edwards, 1834) and the South American sunstar Heliaster helianthus (Lamarck, 1816) outside their natural ranges
Date
2018-10-01
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Regional Euro-Asian Biological Invasions Centre
Abstract
The South American multiradiate sunstar Heliaster helianthus (Lamarck, 1816) and the Chilean stone crab Homalaspis plana
(H. Milne Edwards, 1834) are marine predators that, previous to this report, have no invasion history. However, during
subtidal maintenance of a pier within Saldanha Bay along the South African west coast during 2015–2017, a single individual
of each species was detected on the seafloor. Following this, intertidal and subtidal surveys were undertaken in surrounding
natural habitats, but no further individuals were recorded. Both species are native to Chile, a region with very similar
environmental conditions to the west coast of South Africa and from which other South African marine alien species originate,
highlighting the connectedness between these regions and the risk for future transfers and establishment. The presence of two
pathways from Chile to South Africa (shipping and aquaculture imports) and closely matching environmental conditions are
likely to play a role in future successful introductions of Chilean species to the South African west coast. It is, therefore,
recommended that particular attention be paid to monitoring aquaculture imports from the west coast of South America and
that incoming vessels from that region be inspected upon arrival. Additionally, both H. heliaster and H. plana should be
added to alien species watchlists in South Africa and other regions connected to Chile via marine vectors and which
experience similar environmental conditions.
Description
CITATION: Peters, K. & Robinson, T. B. 2018. From Chile to the South African west coast : first reports of the Chilean stone crab Homalaspis plana (H. Milne Edwards, 1834) and the South American sunstar Heliaster helianthus (Lamarck, 1816) outside their natural ranges. BioInvasions Records, 7(4):421-426, doi:10.3391/bir.2018.7.4.11.
The original publication is available at https://www.reabic.net
The original publication is available at https://www.reabic.net
Keywords
Aquaculture, Marine alien species, Monitoring aquaculture imports, Heliaster helianthus -- South America, Homalaspis plana -- Chile, Marine biological invasions
Citation
Peters, K. & Robinson, T. B. 2018. From Chile to the South African west coast : first reports of the Chilean stone crab Homalaspis plana (H. Milne Edwards, 1834) and the South American sunstar Heliaster helianthus (Lamarck, 1816) outside their natural ranges. BioInvasions Records, 7(4):421-426, doi:10.3391/bir.2018.7.4.11