New species and new records of bryozoan species from fouling communities in the Madeira Archipelago (NE Atlantic)

Abstract

Hull fouling is considered to be the most signifcant vector of introduction of marine non-indigenous species (NIS) in the Madeira Archipelago (NE Atlantic) because these islands provide a vital passage route for many ships. The transfer of species between boat hulls and artifcial substrates in marinas is known to be high. Bryozoans are among the most common groups of marine invertebrates growing on this type of substrate. In recent years, signifcant advances have been made in our knowledge about the biodiversity of bryozoans in the Madeira Archipelago. Nonetheless, the currently recognized numbers remain far from refecting the actual bryozoan species richness. In this context, we examine bryozoan samples stemming from NIS monitoring surveys on artifcial substrates along the southern coast of the Madeira Archipelago, in four recreational marinas and in two ofshore aquaculture farms. This has yielded new information about ten bryozoan species. Two of them, Crisia noronhai sp. nov. and Amathia maderensis sp. nov., are described for the frst time, although at least the frst one was previously recorded from Madeira but misidentifed. Bugula ingens, Cradoscrupocellaria insularis, Scruparia ambigua, and Celleporaria brunnea are recorded for the frst time in Madeira. Moreover, the material of C. brunnea was compared with the type, and a biometric analysis was performed with material from the Atlantic and Mediterranean. All samples identifed as C. brunnea in both regions are the same species, and the variations described in the literature apparently refect high intracolonial variability. Finally, we provide new information for the descriptions of 4 additional bryozoans, namely, Crisia sp. af. elongata, Cradoscrupocellaria bertholletii, Scrupocaberea maderensis, and Tricellaria inopinata.