Transoceanic dispersal of benthic macrofauna: Haliplanella luciae (Verrill, 1898) (Anthozoa, Actiniaria) found on a ship's hull in a shipyard dock in Hamburg Harbour, Germany

Abstract

In September 1993, 26 live specimens of the small, delicate sea anemone Haliplanella luciae (Verrill, 1898) were sampled from the hull of a ship docked in Hamburg Harbour. After a worldwide journey the ship had passed into the freshwater region of the river Elbe. Although the migratory potential of the species (supposed home region is Japan) is well known, its transport on ships' bottoms has never been documented. Behavioural traits enabling the anemone to settle on ships are discussed together with probable reasons why Haliplanella luciae did not establish itself in the fauna of the German Bight. © Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Hamburg.