A synthesis of known iberian localities for craspedacusta sowerbii lankester, 1880 (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa): New record for Spain from low guadalquivir river

Abstract

Alien invasive species are one of the major threats to biodiversity. Particularly, cnidarian species are frequently spread far from their native areas, through human activities. Indeed, many hydroids have been successfully transported as fouling on ship hulls, in ballast waters and as fauna associated with the commercial traffic of other aquatic species. Craspedacusta sowerbii Lankester, 1880 (Hydrozoa: Olindiidae) is the most widely distributed freshwater medusa around the world. This hydrozoan species is probably considered native to the Yangtze valley (China) and invasive in freshwater systems worldwide. In this note, we report the presence of an established population of C. sowerbii from the low Guadalquivir River (western Andalusia, southwestern Spain) and provide the environmental data associated with its occurrence. The spatial distribution of C. sowerbii in the Iberian Peninsula is still poorly studied and most information is derived from regional academic publications, technical reports of limited access, naturalists’ observations or press news on environmental issues. Therefore, all sparse Iberian records for this species have been revised and presented here. This note contributes to know its distribution in the Iberian Peninsula, an important preliminary step to later assess the impact of this invasive species on the Iberian ecosystems.