In reply to worm co-detective Kirtley's remarks of Tue, 12 Dec 1995 18:
04:46 -0800:
I cannot help with the sabellariids. I just wish to confirm that
Crassostrea virginica has been an efficient vector for many species:
from Atlantic N America to Pacific N America, and also to W Europe. I would
expect that close to intertidal sabellariids are likely to survive such
oyster trips. Later, the Japanese oyster Crassostrea gigas carried plenty
of Far Eastern species to Europe, negligence of the French Fisheries etc.
authorities helping. Including the serpulid Hydroides ezoensis - also a
tube worm and thus specially adapted to travelling. Various cases of the
"Jap-fauna" are mentioned in my compilation on the aliens in the
Mediterranean Sea. Sabellariids apparently were not among the epifauna of
batches examined in the 70s, by Y. Gruet. Perhaps they preferred to take a
later train...
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Helmut ZIBROWIUS
(Centre d'Oceanologie de Marseille)
Station Marine d'Endoume
Rue Batterie des Lions
13007 Marseille / France
TEL: (intern. - 33) 9 1 0 4 1 6 2 4
FAX: (intern. - 33) 9 1 0 4 1 6 3 5
E-MAIL: <hzibrowi at com.univ-mrs.fr>
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