[ Received as a simultaneous cross-post to 3 lists inc. Annelida - GBR ]
Some of you may be interested in looking out for two recent additions to
the UK estuarine/marine fauna, especially those people working in
estuaries in southern UK.
Desdemona ornata is a small sabellid, superficially similar to Manayunkia
aestuarina or Fabricia sabella. It has been recorded by Aquatic
Environmental Consultants from Southampton Water, the Medina estuary
(Isle of Wight) and from the Kingsbridge estuary. In fact we haven't done
a recent survey of a southern England estuary where it wasn't present,
so it seems to be expanding very rapidly.
Grandidierella japonica is an aorid amphipod (though taxonomists
disagree on which family it belongs to). It occurs with Aora gracilis in
some locations in Southampton Water. The highest density recorded was
5800 per sq. metre, making it one of the most abundant amphipods in our
surveys.
Both species have probably come in via ballast water, though we can't prove that.
If you want to see descriptions please look at:
Smith, P; Perrett, J; Garwood, P and Moore, G (1999). Two additions to
the UK marine fauna: Desdemona ornata Banse, 1957 (Polychaeta,
Sabellidae) and Grandidierella japonica Stephensen, 1938 (Amphipoda,
Gammaridea). Newsletter of the Porcupine Marine Natural History
Society, Number 2, p8-11, July 1999.
If any of you come across specimens I would be interested in knowing locations etc.
Regards,
Phil
Phil Smith, AEC/3E Ltd, The Limes, Creedy Park, Crediton, Devon, EX17 4EB, UK
Tel +44 1363 776456 fax 774656 e-mail earth at online.rednet.co.uk
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