Research Article |
Corresponding author: Anna Stępień ( anna.stepien@biol.uni.lodz.pl ) Academic editor: João Canning-Clode
© 2023 Anna Stępień, Anna M. Jażdżewska, Romeu S. Ribeiro , Rafael Santos, Macarena Ros.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Stępień A, Jażdżewska AM, Ribeiro RS, Santos R, Ros M (2023) The Tanaidacea challenge to invasion science: taxonomic ambiguities and small size result in another potential overlooked introduction to the Iberian coast and nearby areas. Aquatic Invasions 18(4): 487-506. https://doi.org/10.3897/aquaticinvasions.18.e113092
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A major challenge in invasion science is detecting overlooked introductions, their pathways of introduction and spread. One of the most successful introduced taxa in aquatic ecosystems are peracarid crustaceans. There are a growing number of reports of accidental introductions of peracarids worldwide, mostly related to human transport hubs (e.g., ports and marinas). Tanaidaceans are especially abundant in these communities. Most frequently given examples of natural and anthropogenic passive dispersers belong to the family Tanaididae. However, their wide distribution requires confirmation. Most records come from 70–80’ of last century, when identification of the species relied only on morphological characters. The small size and large intraspecific variation of tanaidids generate a high taxonomic uncertainty, as in the case of Zeuxo turkensis. Population of this species was previously known from Turkish, Japanese, and Australian coasts. In the two last places this tanaidid was identified as Hexapleomera sasuke, despite there were some premises that it should be synonymized with Z. turkensis. Here we investigate specimens that resembled both Hexapleomera sasuke and Zeuxo turkensis collected in marinas around the Iberian and Moroccan coasts. Integrating morphological and molecular methods (barcoding) we confirmed: (1) the first record and presence of well-structured populations of Z. turkensis in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, representing the first record of the species for Atlantic waters; (2) the conspecificity between H. sasuke and Z. turkensis, which should be synonymized; and (3) the wide distribution of Z. turkensis associated with human transport hubs (i.e. marinas) in the study area, showing its potential for introduction and spread. Integrated approaches and greater taxonomic support are key to advancing knowledge on the origin and invasion patterns of this and other small and poorly known human-mediated widespread species.
Peracarida, Mediterranean, North Atlantic, morphology, non-indigenous species, COI barcoding
Non-indigenous species (NIS) are considered a form of biological pollution that is one of the greatest threats to world’s oceans (
One of the most important vectors for unintentional introductions in marine ecosystems are ships, since about 90% of the world trade is transported by this way (
Tanaidacea are small crustaceans commonly occurring in almost all marine habitats (
Hexapleomera sasuke was originally described from Japan (from Yakushima Island, Ishigaki Island and two public aquaria) (
An extensive sampling campaign of fouling peracarids in marinas around the Iberian Peninsula and Moroccan coasts provided a large collection of Tanaididae, including animals morphologically resembling both H. sasuke and Z. turkensis. Integrating morphological, molecular, demographical, and biogeographical data we aim to address the following goals:
Moreover, we compiled biogeographical data of H. sasuke and Z. turkensis to discuss the potential for wide distribution and human-mediated dispersal of the species.
The material was collected during two sampling campaigns, I in 2011 and II in 2017, conducted for the study of mobile epibionts associated to fouling communities in marinas along the Iberian Peninsula and nearby areas (
Detailed information about sampled marinas and station number within marina.
Marina | Number of stations within marina | Sampling date | Latitude, longitude (decimal degrees) | Salinity (psu) | Temp. (C) | Number of specimens | |
Atlantic 2011 | Santander | 5 | 02.05.2011 | 43.45, -3.82 | 34.27 | 18.43 | 14 |
Gijón | 1 | 04.05.2011 | 43.54, -5.67 | 35.57 | 16.97 | 1 | |
Grana | 5 | 07.05.2011 | 43.48, -8.26 | 34.57 | 16.17 | 39 | |
A Coruña | 2 | 04.05.2011 | 43.37, -8.40 | 35.67 | 15.97 | 1 | |
Cascais | 1 | 09.05.2011 | 38.69, -9.42 | 34.40 | 19.53 | 3 | |
Albufeira | 6 | 10.05.2011 | 37.08, -8.27 | 35.80 | 19.87 | 27 | |
Faro | 2 | 11.05.2011 | 37.01, -7.94 | 36.33 | 21.03 | 3 | |
Isla Canela | 3 | 16.05.2011 | 37.19, -7.34 | 36.07 | 23.00 | 44 | |
Chipiona | 3 | 17.05.2011 | 36.74, -6.43 | 35.37 | 19.27 | 13 | |
Cádiz | 2 | 17.05.2011 | 36.54, -6.38 | 36.30 | 19.90 | 8 | |
Conil | 3 | 17.05.2011 | 36.29, -6.14 | 36.67 | 19.57 | 37 | |
Barbate | 2 | 17.05.2011 | 36.19, -5.93 | 35.67 | 19.73 | 9 | |
Fuengirola | 3 | 15.05.2011 | 36.54, -4.62 | 36.40 | 20.77 | 23 | |
Mediterranean 2011 | Benalmádena | 1 | 13.05.2011 | 36.60, -4.51 | 36.40 | 20.47 | 11 |
Málaga | 2 | 15.05.2011 | 36.72, -4.41 | 36.40 | 24.00 | 88 | |
Caleta Vélez | 2 | 03.07.2011 | 36.75, -4.07 | 36.53 | 24.33 | 21 | |
Reqvelis | 3 | 01.07.2011 | 36.76, -2.61 | 36.90 | 26.13 | 31 | |
Almería | 1 | 11.07.2011 | 36.83, -2.46 | 36.77 | 25.70 | 1 | |
Alicante | 5 | 29.06.2011 | 38.34, -0.49 | 38.23 | 28.07 | 9 | |
Dénia1 | 1 | 28.06.2011 | 38.85, 0.11 | 37.03 | 26.70 | 90 | |
Valencia | 1 | 28.06.2011 | 39.43, -0.33 | 37.77 | 27.80 | 1 | |
Borriana | 2 | 28.06.2011 | 39.86, -0.07 | 37.70 | 26.37 | 1 | |
Orpesa1 | 1 | 28.06.2011 | 40.08, 0.13 | 37.90 | 25.37 | 1 | |
Tarragona1 | 1 | 27.06.2011 | 41.11, 1.25 | 38.00 | 25.83 | 2 | |
Vilanova Geltrú1 | 1 | 27.06.2011 | 41.21, 1.73 | 37.80 | 24.43 | 6 | |
Barcelona1 | 5 | 26.06.2011 | 41.38, 2.18 | 37.80 | 23.77 | 37 | |
L’Estartit1 | 3 | 25.06.2011 | 42.05, 3.21 | 36.60 | 22.20 | 20 | |
Tánger | 2 | 31.05.2011 | 35.79, -5.81 | 36.03 | 19.37 | 5 | |
Ceuta | 2 | 29.05.2011 | 35.89, -5.32 | 36.13 | 21.87 | 4 | |
Marina Smir | 1 | 30.05.2011 | 35.75, -5.34 | 36.37 | 20.23 | 2 | |
M’Diq | 3 | 30.05.2011 | 35.68, -5.31 | 36.20 | 21.37 | 34 | |
Atlantic 2017 | Cádiz, Puerto América | 12 | 14.05.2017 | 36.54, -6.38 | NA | NA | 81 |
Rota | 18 | 14.05.2017 | 36.62, -6.35 | NA | NA | 214 | |
Sancti Petri | 14 | 13.05.2017 | 36.40, -6.21 | NA | NA | 2 | |
Portugal 2021 | Setúbal, Portugal2 | 15 | 07.07.2021 | 38.51, -8.90 | 36.12 | 23.65 | 274 |
Sampling campaign II was conducted in April 2017. During this campaign mobile epibionts were collected from artificial passive collectors made of bath puffs and deployed in marinas of the southern coast of the Iberian Peninsula (Table
Additionally, a complementary campaign was carried out at a fishing port in the Sado estuary, Portugal, over the summer and spring of 2021. In order to capture mobile species associated with fouling communities, eight samples were scraped from distinct artificial structures, four in each season. Tanaididae were found in all the samples from both seasons.
All samples were preserved in 90% ethanol. Epifauna was sorted and identified to higher taxonomic level and Tanaidacea were taken for further analysis. The measurements of specimens were made with the help of a camera connected to the microscope (Nikon Eclipse Ci-L) using NIS-Elements View software (www.nikoninstruments.com). The following abbreviations were used for morphological description: “A1” – Antenna 1, “A2” – antennule, “P1” – “P6” – pereopod 1 - pereopod 6, “Pl” – pleopod, “N L:W” means “N times as long as wide”.
For the analysis tanaidids from the two first sampling campaigns (in 2011 and 2017) were used. Tanaids were identified with help of relevant taxonomic literature and specimens were classified according to sex and development stage as: manca, neutrum, female with oostegites, brooding female, male or juvenile male. Term “manca” describes juveniles without pereopod-6 or only with buds of pereopod-6. Neutrum is a developmental stage after manca which cannot be determined as female or male and juvenile male is a stage in which the beginning of modification of antennules and cheliped can be observed (
Ten specimens: one neutrum, three females with oostegites, four brooding females, one male, one juvenile male and one not specified (only head available) were dissected, put into slides and compared with each other as well as with the descriptions of Zeuxo turkensis given by
Demographic analysis was presented as percent contribution of particular stages and sex per marina. Differences in contribution of stages between areas of sampling (Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea) were checked using Kruskal-Wallis test.
To provide molecular characterization of the studied taxon, a representation of individuals from each station (from one to five specimens) from the 2011 and 2017 campaigns was chosen. Total DNA was extracted from one chela with a mixture of 50 μl pure H2O with 0.005 g Chelex® (SIGMA-ALDRICH Co.) and 3.3 μl proteinase K. The digestion at 55°C lasted for 6 hours. The DNA barcoding fragment of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI) (658 bp) was amplified using the degenerated LCO1490-JJ (5’-CHACWAAYCATAAAGATATYGG-3’) and HCO2198-JJ (5’-AWACTTCVGGRTGVCCAAARAATCA-3’) primer pair (
DNA of one individual, characterized by the COI sequence, was used for the amplification of the histone 3 (H3) nuclear gene. It was amplified with the primer pair H3aF (5’-ATGGCTCGTACCAAGCAGACACGGC-3’) and H3aR (ATATCCTTAGGGCATAGATAGGTGAC) (
Electropherograms were viewed in Geneious 10.1.2 (sequences from the 2011 and 2017 collections) or MEGA-X (
All sequences were deposited in GenBank with the accession numbers: OQ922007–OQ922017 and OR038200 (COI) and OQ922006 (H3). Relevant voucher information, taxonomic classifications, and sequences are deposited in the dataset “DS-ZTURIP” (https://dx.doi.org/10.5883/DS-ZTURIP) in the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD) (www.boldsystems.org) (
The distribution of species was plotted on the World map using QGIS 3.16 (QGIS.org 2021). All graphics were adjusted for publication with the Adobe Illustrator CS6.
In total, 586 specimens were collected during the campaign I in 32 marinas along the Iberian and Moroccan coasts, and 297 specimens in the three marinas surveyed in southern Spain during campaign II (Figure
Within 53 analysed characters 23 were shared between specimens from Iberian Peninsula and Moroccan coast and descriptions of H. sasuke and Z. turkensis (Table
Comparison of morphological characters based on
Zeuxo turkensis Larsen, 2015 | Hexapleomera sasuke Tanabe & Kakui, 2019 Japanese population | Hexapleomera sasuke Tanabe & Kakui, 2019 Australian population | Zeuxo turkensis Iberian population | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Antennule | ||||
Antennule article 1 length (L):width (W) | 3 (f); 3.8 (m) | 3.06 | 1.3–4.1 (f) | 1.3–3.2 (f); 4.1 (m) |
Antennule article 1 L to article 2 L | 2.91 | 2.39 | nd | 0.7–2.9 |
Antennule terminal aesthetascs | 4 (f); 5 (m) | 3 (f); 6 (m) | nd | 1–6 (f); 4 (m) |
Antenna | ||||
Antenna 7th article presence | absent | present | absent | present |
Antenna article 2 L:W | 1.5 (f); 1.8(m) | 1.3 (f); 2.2 (m) | nd | 1.3–1.8 (f); 1.7 (m) |
Mouthparts | ||||
*Z Labial palp on outer lobe (size, shape) | present, small setulose oval | present, small setulose oval | nd | present, small setulose oval |
Labial palp fused to outer lobe or not | unspecified | partly fused | nd | partly fused |
*H Maxilliped coxa setae | 2 | 2 | nd | 2 |
Maxilliped basis setae | 2 | 1 | nd | 1–2 |
Maxilliped palp article 1 lateral margin expanded | rather not | rather not | nd | rather not |
*Z Maxilliped palp article 1 lateral marginal setae | 3 | 1 | nd | 1–2 |
*Z Maxilliped palp article 2 lateral marginal setae | 1 | 1 | nd | 1 |
*H Maxilliped endite distal spiniform setae (each with) | 2 | 2 | nd | 2 (hard to observe in some specimens) |
Maxilliped endite distal plumose setae (each with) | 2 | 2 | nd | 2 (hard to observe in some specimens) |
*Z Left mandible lacinia mobilis | wide, digitate distally with 5 processes | wide, digitate distally with 5 processes | nd | wide, digitate distally with 5 processes |
*Z Right mandible lacinia mobilis | reduced, peg like | reduced, peg like | nd | reduced, peg like |
*Z Mandible setal row | 2 | 2 | nd | 1–2 |
Maxillule palp articles | 2 | 2 | nd | 1–2 |
Maxillule palp setae | 5 | 4 | nd | 3–5 |
Maxillule endite terminal spiniform setae | 8 | 8 | nd | 7–8 |
Cheliped | ||||
Cheliped merus with ventrodistal indent | no (f); yes (m) | yes (m); yes (f) | nd | yes (m); yes (f) |
Cheliped carpus L:W, (f) | 1.4 | 1.5 | nd | 1.2–1.5 |
Cheliped carpus L:W, (m) | 1.3 | 1.1 | nd | 1.3 |
Cheliped carpus L: propodus L, (f) | 0.8 | 0.78 | nd | 0.6–0.8 |
Cheliped carpus L: propodus L, (m) | 0.6 | 0.6 | nd | 0.6 |
Cheliped propodus W:carpus W, (f) | 1 | 0.9 | nd | 1.0–1.3 |
Cheliped propodus W:carpus W, (m) | 1.1 | 1.1 | nd | 1.3 |
*Z Cheliped carpus ventral process (f) | present | present | nd | present |
*Z Cheliped carpus ventral process (m) | present | present | nd | present |
Cheliped fixed finger proximal tooth-like apophysis (m) | present | present and absent | nd | present |
Cheliped fixed finger cutting edge shape (f) | proximal invagination present; distal expansion into lamella with undulating dorsal surface | proximal invagination present; distal expansion into lamella with undulating dorsal surface | nd | proximal invagination present; distal expansion into lamella with undulating dorsal surface |
Cheliped propodus proximoventral process | present (f); present (m) | present (m); slight process present (f) | nd | present (f); present (m) |
Cheliped dactylus ventral spinulation (f) | present | present | nd | present and absent |
Cheliped dactylus ventral spinulation (m) | present | present | nd | present |
Cheliped dactylus ventral apophysis (f) | absent | absent | nd | present and absent |
Pereopods | ||||
*Z Coxa 1 apophysis presence | absent | absent | nd | absent |
Pereopod 1 (P1) propodus serrate or plumose strong medial seta | present | present | nd | present |
Pereopods 2 & 3 carpal dorsodistal crotchet length cf. Propodus | less than 1/3 | less than 1/3 | nd | less than 1/3 |
Pereopods 2 & 3 propodus ventral setae | P2: 3; P3: 2 | P2: 1; P3: 2 | nd | P2: 2–3; P3: 1–3 |
Pereopods 2 & 3 propodus ventrodistal spiniform seta | absent | absent | nd | absent |
Pereopods 2 & 3 crotchets distal on carpi | 4 | 4 | nd | P2: 3–4; P3: 4–5 |
*Z Pereopods 4 to 6 crotchets distal on carpi | 5 | 5 | nd | 4–5 |
Carpal crotchets form | with ancillary apical spine | with ancillary apical spine | nd | with ancillary apical spine |
Pereopod 6 propodus leaf-like setae in mediodistal row | 7 | 9 | 8–11 | 9–11 |
Pereopod 6 propodus dorsodistal setae (excluding subdistal setae) | 2 longer | 2 longer | nd | 2 longer |
Pleopod | ||||
*Z Pleopods 1 & 2 basal article medial setae (plumose) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
*Z Pleopods 1 & 2 basal article lateral setae (plumose) | 6 | 5 | 5 to 7 | 4–7 |
*Z Pleopods 1 & 2 endopods medial setae | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
*H*Z Pleopod 3 basal article medial setae (plumose) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Pleopod 3 basal article lateral setae (plumose) | 3 | 3 | 2–3 | 3–4 |
Pleopod 3 endopod medial setae (plumose) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Pleopod 3 versus 1 & 2 | slight | slight | slight | slight |
Uropod | ||||
*H*Z Uropod segments (including basal segment, mature specimens) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Within analysed characters 33 were variable among studied specimens. Variability was observed for: proportion of L: W on A1 and A2 articles (A1 article L:W 1.3–4.1; A1 length of article1: article 2 0.7–2.9; A2 article 2 L:W 1.3–1.8), number of setae on maxilliped basis and article 1 (1–2), maxillulae palp and endite setation and articulation (palp 1–2 articles, 3–5 setae; endite 7–8 setae). Differences in ratio of L: W in cheliped carpus and propodus (female carpus L: W 1.2–1.5; male carpus L:W 1.1–1.3; length of female carpus to propodus 0.6–0.8 and width of carpus to propodus 1.0–1.3 in both male and female), spinulation and ventral apophysis on dactylus in females was observed only is some specimens. Moreover, there were differences in number of ventral setae on propodus of P2 and P3 (1–3 setae), number of crotchets on carpus of P2 to P6 (P2 with 3–4 P3 to 6 with 4–5), and number of leaf-like setae in mediodistal row on propodus of P6 (7–11). Variability was also observed in number of lateral setae on basal article of Pl1, 2 (4–7 setae) and Pl3 (3–4 setae).
The following characters were observed only in Z. turkensis, but not in other specimens: antenna with six articles (vs. seven in the rest of individuals), labial palp not fused (vs. partly fused), three setae on maxilliped palp 1 (vs. one – two) and seven leaf like setae on propodus P6 (vs. 8–11). Two characters were found only in H. sasuke: maxillule palp with four setae and P2 propodus with one ventral setae.
Populations from the Iberian and Moroccan coast (campaign I) were dominated by neutrums, which represented 74%, female with oostegites constituted 2%, brooding females 10%, males 5%, juvenile males 1% and mancas 4%. Figure
Distribution of Zeuxo turkensis at marinas along Iberian Peninsula and Moroccan coast with ratio of six stages of development: manca, neutrum, female with oostegites, brooding female, juvenile male and adult male at particular marinas and mean distribution calculated for Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean. Star indicates the stations from where molecular data were obtained, red star – station sampled in 2021 from Sado estuary, Portugal (results of demographic study not presented here).
Proportion between sexes and stages from campaign 2017 was: 45% of neutrums, females with oostegites constituted 4%, brooding females 11%, males 7%, juvenile males 13% and mancas 18%.
Although much effort was put into the molecular study of the COI of the available collection (103 individuals from 2011 and 2017 taken for DNA extraction) only eleven sequences were obtained. The more, only three of them were amplified with LCO1490-JJ/HCO2198-JJ primers making the final sequence over 600 pb long. In the case of the 2021 collection from Sado estuary in Portugal, after four attempts presented in the Methods section, only one sequence was obtained. The sequences were identical between themselves and showed 100% similarity to the sequence of Zeuxo turkensis (
Our results show that the studied tanaidid species, which is recorded for the first time in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, is a widely distributed species associated to human transport hubs (marinas and fishing ports in this case), and therefore it should be considered as a neocosmopolitan species. The species was identified as Z. turkensis that is conspecific to H. sasuke. Distribution of the species was so far confirmed in Mediterranean as well as Pacific (coast of Japan) and Indian (coast of Australia) oceans. Our findings also represent the first record of the species in Atlantic waters.
Morphological analysis of 53 characters coupled with molecular analysis of two genetic markers revealed that Hexapleomera sasuke Tanabe & Kakui, 2019 shall be synonymized with Zeuxo turkensis Larsen, 2014.
All but one individuals studied by different working teams appear to be characterized by identical COI sequences (Suppl. material
There are no species-specific characters neither for Z. turkensis nor H. sasuke (Table
Careful comparison of our specimens with the description of Japanese, Australian and Turkish specimens, with character list by
To summarize, the combination of molecular identity noted for both mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear (H3) genes coupled with the high morphological variability observed even within single replicate proves that our target species is a single widely distributed tanaidid. Because
Our study highlights also another taxonomic problem – lack of well-defined characters separating the two genera: Hexapleomera Dudich, 1931 and Zeuxo Templeton, 1840, that is the basis for further wrong species identification.
Zeuxo turkensis was previously known from Turkey, Italy, Japan, and Australia (in the two last areas as H. sasuke) (Suppl. material
Species dispersion, no matter if natural or human-mediated, requires morphological, physiological and behavioural adaptations. Firstly, animals must survive the long journey. Tanaididae, that travel as passengers within algae, efficiently cling on the branches due to strongly setose body, spinose pereopods and curved dactylus on pereopods 4–6 (Johnson and Attradamal 1982, pers. obs.). The morphology and consequent clinging behaviour is a typical phenomenon observed in peracarids associated with fouling community (
After arrival in novel habitats, newcomers must establish self-sustaining populations and spread to surrounding areas. This process depends on several factors such as propagule pressure, environmental and pollution tolerance, resource availability or biotic pressures in the recipient region (e.g., competition, facilitation) (e.g.,
Even though the populations of Z. turkensis along the Iberian Peninsula and nearby areas seems to be well adapted to the environment, no genetic variability was recorded. Such phenomenon is often associated with a recent colonization event as a consequence of genetic bottleneck (
M.R.: The Andalusian Government financial support (Project I+D+I, US-1265621, co-financed by the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional-FEDER). R.S.R.: project GI4Sado provided by Centro de Investigação em Energia e Ambiente CINEA - Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal Escola Superior de Tecnologia de Setúbal IPS. R.S.R.: project INVASIVES provided by Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa FCUL - Universidade de Lisboa ULisboa. R.S.R.: Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) strategic project UIDB/04292/2020 awarded to MARE. R.S.R.: project LA/P/0069/2020 granted to the Associate Laboratory ARNET (Aquatic Research Network). A.S and A.M.J.: Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology, University of Lodz. A.S and A.M.J.: Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
AS, AMJ, MR: Research conceptualization; RSR, RS, MR: Sampling design; AS, AMJ, RSR, RS Methodology; AS, AMJ, MR, RSR, RS: Investigation and data collection; AS, AMJ: data analysis and interpretation; Ethical approval: not applicable; AS, AMJ, RSR, RS, MR: funding provision; AS, AMJ, MR: Writing – original draft; AS, AMJ, MR, RSR, RS: Writing – review & editing.
The study was partially funded by the statutory funds of the Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology of University of Lodz and the funds of the Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection. Authors thank Sahar Khodami for help in solving problems with molecular study. We are also extremely grateful to José M. Guerra, Pilar Cabezas, Carlos Navarro, Triana Revanales, Victor López and Gemma Martínez for their kind help during field samplings and to Ferran Palero for offering the material to study. We express our gratitude to the two anonymous reviewers and the editor for providing useful comments that allowed us to improve our work. Financial support was partially provided by the Andalusian Government (Project I+D+I, US-1265621, co-financed by the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional-FEDER). Romeu S. Ribeiro benefited from the financial support of projects GI4Sado (CINEA-IPS) and INVASIVES (FCUL-ULisboa), FCT strategic project UIDB/04292/2020 awarded to MARE and project LA/P/0069/2020 granted to the Associate Laboratory ARNET. Authors would also like to thank Paula Chainho for her guidance during field samplings and Jorge Lobo Arteaga for his help with the molecular analysis.
Alignment of all presently available sequences of Zeuxo turkensis
Data type: tif
Explanation note: Alignment of all presently available sequences of Zeuxo turkensis showing the length differences and position of the single mutation observed. *in the work by
Barcode of Life Datasystem (BOLD) - data of all sequences produced during present study
Data type: xlsx
Zeuxo turkensis distribution based on literature data
Data type: xlsx