About the Data
Species records include data on invasions history, distribution, ecology, impact, and more. These data were gathered from published literature and targeted surveys. All records have undergone expert review, unless otherwise noted.
Species Profiles
NEMESIS includes detailed information on about 500 species of marine and estuarine of invertebrates and algae introduced to the United States. Each record contains information on taxonomy, distribution, ecology, and impacts, as well as references.
Daily Invader
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Watersipora subtorquata
Watersipora subtorquata is an encrusting bryozoan widely distributed around the globe. Its colonies can be erect and leaf-like, with extensive overlapping calcareous crusts and curled edges, which create secondary habitat for the settlement of other marine invertebrates. Its native range is poorly understood because of taxonomic confusion with related species. However, introduced populations have been recorded on the West coast of the United States, Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and South Africa. This species is known from rocks, oyster shells, pilings, floats, oil platforms, ships' hulls, and fouling plates. It is tolerant of copper and mercury antifouling paints and has outcompeted congeneric species in some areas of its introduced range. Watersipora subtorquata is frequently confused with W. arcuata, W. subatra, W. atrofusca (native to the both sides of the North Pacific?) and Watersipora n. sp., genetically defined, but undescribed introduced species) all found on the West Coast. Currently, W. subtorquata has been identified from SERC plates in southern California (Linda McCann, personal communication).
Daily Invader for 2024-07-27