Invasion
Invasion Description
1st Record: Montevideo Uruguay/La Plata estuary (1917, unpbulished MS, Schwindt et al. 2020)
Geographic Extent
Canelones/Uruguay/Arroyo de las Bujes (1937, ten Hove and Weerdenburg 1978); Uruguay/Pando Stream, Castillos, Solis Grande Stream coastal lagoons/Uruguay/La Plata estuary (1979, Muniz et al. 2005); Uruguay/Rocha coastal lagoon, Atlantic Ocean (Muniz et al. 2005)
Vectors
| Level | Vector |
|---|---|
| Alternate | Ballast Water |
| Alternate | Hull Fouling |
Regional Impacts
| Ecological Impact | Habitat Change | |
| Ficopomatus enigmaticus created reefs in Uruguayan coasta lagoons, which were considered to be an indicator of a perturbed environment (Muniz et al. 2005). Ficopomatus enigmaticus reefs attract dense populations of the introduceed amphipod Melita palmata (Bazterrica et al. 2020). | ||
| Economic Impact | Industry | |
| Ficopomatus enigmaticus obstructed the cooling systems of oil refineries in Uruguay (Muniz et al. 2005). | ||