PRESENCE OF EUROPEAN ALGAE CLADOSTEPHUS SPONGIOSUS (HUDSON) C. AGARDH (SPHACELARTIALES, OCHROPHYTA) IN BAJA CALIFORNIA PENINSULA, MEXICO: INTRODUCED SPECIE

Abstract

The brown algae Cladostephus spongiosus
(Hudson) C. Agardh which is native from
England, has recently been reported in
Mexico. This introduced species deserves
special attention. In order to understand
its distribution along the Mexican Pacific
coast, sampling campaigns were carried
out in 2006 and 2010 SebastiánVizcaíno
Bay and surrounding areas. A literature
review and herbaria specimens were carried
out to obtain information and records. We
found that the C. spongiosus distribution is
restricted mainly to SebastiánVizcaíno Bay.
Its distribution range is extended westward
in the Mexican Pacific coast with 360 km
of fishing area Queen, Baja California Sur
to Guadalupe Island, Baja California. We
observed juvenile and reproductive thalli
in C. spongiosus populations attached to
rocks and also specimens deposited on the
beach, indicating that the colonization of
this species is not limited to spread beyond
its current distribution range.