Document of bibliographic reference 66768

BibliographicReference record

Type

Bibliographic resource

Type of document

Journal article

BibLvlCode

AS

Title

Barnacles (Cirripedia, Balanomorpha) in Belgian waters, an overview of the species and recent evolutions, with emphasis on exotic species

Abstract

In the present article an overview is given of all the recent Cirripedia Balanomorpha mentioned for Belgian waters with an appraisal of their present status and possible new evolutions. Historical data are reviewed, and completed with data from recent research and additional fieldwork. A recent and remarkable increase of the number of species belonging to the Belgian fauna was noted. The causes for this augmentation are discussed. Although some other species were mentioned, it appears that only 3 species were common in Belgium until World War II: Semibalanus balanoides, Balanus crenatus and B. improvisus. The former 2 are boreo-arctic species and can be considered as indigenous to the region. The latter is probably an early immigrant into European waters. During World War II, the New Zealand barnacle Elminius modestus reached Europe as fouling on ships of the Allied Powers. Nowadays, this species is the most common barnacle in Belgian waters. In 1996, B.amphitrite was discovered at several places along the Belgian coast.This cosmopolitan warm water species is now common in suitable habitats. During a recent study from buoys off the Belgian coast, 6 additional species were found: B. reticulatus, B. variegatus, B. trigonus, Megabalanus coccopoma and M. tintinnabulum, which are mainly cosmopolitan species living in tropical or warm temperate waters, and B. perforatus, a Lusitanean species apparently spreading to the south. For the time being these species are still rare and their occurrence is restricted to the specific habitat of the offshore buoys.

Bibliographic citation

Kerckhof, F. (2002). Barnacles (Cirripedia, Balanomorpha) in Belgian waters, an overview of the species and recent evolutions, with emphasis on exotic species. Bull. Kon. Belg. Inst. Natuurwet. Biologie 72(Suppl.): 93-104

location created

3e en 23e Linieregimentsplein

Topic

Marine

Is peer reviewed

true

Access rights

open access

Is accessible for free

true