Kirchenpaueria halecioides: a non-native hydroid in the coast of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract

Hydroid colonies are among thegroups frequently transported and introduced by human actions. Many species have been successfullytransported as fouling organisms on ship hulls or in ballast water (pelagicstages) and the harbours appear as the places with high probability to detectexotic species. During routinely SCUBA diving conducted in Mar del PlataHarbor, Argentina (38°08´S - 57°31´W; May 2005, December 2006, March 2007, andDecember 2016) clumps of a plumularid were photographed and collected. Hydroidcolonies were identified as Kirchenpaueriahalecioides (Alder, 1859) (Hydrozoa, Kirchenpauriidae),a species frequently reported in tropical and subtropical water from thesouthwestern Atlantic; Brazil. Records of mature colonies in 2006 and 2016suggest local reproduction of this non-native species. Monitoring will benecessary in order to analyze if species colonize neighbouring areas or remain confined to the port area.