Moreno-Dávila, B., L., Huato-Soberanis, J., Gómez-Gutiérrez, C., Galván-Tirado, C., Sánchez, T., Alcoverro, E.F., Balart & X., Turon (2023). Taxonomic identity of Distaplia stylifera (Tunicata, Ascidiacea), a new arrival to the eastern Pacific displaying invasive behavior in the Gulf of California, Mexico. ZooKeys. 1157: 109-125. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1157.95986.
Betzabé Moreno-Dávila 1, Leonardo Huato-Soberanis 2, Jaime Gómez-Gutiérrez 3, Carolina Galván-Tirado 4, Carlos Sánchez 5, Teresa Alcoverro 6, Eduardo F. Balart 1 y Xavier Turon 7
A colonial ascidian of the genus Distaplia caused a mass mortality of the pen shell Atrina maura (Sowerby,1835) during June 2016 in the southwest of the Gulf of California (Mexico), with a significant socio-economic cost. Tentatively identified in previous works as Distaplia cf. stylifera, a precise taxonomic deter-mination was still lacking. In the present work, based on a detailed morphological study, it is confirmedthat this aggressive species is Distaplia stylifera (Kowalevsky, 1874). Originally described from the Red Sea,the species currently has a wide circumtropical distribution (with the exception of the Eastern Pacific todate) and is reported as introduced in parts of its range. The present account thus represents an importantrange extension of this species. However, when revising the original description and later observations,the reported variability of several characters makes it likely that the binomen is in fact a complex of species, as is common in other ascidians with wide distributions. A complete morphological and geneticstudy including populations from the entire range of distribution would be necessary to settle the statusof D. stylifera. Taxonomic uncertainties hinder a correct interpretation of biogeographical patterns andinference on the origin of the studied population. Nevertheless, the known introduction potential of thespecies, coupled with an explosive growth in an anthropized environment, and the lack of any previousreports in the Eastern Pacific, strongly suggest that the investigated population represents yet anotherinstance of ascidian introduction. From the point of view of management, its invasive behavior is causefor great concern and warrants mitigation measures.
Palabras clave: Ascidian; Gulf of California; introduced species; mass mortality; taxonomy; tunicate
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