Habitat type drives the distribution of non-indigenous species in fouling communities regardless of associated maritime traffic

Aim: Biological invasions and changes in land and sea use are amongst the five major causes of global biodiversity decline. Shipping and ocean sprawl (multiplication of artificial structures at the expense of natural habitats) are considered as the major forces responsible for marine invasions and biotic homogenization. And yet, there is little evidence of their interplay at multiple spatial scales. Here, we aimed to examine this interaction and the extent to which the type of artificial habitat alters the distribution of native and non-indigenous biodiversity. Location: Southeast Pacific - Central Chilean coastline Methods: Settlement plates were deployed upon two types of artificial habitats (floating or non-floating hard substrates) at a total of ten study sites, either exposed to international or local traffic. After colonization periods of three and thirteen months, plates were retrieved to determine their associated fouling sessile assemblages at an early and late stage of develop...