Distribution of the invasive Caprella mutica Schurin, 1935 and native Caprella linearis (Linnaeus, 1767) on artificial hard substrates in the North Sea: separation by habitat

Studying offshore natural and artificial hard substrates in the southern North Sea (51ºN–57ºN/1ºW–9ºE), the invasive introduced Japanese skeleton shrimp Caprella mutica Schurin, 1935 was found to co-exist with the native Caprella linearis (Linnaeus, 1767) only on near-shore locations that had an intertidal zone (e.g., wind farm foundations). In contrast, on far offshore and strictly subtidal locations, such as shipwrecks and rocky reefs, only C. linearis was found. Based on these exploratory observations, we hypothesised that artificial structures that are only subtidal are inhabited exclusively by C. linearis, and never by C. mutica. To test this hypothesis and understand factors driving each species’ habitat preferences, habitat suitability models were constructed using generalised additive models, based on samples collected in 2013–2015 from offshore gas platforms, buoys, shipwrecks, and rocky reefs and combined with data from other published and unpublished surveys (2001–2014). The ...本研究针对北海南部海域（51°N–57°N/1°W–9°E）的近海天然与人工硬质底质开展调查，发现外来入侵的日本麦秆虫（Caprella mutica Schurin, 1935）仅在带有潮间带的近岸区域（如风力发电场桩基）与本土物种线状麦秆虫（Caprella linearis (Linnaeus, 1767)）共存。与之相反，在远海且严格潮下带的区域（如沉船与岩礁），仅能发现线状麦秆虫。基于上述探索性观测结果，本研究提出假说：仅分布于潮下带的人工构筑物仅会被线状麦秆虫栖息，而不会有日本麦秆虫入侵。为验证该假说并阐明调控两类物种生境偏好的关键因素，本研究基于2013–2015年采自近海天然气平台、浮标、沉船及岩礁的采样数据，并整合2001–2014年其他已发表与未发表的调查数据，采用广义可加模型（generalised additive models）构建生境适宜性模型。……