The ivory barnacle Amphibalanus eburneus (Gould, 1841) (arthropoda: Hexanauplia: Sessilia) in Albania (Adriatic sea)

Abstract

The ivory barnacle Amphibalanus eburneus (Gould, 1841), native to the Western Atlantic, is a worldwide invader whose spread has been facilitated by shipping and shellfish culture. During a rapid assessment survey held in August 2018, several juvenile and adult barnacles were found among fouling communities of native mussel farms from Lake Butrint (Albania, Adriatic Sea). The majority of these barnacles were subsequently identified as A. eburneus. The present record fills a gap in the global invasive distribution of this taxon and represents the first record of the species from Albania. The appearance of A. eburneus in this novel location is most likely due to secondary spreading via shipping and/or fouling or introduction via shellfish culture. Barnacles, in general, can have adverse effects on native ecosystems and biota by competing for space and food and contributing to biofouling on ships/vessels and anthropogenic structures. Therefore, future studies may focus on the possible impacts of A. eburneus on the local native mussel economy and native biota.