[UNDER EMBARGO] 25 years of observations on non-indigenous Caprella species on navigation buoys.
The global expansion of marine infrastructure, or ‘ocean sprawl’—creates extensive new artificial habitat for hard substrate-associated species. Structures such as offshore energy installations, aquaculture systems, and navigation buoys support biofouling communities of native, introduced, and range-expanding species. Caprellid amphipods are typical members of these communities and can reach high densities. Using a unique 25-year dataset (1998–2023) from the Belgian part of the North Sea, we documented occurrence patterns of four Caprella species: the native C. linearis, the introduced C. mutica and the range-expanding C. equilibra and C. penantis. This long-term dataset reveals dynamic shifts in species dominance, co-occurrence, and spatial range, highlighting how introduced and range-expanding species successively establish and interact in biofouling communities in an increasingly warmer, busier, and more cosmopolitan ocean.
Standaard
- Datum (creatie)
- 2025-07-16T10:08:49Z
- Datum (revisie)
- 2025-07-16T11:31:46Z
- Datum (publicatie)
- 2026-01-27T16:32:04.216Z
- Datum (creatie)
- 2016-05-19
- Identifier
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bmdc.be:dataset:2980
Belgian Marine Data Centre
- theme
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fouling fauna
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- (Juridische) gebruiksbeperking
- anders
- Overige beperkingen
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
- (Juridische) toegangsrestrictie
- anders
- Overige beperkingen
-
Geen beperkingen op openbare toegang.
- Gebruiksbeperkingen
-
Geen voorwaarden in verband met gebruik.
- Veiligheidsrestricties
- vrij toegankelijk
- Ruimtelijk schema
- tekstTabel
- Taal
- English
- Onderwerp
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- biota
- gml32:beginPosition
- 1998-01-27
- gml32:endPosition
- 2023-12-18
- Referentiesysteem identifier
- EPSG / http://www.opengis.net/def/crs/EPSG/0/4258
- OnLine bronnen
- Digital Object Identifier (DOI) ( DOI )
- Niveau kwaliteitsbeschrijving
- dataset
- Algemene beschrijving herkomst
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Between 1998 and 2023, 320 navigation buoys were sampled across the Belgian part of the North Sea. Each buoy underwent visual inspection onshore to assess biofouling coverage and locate suitable sampling areas. Fouling communities, including mussels, were then scraped and preserved in 6% formaldehyde buffered with seawater. In the laboratory, Caprella species were identified to species level using standard keys. Metadata (buoy ID, geographic coordinates, sampling date, and species presence/absence) were recorded and compiled into standardised Excel files. Quality control included checks for completeness, consistency, and removal of duplicates. Spatial accuracy was verified, and species distributions were visualised using ArcGIS.
- Metadata ID
- bmdc.be:dataset:2980 XML
- Taal
- English
- Karakterset
- utf8
- Hierarchisch niveau
- dataset
- Metadata datum
- 2026-01-27T16:32:04.216Z
- Metadata standaard naam.
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Geographic information -- Metadata
- Metadata standaard versie
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ISO 19115:2003/19139
RBINS metadata catalog