Introduced and cryptogenic marine benthic invertebrates of Peru

Campeán A.J.; Velez-Zuazo X.; Rosas-Puchuri U.; Alonso A.; Llaja L.; Carlton J.T. · Biological Invasions (2026) · DOI: 10.1007/s10530-026-03883-7

Resumen

In Peru, maritime activity with the potential to introduce non-native species has been intense since commercial trade began in the sixteenth century, yet little is known about the presence of marine introductions. We reviewed published data on the taxonomy and ecology of benthic species in the Humboldt Current System to evaluate records of non-native species and analyzed 18 years of international maritime traffic to identify the dominant countries involved in current maritime trade. The review reveals the presence of at least 32 introduced and 9 cryptogenic marine benthic invertebrates, including Arthropoda (16 species), Bryozoa (6), Chordata (6), Mollusca (4), Cnidaria (3), Annelida (3), Porifera (2) and Foraminifera (1). Introduced marine species in Peru originate largely from the Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea, the North Pacific, and the Indo-Pacific. Primary vectors for introduction in Peru are ship fouling and ballast water. Records of introductions were primarily found near commercial port terminals, which receive ships from multiple continents, and in artisanal fishing ports. Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, and the United States represented 80% of international traffic to Peruvian ports from 2005 to 2023. Our results highlight the importance of strengthening coordinated monitoring efforts around ports and coastal infrastructure in Peru. This baseline provides critical information for future biosecurity assessments, early detection programs, and management of marine biological invasions in Peru and the region. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos