First Report of Grandidierella japonica Stephensen, 1938 (Amphipoda: Aoridae): A Non-native Species in Vellar estuary, Southeast Coast of India

Abstract

The present study reports the first confirmed occurrence of the non-indigenous amphipod Grandidierella japonica Stephensen, 1938 in the Vellar Estuary, located along the southeast coast of India. Systematic benthic sampling conducted between August 2024 and April 2025 revealed established populations of G. japonica, evidenced by the presence of ovigerous females and juvenile stages. Population density ranged from 1300 to 1800 ind./m², comparable to other introduced countries. Morphological examination confirmed the identity of the species based on diagnostic characters of gnathopod 1, which exhibited an oval-oblong shape consistent with native Japanese populations. Uropod 3 was uniramous, a trait separating it from most other aorid amphipods. The sex ratio was highly female-biased, and the highest abundance was recorded at Station S2. This record represents a significant range extension for G. japonica, highlighting the potential for estuarine systems impacted by aquaculture and tidal dynamics to serve as gateways for marine bioinvasions. Potential ecological impacts include competition with native amphipods such as Atylus minikoi, Idunella chilkensis, Orchestia platensis, and Eriopisa chilkensis. This finding highlights the importance of ongoing monitoring and biosecurity measures to track the spread and assess the ecological effects of non-indigenous species in Indian estuarine ecosystems.

Keywords

• Grandidierella japonica
• amphipod
• non-indigenous species
• Vellar Estuary
• India
• benthic community
• biological invasion
• aquaculture vector

Grandidierella japonica Stephensen, 1938’in (Amphipoda: Aoridae) İlk Raporu: Hindistan'ın Güneydoğu Kıyısı Vellar Haliçinde Yerli Olmayan Bir Tür

Abstract

Bu çalışma, Hindistan'ın güneydoğu kıyısı boyunca yer alan Vellar Haliçinde yerli olmayan bir amfipod olan Grandidierella japonica Stephensen, 1938'in ilk doğrulanmış varlığını bildirmektedir. Ağustos 2024 – Nisan 2025 döneminde yürütülen sistematik bentik örnekleme çalışmaları, yumurta taşıyan dişilerin ve genç bireylerin tespitiyle doğrulandığı üzere, bölgede yerleşik G. japonica popülasyonlarının varlığını ortaya koymuştur. Popülasyon yoğunluğu 1300–1800 birey/m² arasında olup, diğer getirildiği ülkelerde bildirilen değerlerle karşılaştırılabilir düzeydedir. Morfolojik inceleme türün kimliğini, yerli Japon popülasyonlarıyla uyumlu oval-uzamış biçim gösteren gnathopod 1’in ayırt edici karakterlerine dayanarak doğrulamıştır. Üçüncü üropodun tek dallı olması, onu diğer aorid amfipodların çoğundan ayırt eden bir özelliktir. Cinsiyet oranı belirgin şekilde dişi ağırlıklıydı ve en yüksek bolluk S2 İstasyonu'nda kaydedildi. Bu kayıt, G. japonica için önemli bir yayılım genişlemesini temsil etmekte olup, akuakültür faaliyetleri ve gelgit dinamiklerinden etkilenen haliç sistemlerinin denizel biyoistilalara geçit görevi görebileceğini vurgulamaktadır. Potansiyel ekolojik etkiler arasında Atylus minikoi, Idunella chilkensis, Orchestia platensis ve Eriopisa chilkensis gibi yerel amfipodlarla rekabet de bulunmaktadır. Bu bulgu, Hindistan haliç ekosistemlerinde yerli olmayan türlerin yayılmasını izlemek ve ekolojik etkilerini değerlendirmek için devam eden izleme ve biyogüvenlik önlemlerinin önemini vurgulamaktadır.

Keywords

• Grandidierella japonica
• amfipot
• yabancı tür
• Vellar Lagünü
• Hindistan
• bentik topluluk
• biyolojik istila
• akuakültür vektörü

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