Phylogeographic study using autonomous reef monitoring structures indicates fast range expansion of the invasive bryozoan Juxtacribrilina mutabilis

Abstract This is a phylogeographical study of Juxtacribrilina mutabilis, recently described bryozoan from Japan with sightings in Sweden, Norway, and Maine (US), to test how fast far it has expanded across Europe recent years. J. mutabilis settles easily on ship hulls, making useful model organism for studying long-distance invasion pathways. The was conducted using Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) monitor the entire European coastline Svalbard DNA metabarcoding. During time between its first sighting 2008 last ARMS retrieval 2020, data shows gained pan-European distribution, being genetically identified 14 new distinct locations. Presence/absence barcodes were confirmed by image-based identification 74% samples. Fourteen haplotypes never reported before discovered 264 bp region cytochrome oxidase I gene. Two (HP1 HP3) occurred frequently geographically widely dispersed, indicating intercontinental connectivity. locations, Koster Getxo showed particularly high genetic diversity similar haplotype networks suggesting continuous gene flow oceanographically unlinked regions. Given description relatively few historical encounters, here suggests an unusually range expansion within two decades. Such global spreading events fouling organisms may become more common future as result frequent interconnected traffic.