Ports have long been considered ‘high-risk’ areas for the introduction of non-native species (NNS) and should therefore be a focus of NNS monitoring. The industrial nature of active ports can, however, provide various problems when attempting to carry out monitoring programmes. Current methodologies designed to identify NNS and to describe fouling communities have not been developed specifically for use in active ports and can encounter a number of issues when used in these environments. Here, two surveys were developed and trialled within an active port in South Wales, UK, designed to describe fouling communities, identify NNS and overcome some of the major limitations to conducting surveys within ports. Over a 6-month period, fouling communities dominated by solitary ascidians developed in each survey. Seven NNS were identified, mostly species already recorded in the 1950s, including the Mediterranean crab Brachynotus sexdentatus, and the more recently introduced Japanese skeleton shrimp Caprella mutica. Each survey was evaluated independently with respect to key factors, including the ability to detect NNS and practical aspects of using these survey methods in an applied context. We conclude that whilst each survey can function independently, the use of both survey types in conjunction offers the most robust solution to identifying NNS and describing wider fouling communities within active ports. This research has implications for the future monitoring and management of NNS within UK ports.

中文翻译：

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设计和实施两项调查，旨在描述污染群落和识别活跃港口内的非本地物种

长期以来，港口一直被认为是引进非本地物种 (NNS) 的“高风险”区域，因此应成为 NNS 监测的重点。然而，活动端口的工业性质在尝试执行监控程序时会带来各种问题。当前用于识别 NNS 和描述污染群落的方法尚未专门开发用于活动港口，并且在这些环境中使用时可能会遇到许多问题。在这里，在英国南威尔士的一个活跃港口开发和试验了两项调查，旨在描述污染群落、识别 NNS 并克服在港口内进行调查的一些主要限制。在 6 个月的时间里，每次调查都出现了以孤立海鞘为主的污秽群落。确定了 7 个 NNS，六齿短鲎，以及最近推出的日本骷髅虾荠菜. 每项调查都针对关键因素进行了独立评估，包括检测 NNS 的能力以及在应用环境中使用这些调查方法的实际方面。我们得出的结论是，虽然每项调查都可以独立运作，但结合使用这两种调查类型为识别 NNS 和描述活跃港口内更广泛的污染群落提供了最可靠的解决方案。这项研究对未来英国港口内 NNS 的监测和管理具有重要意义。