Nicolás Battini

• Dr.
• PhD at Instituto de Biología de Organismos Marinos (IBIOMAR-CONICET)

Artificial reefs are submerged human-made objects. In particular, the artificial wrecks are intentionally submerged obsolete ships. Once deployed, these wrecks are rapidly colonized by diverse benthic communities. Currently, this effect is positively valued by the recreational diving industry, which uses this colonization effect as one of the main...

The European green crab (Carcinus maenas) is one of the most extensively studied decapod species worldwide, and it currently inhabits every continent except Antarctica. Its effects are observed across various spatio-temporal scales, impacting a wide range of taxa and environments. While extensive research has been conducted in the Northern Hemisphe...

The European green crab, Carcinus maenas, is a highly invasive species capable of exerting significant impacts on native biota, particularly on species of ecological and/or economic importance. In Atlantic Patagonia, green crabs have been rapidly expanding their distribution along the coast, yet their biotic interactions with native crab species ha...

El hundimiento intencional de buques es una estrategia comúnmente utilizada para fomentar el ecoturismo subacuático a nivel global. Los buques hundidos ofrecen sustrato y refugio para una gran diversidad de organismos. Esta biodiversidad, así como los valores paisajísticos y culturales que muchas representan, convierten a estos sitios en una atracc...

The attention towards non-native sea anemone introductions has been steadily increasing as multiple species are reported from new locations each year. However, a lack of monitoring efforts and difficulties associated with the detection and identification of these species may result in overlooking introductions in certain areas. In the southern hemi...

Clams belonging to the genus Corbicula are considered one of the most harmful freshwater invaders with strong economic and ecological impacts. In South America, they were first detected in 1979 in the Río de La Plata estuary and since then they have rapidly spread throughout the north of Argentina. To the south, the Corbicula clam began appearing i...

The study of marine bioinvasions was not homogenously developed worldwide and it is unclear the amount of research effort currently applied across the Southwestern Atlantic (SWA) countries. Through a comprehensive literature review, in this work, we analyze trends, gaps and achievements in the marine bioinvasion research efforts made along the coas...

In cephalopod hatchlings there is a transitional period considered critical, in which the digestive system undergoes morphophysiological changes associated with the passage from the consumption of vitelline reserves to an independent feeding. During this period, the characterization of the digestive dynamics and growth is key information to define...

Ascidians are one of the most important taxa in fouling communities of artificial structures. These organisms can establish new populations and successfully invade new areas, spreading outside the region where they were initially introduced, due to their high reproductive and growth rates and their broad tolerance to environmental conditions. Preda...

Background: Temperate rocky reefs in the SW Atlantic are productive areas that support highly diverse communities of invertebrates, algae and fishes. Rocky outcrops form complex structures which offer a diversity of microhabitats that lead to a great variety of co-existing species. Subtidal biodiversity within the Natural Protected Area Península...

Early detection and rapid response plans are a set of principles to reduce the establishment, spread and impact of invasive species and it is a critical step in management in marine ecosystems. Two potentially invasive ascidians attached to the hull of a recently sunk fishing vessel were early detected in Patagonia. With the aim of assisting in the...

• Invasive species threaten the conservation of marine environments, and urgent management strategies are needed to prevent their introduction, establishment and spread. Specifically, marine invasive predators destabilize ecological interactions and alter community structure and function. However, most of the evidence showing the effect of these pr...

Only a fraction of the species that are introduced succeed in the non-native environment, while others fail to survive, reproduce and/or disperse. Understanding the causes underlying each outcome is key to designing better early detection, prevention and management programs, and to deepen our knowledge of the invasion process. Here, we examine whet...

An unexpected predator-prey interaction is reported between two successful invasive species in Patagonia, the European green crab Carcinus maenas (Linnaeus, 1758) and the potentially neurotoxic grey side-gilled sea slug Pleurobranchaea maculata (Quoy & Gaimard, 1832). On two different occasions, a total of four crabs were observed preying upon the...

Artificial structures can provide suitable space for invasive species through a colonisable surface and refuge against predators. Besides several physical factors, invasive species can present different colonization success and dominance on structures that are connected to the sea floor (i.e. fixed) compared to structures that are suspended, depend...

The aims of this study were to compare the richness and the population traits of exotic and native peracarid species in two ports of the Southwestern Atlantic (Mar del Plata: MDP, Puerto Madryn: PMY), in order to discuss the vulnerability of these environments to biological invasions, to explore the current status of these assemblages and to study...

Ports are vulnerable to biological invasions because of the high shipping exchange and the abundance and diversity of artificial structures. These artificial environments provide new habitats for fouling communities, commonly hosting a large number of exotic species. The colonization of artificial structures is influenced by large and small scale p...

Early detection and rapid response are essential to prevent invasive species from thriving in marine environments following their introduction. Species distribution models (SDMs) are widely used to predict the potential distribution of invasive species, providing excellent tools for the design of strategies to prevent or mitigate impacts of non-nat...

NEW!!: DOWNLOAD FREE HighRes COPY FROM BHL: https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/281334#page/4/mode/thumb SPANISH: Las especies exóticas son aquellas cuya presencia en una región se debe a diversas acciones humanas, deliberadas o no, que les permitieron superar barreras biogeográficas que hubieran sido imposibles de atravesar por sí solas. Este...

La introducción de especies representa una de las principales amenazas a la biodiversidad mundial. Las estrategias de control y erradicación suelen ser inefectivas, por lo que la prevención surge como la herramienta más eficiente para minimizar su impacto. Dos componentes claves de las estrategias de prevención son el monitoreo y la respuesta rápid...

La introducción de especies es una de las amenazas más importantes, y a la vez menos evidentes, para la biodiversidad. Aún menos evidentes son las invasiones biológicas marinas, cuyos impactos muchas veces pasan desapercibidos por la sociedad. El caracol Rapana venosa (Valenciennes, 1846) se ha convertido en un molusco invasor en numerosas regiones...

Las invasiones biológicas son consideradas una de las principales causas de pérdida de biodiversidad mundial, por la variedad de impactos que pueden generar sobre las comunidades receptoras a través de procesos como la depredación. El opistobranquio marino Pleurobranchaea maculata, recientemente introducido en Argentina, es un depredador generalist...

Durante la última década, se incrementaron los estudios de incrustaciones biológicas (biofouling) sobre cascos de barcos, debido a la gran diversidad de especies marinas invasoras transportadas, y a la falta de medidas de control y manejo, como las adoptadas por la Organización Marítima Internacional para el agua de lastre. Mantener los cascos libr...

The opisthobranch Pleurobranchaea maculata, native to New Zealand and SE Australia, was recently found in Argentina. These sea slugs are highly voracious and active predators that feed on a wide variety of invertebrates, especially sea anemones, that represent their main prey items. Natives Actinothoe lobata and Parabunodactis imperfecta are the do...

La babosa de mar moteada (Pleurobranchaea maculata) es una especie invasora en Argentina. Recientemente, se ha descubierto que puede almacenar una potente neurotoxina en su cuerpo, lo que supone un peligro para animales y personas. En este trabajo, se discute acerca del riesgo potencial que plantea la introducción de esta especie en la región, con...