Date of introduction and origin
Haliplanella lineata is native to the Pacific. It was
probably introduced from Japan into the Atlantic towards the end of
the 19th century (Manuel 1988).
Method of introduction
It was probably carried on ships' hulls (Stephenson 1935;
Gollasch & Riemann-Zürneck 1996), and transported on oysters or
other shellfish.
Reasons for success
The adult anemone is the migrating phase; it shows extreme
tolerance towards abiotic factors (Gollasch & Riemann-Zürneck
1996); and it can frequently reproduce by asexual, longitudinal
fission and pedal laceration (Slick 1991).
Rate of spread and methods involved
It has an unknown rate of spread. Local colonisation is
achieved by fission, and remote spread through transport on ships'
hulls.
Distribution
It is distributed around Britain and throughout continental
Europe (Stephenson, 1935 & Williams 1973), generally occurring
in estuaries, ports and harbours on major shipping routes.
Factors likely to influence spread and distribution
Its distribution is likely to have been influenced by
shipping. However, its extension into brackish water is limited by
its tolerance of low salinities which, below 12%o are ultimately
lethal (Slick 1991). Haliplanella lineata seems to be
associated almost exclusively with mussels or oysters, even on
ships' hulls (Gollasch & Riemann-Zürneck 1996).
Effects on the environment
Unknown.
Effects on commercial interests
It can possibly be a nuisance as a fouling organism.
Control methods used and effectiveness
None used.
Beneficial effects
None known.
Comments
The species is now a common brackish-water anemone in Britain
(Barnes 1994).
References
Barnes, R.S.K. 1994. The brackish-water fauna of
northwestern Europe. Cambridge, Cambridge University
Press.
Gollasch, S., & Riemann-Zürneck, K. 1996. Transoceanic
dispersal of benthic macrofauna: Haliplanella lineata
(Verrill, 1898) (Anthozoa, Actinaria) found on a ship's hull in a
ship yard dock in Hamburg Harbour, Germany. Helgoländer
Meeresuntersuchungen, 50: 253-258.
Manuel, R.L. 1988. British Anthozoa (Coelenterata:
Octocorallia and Hexacorallia): keys and notes
for the identification of the species. 2nd ed. Leiden,
Linnean Society of London, Estuarine and Coastal Sciences
Association. (Synopses of the British fauna (New series), No.
18).
Slick, J.M. 1991. A functional biology of sea
anemones. London, Chapman & Hall.
Stephenson, T.A. 1935. The British sea anemones, Vol.
2. London,The Ray Society.
Williams, R.B. 1973. The significance of saline lagoons as
refuges for rare species. Transactions of the Norfolk and
Norwich Naturalists' Society, 22: 387-392.