Population Biology Commons^™

First Occurrence Of The Invasive Hydrozoan Gonionemus Vertens A. Agassiz, 1862 (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) In New Jersey, Usa, John J. Gaynor, Paul A.X. Bologna, Dena J. Restaino, Christie Barry

Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Gonionemus vertens A. Agassiz, 1862 is a small hydrozoan native to the Pacific Ocean. It has become established in the northern and southern Atlantic Ocean as well as the Mediterranean Sea. We report on the first occurrence of this species in estuaries in New Jersey, USA,and confirm species identification through molecular sequence analysis. Given the large number of individuals collected, we contend that this is a successful invasion into this region with established polyps. The remaining question is the vector and source of these newly established populations.