Introduction to introduced hydrozoa (benthic polyp stage)
The Hydrozoa is a class of Cnidaria. They are characterized by having a life-cycle involving sexual and asexual reproduction. Most hydrozoans have a benthic, colonial polyp stage, which reproduces asexually by budding. Many have free swimming, sexually reproducing medusae (see Introduction to Ctenophores (and Cnidarian medusae)). Others have attached gonophores, which will produce eggs or sperm. The systematics of this group is highly unstable and phylogenetic relationships are still under study. This has caused many name changes and synonymizations, and probably this will continue for many years to come. Hence lists of synonyms and references to primary taxonomic literature are important even in management related publications and databases. See here for recent information on systematics (click on "browse" to get to classification).
In Nordic waters only one species, Cordylophora caspia is an established introduced species. However, a number of species have been found in neighbouring waters in the southern and/or western North Sea, and some have been recorded a few times in Nordic waters.
Garveia franciscana (Torrey, 1902) (=Bimeria f.; =Perigonimus megas Kinne, 1956). Occurs in the Netherlands in brackish waters, Belgium and Germany (Verwoort, 1964; Schuchert, 2007). Origin unknown, but possibly a warm water species as it has also invaded the coasts of Brazil.
Nemopsis bachei L. Agassiz, 1849 (=N. heteronema Haeckel, 1879), originally from Atlantic coast of North America, although this has been questioned (see Wolff, 2005). Polyp solitary, small inconspicuous (Schuchert, 2007), and it is uncertain whether both polyp and medusa have been recorded in Europe. Has been found in the UK (Hebrides) and Norway, and apparently is established in the Netherlands (Wolff, 2005). See also Introduction to Ctenophores (and Cnidarian medusae).
Pachycordyle navis (Millard, 1959) (=Thieliana n.; Clavopsella navis) – possibly a Ponto-Caspian species, but not certain. Has been found in South Africa, the Baltic, the U.K., Germany and is established in the Netherlands (Wolff, 2005). Specimens collected from the Isefjord, Denmark and identified as Corydendrium dispar Kramp, 1935 (Rasmussen, 1973) has been re-examined and identified as N. bachei (Schuchert, 2004). In the UK there is an action plan for this species. For further information see: http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesinformation.php?speciesID=4461
Rasmussen, E. 1973. Systematics and ecology of the Isefjord marine fauna (Denmark). Ophelia 11: 1-507.
Schuchert, P. 2004. Revision of the European athecate hydroids and their medusae (Hydrozoa, Cnidaria): Families Oceanidae and Pachycordylidae. Revue Suisse de Zoologie 111(2): 315-369.
Schuchert, P. 2007. The European athecate hydroids and their medusae (Hydrozoa, Cnidaria): Filifera Part 2. Revue Suisse de Zoologie 114(2): 195-396.
Verwoort, W. 1964 Note on the distribution of Garveia fransiscana (Torrey, 1902) and Cordylophora caspia (Pallas, 1771) in the Netherlands. Zoologische Mededelingen 39: 125-146.
Wolff, W.J. 2005. Non-indigenous marine and estuarine species in The Netherlands. Zoologische Mededelingen 79(1): 1-116.