Results of species assessment according to Target Species selection criteria
Known human health impact? Yes
Comments: This species is not predicted to impact human health or water quality.
Known economic impact? Yes
Comments: Polydora hoplura is a spionid polychaete which bores into calcareous substrates, usually the shells of mollusks, but also barnacles, coralline algae, sponges, and limestone.
References: Bilbao, A., Núñez, J., Viera, M. D. P., Sosa, B., Fernández-Palacios, H., Hernández-Cruz, C. M. 2011. Control of shell-boring polychaetes in Haliotis tuberculata coccinea (Reeve 1846) aquaculture: Species identification and effectiveness of mebendazole. Journal of Shellfish Research, 30(2), pp. 331-336.
Known measurable environmental impact? Yes
Comments: The shell-boring worm P. hoplura is a well-known invader that has been reported for other areas to be responsible for significant damage to cultured bivalves.
References: Almón, B., Pérez-Dieste, J., De Carlos, A., Bañón, R. 2022. Identification of the shell-boring parasite Polydora hoplura (Annelida: Spionidae) on wild stocks of Pecten maximus in Galician waters, NW Spain. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 190, 107750.
Included in the final TS list? - Yes
References: HELCOM, 2009. Alien Species and Ballast Water [PDF]. Available at: (https://archive.iwlearn.net/helcom.fi/stc/files/shipping/Table_2_Alienspecies_%20lists_2009.pdf)