We report the first occurrence of Rugulopteryx okamurae in Alicante Bay, the northernmost location in the Iberian Mediterranean where this species was detected. Collected specimens were studied using a morphological and molecular approach. A rapid assessment survey was conducted to assess its presence and abundance in the nearest beach-cast and infralittoral areas. The highest abundance was found over dead P. oceanica matte, occupying an important extension in the bay. We found detached fragments of R. okamurae dispersed by local hydrodynamics, accumulating on some tourist beaches in the region. The potential suitability of the Mediterranean for its spread necessitates monitoring programs to study its variation over time and potential impacts on native biota.

我们报告了在阿利坎特湾首次发现Rugulopteryx okamurae，这是在伊比利亚地中海最北端发现该物种的地方。使用形态学和分子方法对收集的标本进行研究。进行了一项快速评估调查，以评估其在最近的海滩和近海区域的存在和丰富程度。在死亡的P. oceanica matte上发现了最高丰度，占据了海湾的重要延伸部分。我们发现冈村红藻的分离碎片因当地流体动力学而分散，并在该地区的一些旅游海滩上堆积。地中海对其传播的潜在适宜性需要监测计划来研究其随时间的变化以及对本地生物群的潜在影响。