Abstract

The number of introduced species in the marine environment has increased due to, among other factors, high demand in fisheries, aquaculture, and aquarium trade. Introduced species become invasive when they reach a widespread distribution and pose an environmental risk. The World Register of Introduced Marine Species recognizes about 1,844 species as alien or non-indigenous, but it is difficult to determine how introduced species become invasive and which is the damage inflicted to the environment. Various terms are used interchangeable referring to invasive species, such as non-indigenous, alien, introduced, invasive etc., but these terms may not mean the same. In Mexico, research has been concentrated mainly on invasive species in terrestrial and freshwater environments, with less attention devoted to marine species. In this work, we reviewed scientific databases and scientific journals (indexed in JCR) for publications using terms such as introduced, invasive, alien, or non-indigenous, for marine species in the southern Gulf of Mexico (off Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche and Yucatan) and the Mexican Caribbean (off Quintana Roo). We built a checklist of 23 marine species (algae, jellyfish, coral, amphipod, shrimp, and fish) with potential of being invasive and discussed possible or null effects of their introduction.

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