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Amphibalanus improvisus - Bay barnacle

Current distribution Amphibalanus improvisus (Darwin, 1854) (4601 OBIS-datapoints, 66152 GBIF-datapoints)
The origin of the bay barnacle Amphibalanus improvisus is unclear, so many scientists refer to the species as cryptogenic. It is a typical biofouling species that can easily spread by attachment to ship hulls. It was not until 1895 that live specimens of this barnacle were reported in Belgium. Individuals have been found in archaeological material dating from the 17th century. The bay barnacle can compete with local species for both food and space, but can also have a positive influence on the occurrence of algae, as has been demonstrated in the Baltic Sea.