Polydora nuchalis (Polychaeta: Spionidae), a New Hawaiian Record from Aquaculture Ponds

Abstract

The spionid polychaete Polydora nuchalis was collected from the mud bottoms of penaeid shrimp and oyster culture ponds at two aquaculture farms on Oahu, Hawaii. The polychaetes formed masses of mud tubes, which contained egg capsules and early and late larval stages. Polydora nuchalis is not a shell-boring worm like the congener P. websteri that infects commercial shellfish, but is considered to be a pest because sediment and tube masses accumulate in the culture system. Polydora nuchalis was probably introduced to the Hawaiian Islands with shipments of shrimp from western Mexico to stock ponds at one of the aquaculture farms, but the means of dispersal to the other farm is presently unresolved. This accidental introduction of a commercially undesirable species occurred despite the permit system and quarantine regulations that are in effect.