Background Rafting of organisms on floating objects, long recognised as a key process in biogeography and evolution, has undergone tremendous change with the rapid increase of ocean litter (plastics and other human‐made materials). Resulting increases in raft longevity and abundance expand opportunities for marine species' dispersal. Here, we present a conceptual framework for the role of benthic stopovers by artificial rafts...

Invasive ecosystem engineers both positively and negatively affect their recipient ecosystems by generating novel habitats. Many studies have focused on alterations to ecosystem properties and to native species diversity and abundance caused by invasive engineers. However, relatively few studies have documented the extent to which behaviors of native species are affected. The red seaweed Gracilaria vermiculophylla (Rhodophyta)...