Symplegma (Ascidiacea: Styelidae), a non-indigenous genus spreading within the Mediterranean Sea: taxonomy, routes and vectors

Alfonso Ramos-Esplá,Alan Deidun,Ghazi Bitar,Aylin Ulman,Melih Çinar,Yassine Sghaier,Jasmine Ferrario

doi:10.3391/ai.2020.15.1.04

Abstract

The surveys in Porto Marina El Alamein, Egypt were conducted within the framework of the MAPMED Project “MAnagement of Port areas in the MEDiterranean Sea Basin” funded by ENPI CBC MED Cross-Border Cooperation. The specimens of S. brakenhielmi from Kiyikislacik (Aegean Sea) were collected during a project funded by Ege University (16/SUF/003). The surveys in Kuriat Island, Tunisia were conducted within the framework of the Supporting the management of the marine and coastal protected area of the Kuriat Islands executed by SPA/RAC in partnership with the Coastal Protection and Management Agency and Notre Grand Bleu NGO and funded by the MAVA Foundation.

Highlights

IntroductionThe opening of the Suez Canal, the expansion and increase in intensity of maritime traffic, aquaculture and the marine aquarium species trade are the main vectors of introduction of non-indigenous taxa in the Mediterranean Sea, accelerated and favoured by climatic change
Some specimens from the Ionian Sea present opaque tunics resembling the Indo-Pacific Symplegma bahraini; morphological studies suggest that the genus in the Mediterranean Sea is represented by a single species, Symplegma brakenhielmi
The opening of the Suez Canal, the expansion and increase in intensity of maritime traffic, aquaculture and the marine aquarium species trade are the main vectors of introduction of non-indigenous taxa in the Mediterranean Sea, accelerated and favoured by climatic change

Summary

Introduction

The opening of the Suez Canal, the expansion and increase in intensity of maritime traffic, aquaculture and the marine aquarium species trade are the main vectors of introduction of non-indigenous taxa in the Mediterranean Sea, accelerated and favoured by climatic change Among the world’s seas, the Mediterranean Sea is the most invaded by non-indigenous species (NIS), at present hosting about 700 confirmed marine NIS (Zenetos et al 2017; Galil et al 2018). Spreading of Symplegma brakenhielmi in the Mediterranean Sea ascidians found in the Mediterranean is Symplegma, which normally occurs in shallow and warm waters of tropical and subtropical seas around the world (Van Name 1945; Tokioka 1967; Monniot and Monniot 1997a; Kott 2004). Other species have been reported from more restricted areas, such the Western Pacific (Symplegma connectens Tokioka, 1949; Symplegma japonica Tokioka, 1962; Symplegma arenosa Kott, 1972; Symplegma alterna Monniot C., 1988; and Symplegma teruakii Kott, 2004) and Indian Ocean (Symplegma zebra Monniot C., 2002)

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