The Invasive alien species in the Black Sea coast of Georgia

Abstract

Abstract The aim of the present paper is to compile a list of the invasive alien species on the Black Sea coast of Georgia. The results have been received from an assessment of data collected from different sources. According to recent data, the greatest number of species (36%) has arrived into the Black Sea from the Mediterranean as a consequence of expanding the natural range or coming through the ballast waters. This proportion has increased with the rising water temperatures of the upper layer. Only a few of these species have become abundant and almost none have reached other seas of the Ponto-Caspian. Among these species are the representatives of micro-, phyto- and zooplankton, demersal plankton, macrophytes, zoobenthos and fish.