Lessepsian Migrant Research Articles

Alien biodiversity in Mediterranean marine caves

AbstractThe number of alien species in the Mediterranean Sea is increasing rapidly, but few attempts have been made to evaluate impacts on specific habitat types. The present study investigated alien biodiversity in Mediterranean marine caves, both by contributing new records of Eastern Mediterranean cave aliens, and by reviewing the scattered existing literature; the main goals were to highlight potential impacts and investigate the importance of cave environments for the expansion of alien species. Seven new alien species were found in marine caves of the Aegean and Ionian seas, raising the total number of aliens reported from Mediterranean marine caves to 56 species, classified as molluscs, cnidarians, bryozoans, polychaetes, crustaceans, macroalgae, fishes and tunicates. Most cave aliens (66%) were recorded from the Southeastern Levantine coasts, specifically from Lebanese caves. Shipping and Lessepsian migration have been suggested as the main pathways of alien introduction into caves of the Mediterranean Sea. The comparison of alien cave biodiversity with the updated Mediterranean alien inventory (32 species added to the latest inventory) showed similar patterns and trends for species richness, biogeographical origin and major introduction pathways, corroborating previous findings on the high local representativeness of Mediterranean cave biodiversity. Alien species seem to have invaded mostly the entrance and semi‐dark zones of shallow and/or semi‐submerged caves and tunnels, whereas only a few have reached the dark inner sectors or caves of the anchialine type; thus, the unfavourable cave environment seems to be naturally protected from impacts related to opportunistic invasive species, at least to a certain point. Currently there is no research confirming any direct impacts of alien biota on the native cavernicolous one. However, some issues have emerged, implying potential threats that need to be further explored: (i) the presence of a considerable proportion of aliens in most studied marine caves of the Southeastern Mediterranean basin, (ii) the recently observed population explosion of alien cave‐dwelling fishes in the same area, (iii) several indications that alien diversity in marine caves is much higher than we know today. Quantitative surveys and monitoring schemes are needed in order to evaluate potential effects of alien diversity on cave community structure and the role of marine caves as stepping stones for its expansion in the Mediterranean.

Common traits associated with establishment and spread of Lessepsian fishes in the Mediterranean Sea

It was more than 30 years after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 that the first reports on Indo-Pacific fishes entering the Mediterranean Sea (so-called ‘Lessepsian migration’) were published. The number of new records of Lessepsian fishes remained more or less constant between 1920 and 2000 but increased dramatically after that. The accelerated rate of entry was attributed by many authors to an increase in the Mediterranean surface water temperature. However, the Suez Canal has been repeatedly deepened and widened during the last decades and the increased immigration rate of Red Sea fishes might also be related to reduced dispersal barriers. We analyse the relationship between dispersal and establishment success and a pool of different traits for 101 Lessepsian fish species using generalized linear models. Our models did not reveal a significant relationship between the sea surface temperature in the native range of immigrant fishes and their dispersal or establishment success in the Mediterranean Sea. The minimum depth in which a species was observed was the only significant trait influencing dispersal success. This trait is likely related to the architecture of the Suez Canal since until the 1970s only species with a very low minimum depth were recorded to have entered the Mediterranean, but species occurring in deeper water started to immigrate after 1980 when the canal was deepened to 19.5 m. The establishment success of Lessepsian fishes was significantly linked to size and spawning type. Benthic spawners and species with adhesive eggs represent successful colonizers. Moreover, successful colonizers are species with a tendency to form schools, whereas solitary species are less successful. The results show that dispersal and establishment success of Lessepsian fish immigrants are influenced by different ecological traits.

First record of the Red Sea spotted grouper, Epinephelus geoffroyi (Klunzinger, 1870) (Serranidae) in the Mediterranean

On January 2015 a specimen of the Red Sea spotted grouper Epinephelus geoffroyi (Klunzinger, 1870) was recorded for the first time from the Mediterranean Sea. This species apparently entered the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal (Lessepsian migrant) and is the fourth Red Sea grouper found in this region.

Saurida lessepsianus a new species of lizardfish (Pisces: Synodontidae) from the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea, with a key to Saurida species in the Red Sea.

Saurida lessepsianus n. sp., a lizardfish (Aulopiformes: Synodontidae) from the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea, previously misidentified as S. undosquamis (Richardson) and more recently as S. macrolepis Tanaka, is described as a new species. It is characterised by the following combination of characters: dorsal fin with 11-12 rays; pectoral fins with 13-15 rays; lateral-line scales 47-51; transverse scale rows above lateral line 4½, below lateral line 5½; pectoral fins moderately long (extending to between just before or just beyond a line from origin of pelvic fins to origin of dorsal fin); 2 rows of teeth on outer palatines; 0-2 teeth on vomer; tongue with 3-6 rows of teeth posteriorly; caudal peduncle slightly compressed (depth a little more than width); upper margin of caudal fin with row of 3-8 (usually 6 or 7) small black spots; stomach pale grey to blackish anteriorly; intestine whitish. The species is common in the Red Sea and as a result of Lessepsian migration through the Suez Canal, it is now widely distributed in the eastern Mediterranean. The taxonomic status of two other Red Sea nominal species, Saurus badimottah Rüppell [= Saurida tumbil (Bloch)] and Saurida sinaitica Dollfus in Gruvel (a nomen nudum), is clarified. A key is provided for the species of Saurida in the Red Sea.

Alien marine fishes in Cyprus: update and new records

The Mediterranean Sea, due to its connection to the Red Sea via the Suez Canal, its heavy maritime traffic, and the effects of climate change is a hotspot of invasion by alien species. A survey carried out around Cyprus during September 2014 documented the occurrence of 25 alien fishes. Seven Lessepsian migrants (Hippocampus fuscus Ruppell, 1838, Nemipterus randalli Russell, 1986, Ostorhinchus fasciatus (Shaw, 1790), Parupeneus forsskali (Fourmanoir & Gueze, 1976), Pomadasys stridens (Forsskal, 1775), Sphyraena obtusata Cuvier, 1829 and Spratelloides delicatulus (Bennett, 1832)) were recorded for the first time, increasing to 35 the number of alien fishes recorded around the island. Four of these first records can be considered as 'established', whereas the 2013 first record of Pterois volitans/miles is confirmed by new findings placing the species as newly 'established' in Cyprus. All the recorded alien fishes of Cyprus are Lessepsian migrants, 80% of which can be considered established and four of them are invasive. The rapid increase of alien fish species over time in Cyprus supports the accelerating tropicalisation process observed elsewhere in the Mediterranean over the last decades. Furthermore, the new finding of the tropical Atlantic immigrant Enchelycore anatina (Lowe, 1839) is documented.

The current status of the Adriatic sea fish biodiversity

Event Abstract Back to Event The current status of the Adriatic sea fish biodiversity Jakov Dulčić1* and Lovrenc Lipej2 1 Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Croatia 2 Marine Biological Station University of Ljubljana, Slovenia The marine biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea is nowadays facing substantial structural changes in flora and fauna. Such changes were observed in the Adriatic Sea as well. During the last few decades, various factors including climate change, anthropogenic activity and lessepsian migration have altered the composition of Adriatic ichthyofauna. Furthermore, extensive investigations carried out in the last decades allowed us to recognize species previously not recorded or reported in this area. These changes are reflected in the number of species quoted in the checklist of Adriatic fishes, from 407 in 1996 (sensu Jardas, 1996) to 440 in 2010 (Agnatha 1, Elasmobranchii 52, Holocephali 1 and Actinopterygii 386) (sensu Lipej and Dulčić, 2010). The present updates for the period 2010-2014, were compiled from survey of relevant scientific papers and doctoral theses. Only those species which were reported and appropriately documented in scientific literature were taken into consideration. In the period of 2010-2014, twelve new fish species have been recorded in the Adriatic Sea such as Lobotes surinamensis, Siganus luridus, Paranthias furcifer, Holacanthus ciliaris, Elates ransonnetti, Enchelycore anatina, Caranx rhonchus, Lagocephalus sceleratus, Chrysiptera cyanea, Notoscopelus kroeyerii, Notoscopelus bolini and Dipturus nidaroniensis. These findings increase the number of fish species recorded in the Adriatic Sea to 452 (Elasmobranchii 53, Actinopterygii 397). Certain fish species were probably related to recent processes in the Adriatic Sea, such as bioinvasion and tropicalisation. Of the 14 Lessepsian migrants that were recorded in the Adriatic Sea, Fistularia commersonii and Siganus luridus proved to be successful invaders in its southern part. Some fish species were recorded for the very first time due to new research approaches and techniques in the area (e.g. cryptobenthic fish fauna). Keywords: Adriatic sea, Fishes, Biodiversity, changes, Lessepsian migrants Conference: XV European Congress of Ichthyology, Porto, Portugal, 7 Sep - 11 Sep, 2015. Presentation Type: Oral Presentation Topic: Ecology, Conservation and Invasive Species Citation: Dulčić J and Lipej L (2015). The current status of the Adriatic sea fish biodiversity. Front. Mar. Sci. Conference Abstract: XV European Congress of Ichthyology. doi: 10.3389/conf.fmars.2015.03.00073 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 13 Nov 2015; Published Online: 17 Nov 2015. * Correspondence: Dr. Jakov Dulčić, Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Split, Croatia, dulcic@izor.hr Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Jakov Dulčić Lovrenc Lipej Google Jakov Dulčić Lovrenc Lipej Google Scholar Jakov Dulčić Lovrenc Lipej PubMed Jakov Dulčić Lovrenc Lipej Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

Native and alien ichthyofauna in coastal fishery of Rhodes (eastern Mediterranean) (2002-2010)

Event Abstract Back to Event Native and alien ichthyofauna in coastal fishery of Rhodes (eastern Mediterranean) (2002-2010) Maria Corsini-Foka1* and Gerasimos Kondylatos1 1 Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Greece Rhodes Island (southeastern Aegean) is located in a geographically crucial region subjected to biological invasions. Among the 108 alien species recorded, 30 are fish, all of Indo-Pacific/Red Sea origin introduced via Suez through Lessepsian migration (Corsini-Foka et al., 2015; Corsini-Foka and Kondylatos, In press; Kondylatos and Corsini-Foka, In press). In this oligotrophic area, fishery production is limited, due to the paucity of species of commercial interest and their low abundance, while adapted infrastructures for fish landing and marketing are absent. Coastal fishery has dominated during the last twenty years (ELSTAT, 2015). Within 2002-2010, the Hydrobiological Station of Rhodes conducted experimental boat seining surveys, using exclusively a professional 12m fishing boat, at 5-30 m depth, in the Gulf of Trianda (sandy mud, Posidonia meadows). The 94 carried out hauls (7-18 hauls/year), produced a total fish biomass of approximately 4400 Kg, recording 97 fish (86 native, 11 alien) and 4 cephalopod species (3 native, 1 alien). Fish species ranged from 32 to 63/year, whereas aliens ranged from 5 to 8 species. Almost steadily present since 2002, were earlier colonizers such as Apogonichthyoides pharaonis, Siganus rivulatus, Siganus luridus, Stephanolepis diaspros and more recent ones as Pteragogus trispilus, Sphyraena chrysotaenia and Fistularia commersonii, while Lagocephalus sceleratus, firstly recorded in 2005, occurred regularly since 2007; the presence of Lagocephalus suezensis, Sphyraena flavicauda and Upeneus pori was scattered since their first records in 2004-2005. Alien fish commercially important are the Siganids, S. chrysotaenia and surprisingly F. commersonii. In terms of biomass per haul, alien fish ranged from 0 to 18.5 Kg, native from 1.5 to 182 Kg. Catches were dominated by Centracanthidae (Spicara spp.) and Sparidae (Boops boops), sometimes by other native such as Oblada melanura, Diplodus spp., Chromis Chromis and others. The present work aims to contribute in the limited literature on the demersal fish species assemblage of the SE Aegean over time, given the ongrowing influx of aliens in the area. References Corsini-Foka, M., Zenetos, A., Crocetta, F., Çinar, M.E., Koçak, F., Golani, D., et al. (2015). Inventory of alien and cryptogenic species of the Dodecanese (Aegean Sea, Greece): collaboration through COST Action training school. Manag. Biol. Invasion., 6, In press. ELSTAT-Hellenic Statistic Authority (2015). http://www.statistics.gr Corsini-Foka, M. and Kondylatos, G. (In press). First occurrence of the invasive Lionfish Pterois miles (Bennett, 1828) (Osteichthyes: Scorpaenidae) in the Aegean Sea. In: Crocetta, F. et al., New Mediterranean Biodiversity Records (October 2015), Med. Mar. Sci. Kondylatos, G. and Corsini-Foka, M. (In press). Diadema setosum (Leske, 1778) moving west to the Hellenic Seas. In: Crocetta, F. et al., New Mediterranean Biodiversity Records (October 2015), Med. Mar. Sci. Keywords: Rhodes, Eastern Mediterranean, fishery, boat-seining, Alien fish Conference: XV European Congress of Ichthyology, Porto, Portugal, 7 Sep - 11 Sep, 2015. Presentation Type: Oral Presentation Topic: Ecology, Conservation and Invasive Species Citation: Corsini-Foka M and Kondylatos G (2015). Native and alien ichthyofauna in coastal fishery of Rhodes (eastern Mediterranean) (2002-2010). Front. Mar. Sci. Conference Abstract: XV European Congress of Ichthyology. doi: 10.3389/conf.fmars.2015.03.00069 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 12 Nov 2015; Published Online: 12 Nov 2015. * Correspondence: Dr. Maria Corsini-Foka, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Rhodes, 85100, Greece, mcorsini@hcmr.gr Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Maria Corsini-Foka Gerasimos Kondylatos Google Maria Corsini-Foka Gerasimos Kondylatos Google Scholar Maria Corsini-Foka Gerasimos Kondylatos PubMed Maria Corsini-Foka Gerasimos Kondylatos Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

Alien bryozoans in the eastern Mediterranean Sea--new records from the coast of Lebanon.

The Levant Basin (SE Mediterranean) is the most exposed to the introduction of non-indigenous species. The current assessment of exotic bryozoans present along the coast of Lebanon has been completed by the recording of fourteen cheilostome species (one cryptogenic) collected by diving in 17 localities (2-42 m). This set of exotic bryozoans comprises ten genera, including four (Akatopora Davis, 1934, Drepanophora Harmer, 1957, Mucropetraliella Stach, 1936 and Predanophora Tilbrook, 2006) not previously reported in the Mediterranean, while Celleporaria is the most successful extra-Mediterranean genus with four species in the survey collection. A new Celleporina species, C. bitari n. sp., also collected in the Red Sea, is described. Although lessepsian migration through the Suez Canal is the main pathway for exotic bryozoans in this region, the geographic origin of some species suggests that shipping through Gibraltar Strait is also responsible to a large extent.

First occurrence of Actaeodes tomentosus (H. Milne Edwards, 1834) (Brachyura: Xanthidae: Actaeinae) in the Mediterranean Sea

The presence of the crab Actaeodes tomentosus, native to the Indo-Pacific Ocean and the Red Sea, is documented for the first time in the Mediterranean Sea, on the basis of two specimens collected from Rhodes Island (Aegean Sea), a marine area particularly vulnerable to warm-water alien invasions. Along with the recent report of Xanthias lamarckii in similar conditions and region, the finding of another non-indigenous xanthid opens many questions regarding their occurrence in the area. Apart from the Lessepsian migration, other possible vectors of introduction are therefore examined.

Synchiropus sechellensis Regan, 1908 (Teleostei: Callionymidae), a new Lessepsian migrant in the Mediterranean Sea

A new Lessepsian migrant, Synchiropus sechellensis Regan, 1908 (Teleostei: Callionymidae), was recorded for the first time by a single male specimen, during bottom trawl operation in the Mediterranean Sea.

First record of the Indian Ocean anchovy Stolephorus insularis Hardenberg, 1933 from the northeastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey

The transfer of species into the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal is called Lessepsian migration (Por, 1978). Ninety substantiated Lessepsian fish records have been reported, 32 of these fishes in the Mediterranean Sea within the past decade (Golani, 2010; Bariche and Heemstra, 2012; Fricke et al., 2012; Azzurro et al., 2013; Stern and Goren, 2013). Of these, 55 are reported in Turkish waters, including the recent findings of Champsodon vorax (G€ oko glu and € Ozvarol, 2013) and the blue-barred parrotfish, Scarus ghobban (Turan et al., 2014). Stolephorus insularis is widespread throughout the northern Indian Ocean, and from the northwestern Pacific Ocean to New Caledonia in the southwestern Indian Ocean (Gulf of Thailand, Java Sea, Hong Kong, Fujian and Taiwan Island, possibly Fiji and Samoa) (Whitehead et al., 1988; Fricke et al., 2012; Froese and Pauly, 2013). According to Hoedt (1994), this species is found predominantly in shallow waters and estuaries at depths of 30–40 m. Engraulis encrasicolus is thus far the only Engraulid species recorded in the Mediterranean Sea (Quignard and Tomasini, 2000; Nelson, 2006). However, Stolephorus insularis (subfamiliy Coiliinae) was recorded on 7 August 2009 for the first time on the Tel Aviv coast of Israel, and reported by Fricke et al. (2012) who emphasized that S. insularis is an IndoPacific species; it seems logical to assume that its range extension into the Mediterranean Sea occurred via the Suez Canal. Thus, the record of S. insularis from the northeastern Mediterranean coasts of Turkey reported here is proof of its northerly range extension.

Alien Mollusca in the Levantine Sea: an update. Occurrence of Ervilia scaliola Issel, 1869 along the Levantine coast of Turkey

The present work updates the number of alien molluscs reported in the eastern Mediterranean since 2012 and brings the total to more than 100 species in the Levantine Turkish Coast. Ervilia scaliola Issel, 1869, widespread in the Red Sea, was collected in August 2013 from Tasucu Harbour, Levantine coast of Turkey. This is the first record of E. scaliola in the Mediterranean Sea. Although shipping appears to be the most probable vector of its introduction, Lessepsian migration cannot be ruled out as a pathway.

Maturity of the pufferfish Lagocephalus sceleratus in the southeastern Mediterranean Sea

SEDAO Sexuality and Early Development in Aquatic Organisms Contact the journal Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections SEDAO 1:35-44 (2014) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/sedao00005 Maturity of the pufferfish Lagocephalus sceleratus in the southeastern Mediterranean Sea Maria Rousou1,2, Konstantinos Ganias2,*, Demetris Kletou1,3, Alexandros Loucaides1, Markos Tsinganis2 1Marine and Environmental Research (MER) Lab Ltd, Nicosia, Cyprus 2School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54 124 Thessaloniki, Greece 3School of Marine Science and Engineering, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK *Corresponding author: kganias@bio.auth.gr ABSTRACT: The present study assesses maturity and reproductive dynamics of pufferfish Lagocephalus sceleratus (Gmelin, 1789) off Cyprus (southeastern Mediterranean Sea), in relation to regional differences in oceanographic conditions, habitat characteristics and fishing activity. In addition, the allometric pattern of gonadal growth was studied to validate the use of the gonadosomatic index (GSI) in assessments of the reproductive cycle. To do so, 4743 pufferfish were sampled between May and October 2010 so as to cover the reproductive period of the population, which peaks from late spring to middle summer. Analysis of GSI data showed a clear differentiation between 2 pufferfish populations residing in the southwestern (SWA) and the south-east (SEA) coastal areas of Cyprus. Specifically, the SWA population was mainly dominated by immature individuals and exhibited a more delayed and narrow reproductive period. Moreover, generalized linear model analysis (GLM) showed that the SWA population exhibited significantly smaller size at 50% maturity, L50 (41.9 cm), compared to the SEA population (48.8 cm). These differences in reproductive seasonality and L50 were not found to be related to differences in sea surface temperature (SST) between the 2 regions, whilst mature individuals almost entirely disappeared from both areas outside the reproductive period. The latter could not be attributed to overfishing of the larger size classes since the fishery was not shown to be selective to pufferfish size. These results indicate that L. sceleratus may be a spawning migratory species that visits Cyprus southeastern coasts to reproduce and then migrates to other warm areas of the eastern Levantine basin. KEY WORDS: Lagocephalus sceleratus · Maturity · Lessepsian migrant · Invasive species · Eastern Mediterranean Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Rousou M, Ganias K, Kletou D, Loucaides A, Tsinganis M (2014) Maturity of the pufferfish Lagocephalus sceleratus in the southeastern Mediterranean Sea. Sex Early Dev Aquat Org 1:35-44. https://doi.org/10.3354/sedao00005 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in SEDAO Vol. 1, No. 1. Online publication date: April 17, 2014 Print ISSN: 2195-2736; Online ISSN: 2195-2744 Copyright © 2014 Inter-Research.

First records of the warm water shipworm Teredo bartschi Clapp, 1923 (Bivalvia, Teredinidae) in Mersin, southern Turkey and in Olhão, Portugal

Bivalves of the family Teredinidae are among the most destructive wood-boring species in the sea. We report the first occurrences of the warm-water shipworm Teredo bartschi in Mersin, Turkey, and Olhao, Portugal. The colonisation of the site in Mersin is likely to have occurred by rafting adults originating from the Red Sea, which passed through the Suez Canal (lessepsian migrants). T. bartschi might have been introduced in Olhao Harbour, Portugal, either by rafting adults with larvae transported by currents or by larvae transported by ships in ballast water. These seem to be the first published records of established T. bartschi populations in the Mediterranean and in northeast Atlantic.

Catch and effort of night purse seine with emphasize to Age and Growth of lessepsian Etrumeus teres (Dekay, 1842), Mediterranean Sea, Egypt

Catch and effort (CPUE) of the purse-seine using light, age and growth of lessepsian fish “Etrumeus teres” from the Egyptian Mediterranean waters were studied in the period 2008. It was found that, the average annual catch (CPUE) was 1.7 (ton/boat/night). The catch diversity was composed of seventeen different species. Clupeids were the dominant 74.1% of the total catch. Seven lessepsian species were involved and constituted 41.18% and 19.01% of the total number and weight of the catch, respectively. Round herring E. teres was the highest one of these immigrants, accounting for 10.93% of the total catch; it exhibited the highest average values of the catch during winter and autumn (19.7% and 19.2%, respectively). The exponent “b” of length-weight was 3.052 revealing positive allometric mode of growth. The length range was 9–25cm for combined sexes with an average of 17.22±3.29cm while the smallest lengths were recorded during the summer season. The highest condition factor (k) was recorded in July, while the lowest one was in February, this factor increased with the increase in fish length. Round herring, E. teres reached to five years that was determined by otolith. Growth parameters; L∞ were 31.71, 29.058 and 30.26cm for males, females and combined sexes, respectively. Growth coefficients (K) were 0.214, 0.246 and 0.225year−1 for males, females and combined sexes, respectively; values of to were −0.776, −0.686 and −0.744year−1 for males, females and combined sexes. Growth performance indexes (Ø) were 2.33, 2.31 and 2.31 for males, females and combined sexes, respectively. This study reflected the importance of such fishing gear in the Egyptian marine fisheries. Round herring “E. teres” as lessepsian species is predicted to be of economic value in the marine fisheries and give the positive impact of the lessepsian migration. The age of E. teres was five age groups that were higher than those from the Red Sea reflecting the good establishment of such immigrants in the new habitat. This may be ascribed to the environmental variations between different localities and due to the low exploitation rate of such new immigrant species in the Egyptian Mediterranean waters.

Verification of the cryptic species Penaeus pulchricaudatus in the commercially important kuruma shrimp P. japonicus (Decapoda : Penaeidae) using molecular taxonomy

The kuruma shrimp Penaeus japonicus Bate, 1888 (Decapoda : Penaeidae) is economically important in the global shrimp market. It was regarded as the only species in the subgenus Marsupenaeus. However, our previous molecular analyses revealed two cryptic species (Forms I and II) in this species complex. In this study, we confirm the phylogenetic relatedness between the two cryptic species; revise their taxonomic status; and review their range distribution. The name Penaeus pulchricaudatus Stebbing, 1914 (with type-locality off the eastern coast of South Africa), previously considered as a junior synonym of P. japonicus, is fixed for Form II through a neotype selection. P. japonicus (Form I) is only confined to the East China Sea (including Japan, its type-locality) and the northern South China Sea. P. pulchricaudatus is widely distributed in the South China Sea, Australia, the Red Sea, the Mediterranean, and the western Indian Ocean. Phylogenetic analysis shows that P. japonicus is genetically homogeneous yet P. pulchricaudatus exhibits a strong phylogeographical structure. The Mediterranean stock of P. pulchricaudatus originated from the Red Sea population, supporting the Lessepsian migration hypothesis. The presence of two closely related cryptic species in the P. japonicus species complex provides important insights into fishery management and aquaculture development.

How to determine the likely indirect food-web consequences of a newly introduced non-native species: A worked example

In this paper we demonstrate through a worked case-study that it is possible to make an assessment of the indirect food-web consequences that might occur as a result of the arrival of a hither-to not observed non-native species. We also explore implications for commercial fisheries catches, through the application of a suite of complimentary ecosystem modelling tools.Fistularia commersonii is a lessepsian migrant (introduced via the Suez Canal) that was first recorded in the Mediterranean in January 2000. It has since spread throughout the basin and has been described as ‘the fastest and farthest spreading lessepsian fish migrant ever recorded’. We have used a Rank Proportion Algorithm (RPA) model to predict the theoretical diet composition of F. commersonii in the Bay of Calvi, Corsica. We did so based on potential prey abundances, as well as morphological and behavioural characteristics of both the prey and this novel predator.The ‘predicted’ diet composition of F. commersonii derived from the RPA analysis was then used as input to an Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) model. This model was used to simulate possible consequences of introducing this invasive species, assuming different rates of expansion of F. commersonii populations in the region. Increases in the F. commersonii population resulted in a marked decline in certain prey types (notably planktivorous fish, Mullus surmuletus and Symphodus tinca). By contrast, seabirds and piscivorous fish were suggested as possible beneficiaries, although this depended heavily on model and scenario assumptions. Overall fisheries catches were projected to increase, and this reflected an anticipated ‘bottom up’ increase in piscivorous fish that are the main target of the commercial fishery in the Bay of Calvi region.

Molecular Evidence for Lessepsian Invasion of Soritids (Larger Symbiont Bearing Benthic Foraminifera)

The Mediterranean Sea is considered as one of the hotspots of marine bioinvasions, largely due to the influx of tropical species migrating through the Suez Canal, so-called Lessepsian migrants. Several cases of Lessepsian migration have been documented recently, however, little is known about the ecological characteristics of the migrating species and their aptitude to colonize the new areas. This study focused on Red Sea soritids, larger symbiont-bearing benthic foraminifera (LBF) that are indicative of tropical and subtropical environments and were recently found in the Israeli coast of the Eastern Mediterranean. We combined molecular phylogenetic analyses of soritids and their algal symbionts as well as network analysis of Sorites orbiculus Forskål to compare populations from the Gulf of Elat (northern Red Sea) and from a known hotspot in Shikmona (northern Israel) that consists of a single population of S. orbiculus. Our phylogenetic analyses show that all specimens found in Shikmona are genetically identical to a population of S. orbiculus living on a similar shallow water pebbles habitat in the Gulf of Elat. Our analyses also show that the symbionts found in Shikmona and Elat soritids belong to the Symbiodinium clade F5, which is common in the Red Sea and also present in the Indian Ocean and Caribbean Sea. Our study therefore provides the first genetic and ecological evidences that indicate that modern population of soritids found on the Mediterranean coast of Israel is probably Lessepsian, and is less likely the descendant of a native ancient Mediterranean species.

Molecular comparison of geographically extreme populations of fish species of wide Indo-Pacific distribution

A total of six Red Sea inshore fish species with wide Indo-Pacific distribution, including Lessepsian migrants that reached the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal, were studied and compared genetically to conspecific populations from Japan and the Seychelles. Examination of the cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COI) gene of Apogon cyanosoma, Sargocentron rubrum, Upeneus moluccensis, Spratelloide sdelicatulus, Gerres oyena and Terapon jarbua from Japan, the Red Sea, the Seychelles and the Mediterranean revealed that in five out of six fish species, a difference greater than 4% was found. These results indicate the importance of DNA genetic analysis in revealing possible cryptic species and supplementing classic taxonomic studies, as well as contributing to a reappraisal of the zoogeography and evolution of Indo-Pacific ichthyofauna and enhancing our understanding of fish biodiversity.

TROPHIC ADAPTATION OF RED SEA FISHES TO THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN ENVIRONMENT—REVIEW AND NEW DATA

ABSTRACT The trophic adaptation of Red Sea fishes that colonized the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal (Lessepsian migrants) is reviewed. All species studied retained, as expected, their basic feeding habits. Some alterations were found in diet composition and prey size, compared with those of the populations in the source area. Insufficient knowledge of the abundance of most prey organisms in the Mediterranean makes it difficult to determine to what extent trophic adaptation is achieved by selection of preferred food. In the three families studied (Mullidae, Sphyraenidae, and Synodontidae), feeding habits play a negligible role in niche segregation between Lessepsian fishes and closely-related indigenous species in the Mediterranean; depth distribution is the main means of niche partitioning between these two groups of species. The division of Lessepsian fishes according to their feeding habits was compared to that of the source ichthyofauna in the Red Sea and of the recipient ichthyofauna in the eastern ...