Mediterranean Coast Of Israel Research Articles

An established population of the alien sea slug Elysia grandifolia Kelaart, 1858 (Mollusca, Opisthobranchia, Elysiidae) off the Mediterranean coast of Israel

The alien sacoglossan opisthobranch Elysia grandifolia, first recorded in the Levantine basin, eastern Mediterranean Sea, in 2001, has established a flourishing population along the Mediterranean coast of Israel. In August 2012 large numbers were observed on bryopsidaceancovered rocky outcrops off the central Mediterranean coast of Israel. Pairs of specimens and clusters of several individuals with extended penes may be copulatory aggregations.

Reproductive characteristics and steroid levels in the scleractinian coral Oculina patagonica inhabiting contaminated sites along the Israeli Mediterranean coast

In this study we compared reproductive characteristics and steroid hormone levels in the non-indigenous scleractinian coral, Oculina patagonica, inhabiting contaminated vs. uncontaminated reference sites along the Israeli Mediterranean coast. Our results indicate significantly higher steroid levels in both seawater and coral tissue samples from contaminated sites as compared to reference sites, suggesting that corals tend to accumulate steroids from the surrounding waters. Despite their higher steroid levels, corals from the contaminated sites showed reproductive potential comparable to those of the reference sites. Interestingly, a clear distinction could be seen between corals exposed to pollution for long vs. short durations, with the latter showing a failure to complete gametogenesis. This suggests that reproduction in O. patagonica is susceptible to acute rather than chronic stress. The involvement of adjustment/adaptation processes may explain this species tolerance, and may reflect the ability of O. patagonica to successfully invade new areas in the Mediterranean Sea.

Recent records of the Indo-Pacific species, Lucifer hanseni Nobili, 1905 (Crustacea; Decapoda; Luciferidae) from the Mediterranean coast of Israel

Specimens of Lucifer hanseni Nobili, 1905 were obtained along the Mediterranean coast of Israel between 2008-2011. A single specimen collected in 1924 from Port Said harbour, Egypt, was hitherto the only record of the species in the Mediterranean Sea. The cluster of specimens documented herein suggests the species has recently established a population along the southern Levantine coast.

The First Substantiated Record of the Yellowbar Angelfish, <I>Pomacanthus Maculosus</I> (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Pomacanthidae) in the Mediterranean

A specimen of the Red Sea and western Indian Ocean Pomacanthus maculosus was collected from the Mediterranean coast of Israel. This record constitutes the first substantiated record from this region. In the case of a previous record of this species from Lebanon, no specimen was preserved. These two records, in addition to a video clip, an underwater photograph and several observations of this species from Israel indicates that P. maculosus has established a population in the Levant.

First record of Pseudorhaphitoma cf. iodolabiata (Hornung & Mermod, 1928) (Mollusca; Gastropoda; Mangeliidae) off the Mediterranean coast of Israel

A live juvenile specimen of the mangeliid gastropod Pseudorhaphitoma cf. iodolabiata was noted off the Mediterranean coast of Israel on April 25, 2010, outside the port of Haifa. The occurrence of this Red Sea endemic raises the number of alien mollusk species recorded off the Israeli coast to 137.

A new Contribution to the Alien Red Macroalgal Flora of Greece (Eastern Mediterranean) with Emphasis onHypneaSpecies

Three alien Rhodophyta, Botryocladia madagascariensis, Hypnea anastomosons and Hypnea valentiae, were recorded and illustrated for the first time from Greece (Aegean Sea and nearby areas). Previously reported from Karpathos Island, B. madagascariensis was observed from Korinthiakos Gulf. Reported as H. esperi from the Mediterranean coast of Israel, H. anastomosans was recorded from the Saronikos Gulf and Rhodes Island. Lastly, the occurrence of H. valentiae in the Eastern Mediterranean basin was confirmed. Habitat, taxonomical comments, and geographical distribution were provided for each species. A critical review of Hypnea species occurring in the Mediterranean Sea was also provided.

Feeding preferences of mesograzers on aquacultured Gracilaria and sympatric algae

While large grazers can often be excluded effectively from algal aquaculture operations, smaller herbivores such as small crustaceans and gastropods may be more difficult to control. The susceptibility of three Gracilaria species to herbivores was evaluated in multiple-choice experiments with the amphipod Ampithoe ramondi and the crab Acanthonyx lunulatus. Both mesograzers are common along the Mediterranean coast of Israel. When given a choice, the amphipod preferred to consume Gracilaria lemaneiformis significantly more than either G. conferta or G. cornea. The crab, however, consumed equivalent amounts of G. lemaneiformis and G. conferta, but did not consume G. cornea. Organic content of these algae, an important feeding cue for some mesograzers, could not account for these differences. We further assessed the susceptibility of a candidate species for aquaculture, G. lemaneiformis, against local algae, including common epiphytes. When given a choice of four algae, amphipods preferred the green alga Ulva lactuca over Jania rubens. However, consumption of U. lactuca was equivalent to those of G. lemaneiformis and Padina pavonica. In contrast, the crab showed a marked and significant preference for G. lemaneiformis above any of the other three algae offered. Our results suggest that G. cornea is more resistant to herbivory from common mesograzers and that, contrary to expectations, mixed cultures or epiphyte growth on G. lemaneiformis cannot reduce damage to this commercially appealing alga if small herbivores are capable of recruiting into culture ponds. Mixed cultures may be beneficial when culturing other Gracilaria species.

Seawater quality and microbial communities at a desalination plant marine outfall. A field study at the Israeli Mediterranean coast

Global desalination quadrupled in the last 15 years and the relative importance of seawater desalination by reverse osmosis (SWRO) increased as well. While the technological aspects of SWRO plants are extensively described, studies on the environmental impact of brine discharge are lacking, in particular in situ marine environmental studies. The Ashqelon SWRO plant (333,000 m 3 d −1 freshwater) discharges brine and backwash of the pre-treatment filters (containing ferric hydroxide coagulant) at the seashore, next to the cooling waters of a power plant. At the time of this study brine and cooling waters were discharged continuously and the backwash discharge was pulsed, with a frequency dependent on water quality at the intake. The effects of the discharges on water quality and neritic microbial community were identified, quantified and attributed to the different discharges. The mixed brine-cooling waters discharge increased salinity and temperature at the outfall, were positively buoyant, and dispersed at the surface up to 1340 m south of the outfall. Nutrient concentrations were higher at the outfall while phytoplankton densities were lower. Chlorophyll-a and picophytoplankton cell numbers were negatively correlated with salinity, but more significantly with temperature probably as a result of thermal pollution. The discharge of the pulsed backwash increased turbidity, suspended particulate matter and particulate iron and decreased phytoplankton growth efficiency at the outfall, effects that declined with distance from the outfall. The discharges clearly reduced primary production but we could not attribute the effect to a specific component of the discharge. Bacterial production was also affected but differently in the three surveys. The combined and possible synergistic effects of SWRO desalination along the Israeli shoreline should be taken into account when the three existing plants and additional ones are expected to produce 2 Mm 3 d −1 freshwater by 2020.

Repeated bleaching events may result in high tolerance and notable gametogenesis in stony corals: Oculina patagonica as a model

Coral bleaching events (BEs) are occurring in coral reefs worldwide and are expected to become annual, triggered by seasonal changes in water temperature. The stony coral Oculina patag- onica experiences repeated seasonal BEs along the Israeli Mediterranean coast. It thus constitutes a good model for assessing the potential effects of expected repeated BEs on coral physiology. Previous studies have shown that the overlap between bleaching and reproduction seasons in O. patagonica impedes gametogenesis. In the present study, we assessed the effect of bleaching on gametogenesis of populations commonly undergoing repeated seasonal BEs, and compared it with the effect of first and second summer BEs on gametogenesis of a population that has not experienced a summer BE in recent years. Interestingly, we found no differences between bleached and non-bleached colonies in most of the reproductive parameters tested in populations undergoing repeated seasonal BEs. We did find, however, that a population that experienced a summer BE for the first time presented signifi- cantly lower reproductive parameters in bleached colonies when compared to non-bleached colonies. Furthermore, in the following year, such bleached colonies showed an improvement in reproductive performance when compared to the previous year. The remarkable differences in gametogenesis between colonies experiencing first summer BE and those experiencing repeated seasonal BEs may be the result of improved utilization of alternative energy sources. This study pro- vides the first evidence for notable gametogenesis in corals undergoing repeated bleaching, and sug- gests that adjustment processes may increase tolerance levels and may play a role in the ability of corals to overcome the expected repeated BEs.

HIGH RESOLUTION TSUNAMI MODELING AT THE MEDITERRANEAN COAST OF ISRAEL TOWARDS AN EARLY WARNING TSUNAMI SCENARIOS DATA BANK

This poster paper presents first the a tsunami modelling investigation using the state of the art, open source tsunami model (GeoClaw), its adaptation to investigate the impact of tsunami wave generation, propagation and inundation at the Mediterranean coast of Israel using high resolution bathymetric and topographic grid , aided by additional tsunami generation modelling tools simulating the initial stages of tsunami generation by earthquake induced tectonic plates rupture and movement or by landslide on the coastal shelf, as well as visualization tools, adapted by the first author under LINUX operating system as an integral modelling package.

Is dinitrogen fixation significant in the Levantine Basin, East Mediterranean Sea?

We report N(2) fixation rates measured from two stations monitored monthly off the Mediterranean coast of Israel during 2006 and 2007, and along a transect from Israel to Crete in September 2008. Analyses of time-series data revealed expression of nifH genes from diazotrophs in nifH clusters I and II, including cyanobacterial bloom-formers Trichodesmium and diatom-Richelia intracellularis associations. However, nifH gene abundance and rates of N(2) fixation were very low in all size fractions measured (> 0.7 µm). Volumetric (15) N uptake ranged from below detection (∼ 36% of > 300 samples) to a high of 0.3 nmol N l(-1) d(-1) and did not vary distinctly with depth or season. Areal N(2) fixation averaged ∼ 1 to 4 µmol N m(-2) d(-1) and contributed only ∼ 1% and 2% of new production and ∼ 0.25% and 0.5% of primary production for the mixed (winter) and stratified (spring-fall) periods respectively. N(2) fixation rates along the 2008 east-west transect were also extremely low (0-0.04 nmol N l(-1) d(-1), integrated average 2.6 µmol N m(-2) d(-1) ) with 37% of samples below detection and no discernable difference between stations. We demonstrate that diazotrophy and N(2) fixation contribute only a minor amount of new N to the P impoverished eastern Mediterranean Sea.

On the population of Chromodoris annulata Eliot, 1904 (Mollusca: Opistobranchia: Chromodorididae) off the Mediterranean coast of Israel

The Indian Ocean opisthobranch Chromodoris annulata was first noted off the Mediterranean coast of Israel in October 2009. Early occasional sightings of single specimens were followed by increasingly frequent reports of clusters of specimens. Our findings point to the presence of an established population along the Mediterranean coast of Israel.

The reef-associating butterfly fish Chaetodon austriacus Rüppell, 1836 in the Mediterranean: The implication of behavioral plasticity for bioinvasion hazard assessment

A single specimen of the blacktail butterflyfish, Chaetodon austriacus, one of the most common butterflyfishes in the Red Sea, was collected in the port of Ashdod, on the Mediterranean coast of Israel in August 2011. The present record demonstrates a greater than expected plasticity in habitat choice and feeding habits in a species considered an obligate corallivore. Recent records of Eritrean coral-reef associating species in the Mediterranean serve as a warning that life-history based bioinvasion risk assessment has limited predictability in cases where species have broader environmental tolerances than their native range would seem to indicate.

Not far behind: First record of Beroe ovata Mayer, 1912 (Ctenophora: Beroida: Beroidae) off the Mediterranean coast of Israel

The American brown comb jelly, Beroe ovata, was first noted off the Mediterranean coast of Israel on 10 June 2011, outside the port of Ashdod. The occurrence of B. ovata soon after its prey, Mnemiopsis leidyi, had been recorded follows the pattern of spread elsewhere, yet its presence in the warm and saline waters of the SE Levant is a surprise.

On the occurrence of the Indo-Pacific Champsodon nudivittis (Ogilby, 1895) (Perciformes, Champsodontidae) from the Mediterranean coast of Israel, and the presence of the species in the Red Sea

The Indo West Pacific nakedband gaper, Champsodon nudivittis, is recorded for the first time from Israel on the basis of a single specimen collected off Ashdod, southern Israel. This species was previously recorded in the Mediterranean from eastern Turkey. Examination of Champsodon specimens deposited in the National Collection at Tel Aviv University revealed the previously unknown presence of C. nudivittis in the Red Sea. This presence suggests the species may have entered the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal.

Marivagia stellata gen. et sp. nov. (Scyphozoa: Rhizostomeae: Cepheidae), another alien jellyfish from the Mediterranean coast of Israel

Two specimens of an unknown jellyfish species were collected in Bat Gallim and Beit Yannai, on the Mediterranean coast of Israel, in June and July 2010. Morphological characters identified it as a cepheid (Cnidaria, Scyphozoa, Rhizostomeae). However, the specimens showed remarkable differences from other cepheid genera; unlike Cephea and Netrostoma it lacks warts or knobs centrally on the exumbrella and filaments on oral disk and between mouths, and it differs from Cotylorhiza in its proximally loose anastomosed radial canals and in lacking stalked suckers and filaments on the moutharms. We thus describe it herein as Marivagia stellata gen. et sp. nov. We also present the results of molecular analyses based on mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and 28S ribosomal DNA, which support its placement among the Cepheidae and also provide its barcode signature. This new find is the fourth introduced scyphozoan species recorded in the Mediterranean. The presence of a sexually mature specimen collected as far back as 2006, and the occurrence of the species this summer at sites nearly 90 kms apart, indicate the existence of an established population.

Dynamic morphology of small south-eastern Mediterranean river mouths: a conceptual model

River mouths along the Israeli Mediterranean coast are characterized by a dynamic morphology as their channels migrate hundreds of meters along the coast. This study examines the dynamic morphology of seven such river mouths. It offers a conceptual model aimed at generalizing and describing their spatial and temporal morphological patterns, and the environmental factors influencing them. The study methodology comprised a detailed monitoring and mapping by GIS techniques, with quantitative data derived from historic aerial photographs, river discharge records, wave measurements, and a digital elevation model. These data were incorporated into a homogenous database and subsequently applied in the investigation of the morphological patterns of these mouths, and the analysis of their influencing factors. River mouths in this study occur in two distinctive topographic settings. In one setting (here termed barrier topography) the river mouth is deflected alongshore by a sandy barrier. In the second setting (termed funnel topography) the river mouth is confined to a funnel-shaped topographic depression perpendicular to the coast. The behavior of river mouths in these two settings is quite distinctive. Barrier mouths usually migrate over larger distances, as they tend to deflect along a sand barrier and establish semi-permanent channels along the dune toe. This enables the wide range migration of semi-permanent channels over decades. Funnel topography mouths deflect over shorter distances and they rapidly migrate within the funnel boundaries. This study concludes that the topographic setting of the beach, a constant element in the temporal scale of this study, is the primary influencing factor on the morphology of the mouths studied. The influence of other factors on the morphology of these mouths differs in space and time and depends on the topographic settings.

First record of the Atlantic island grouper Mycteroperca fusca in the Mediterranean Sea

A specimen of Mycteroperca fusca was speared at a depth of 12 m off the Mediterranean coast of Israel. This is the first record of this Atlantic species from the Mediterranean Sea.

Tracing Natural and Anthropogenic Pb in Sediments along the Mediterranean Coast of Israel Using Pb Isotopes

The natural and anthropogenic sources of Pb in surface sediments offshore the Israeli Mediterranean coast were studied using the isotopic composition of Pb in diluted acid sediment extracts. Surface sediments were collected at the lower reaches of coastal streams, along a south-north offshore transect and at selected monitoring stations of the Dan Region Wastewater Plant (DRWP) outfall pipe. The background values of the Pb isotopic composition were determined from the deepest part of two representative cores collected offshore and were found to have a narrow range dominated mainly by clays derived from both inland soils and the Nilotic cell and to a lesser extent from the Saharan dust. The impact of the DRWP activated sludge can be traced to a distance of ca. 2 km from the outfall pipe. Enrichment factors of Zn, Cu, and Pb were up to 25 and are strongly correlated with each other and with the Pb isotopic composition, thus demonstrating the sludge to be their common source. The isotopic compositions of Pb in stream sediments have the widest range of values and indicate a strong anthropogenic contribution, probably from both post-1992 aerosols and point sources. However the impact of stream sediments on marine sediments could not be clearly detected.

First record of the Indo-Pacific arrow bulleye Priacanthus sagittarius Starnes, 1988 in the Mediterranean Sea

A single specimen of Priacanthus sagittarius was captured by a commercial trawler off the Mediterranean coast of Israel on 28 th