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More than 60 marine non-indigenous species (NIS) have been removed from previous lists and 84 species have been added, bringing the total to 986 alien species in the Mediterranean [(775 in the eastern Mediterranean (EMED), 249 in the central Medi-terranean (CMED), 190 in the Adriatic Sea (ADRIA) and 308 in the western Mediterranean (WMED)]. There w...
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... number of aliens across the four Mediterranean MSFD subregions (including non EU state waters) is il- lustrated in Figure 2 and the detailed contribution of ma- jor groups in Figure 3. The vast majority of aliens occur in the EMED (775), whereas a lower number of species is (249), and even lowest for the ADRIA (190). ...
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... Furthermore, the Levantine basin is directly connected to the Red Sea via the Suez Canal, resulting particularly susceptible to biological invasions. It is the first area of the Mediterranean Sea where Lessepsian species and other thermophilic non-indigenous species (NIS) are likely to settle (Zenetos et al., 2012). In fact, benthic and nektonic assemblages in this region have been significantly altered by NIS, often resulting in cascading effects on fisheries and other human activities (Hooper et al., 2005;Galil, 2007;Carpentieri et al., 2009;Çinar, 2012). ...
Sampling activities conducted in the Tyre Coast Nature Reserve, southern Lebanon, to study the marine annelid fauna of the area, allowed for the revision of the diversity of this group in Lebanon. We particularly focused on non-indigenous species (NIS), which were characterised from morphological and molecular points of view. A total of 116 taxa were collected; 10 species are reported here for the first time in the Mediterranean Sea, while 6 species with presumable Indo-Pacific affinity are likely new to science. Seventy-three taxa were native, while 43 taxa were NIS; among the latter, 24 species are reported for the first time in Lebanon. Molecular data were obtained for 28 NIS, representing the first data from the Mediterranean Sea for 23 of them. Non-indigenous annelids occurring along the coast of Lebanon mainly have Indo-Pacific affinity. However, molecular data highlighted inconsistencies between the sampled material and the sequences available in public repositories, suggesting the widespread occurrence of species complexes in these taxa. These results suggest that further research on Indo-Pacific annelids is needed to understand their diversity patterns and invasion pathways. Additionally, the large number of new records of annelids in Lebanese waters indicate that further studies are needed to explore their diversity in comparison with neighbouring Mediterranean regions.
... These invasive species may cause negative impacts at ecological levels inducing possible reductions of local biota [43][44][45][46]. A lot of lists, regarding NIS and IAS species have been published for the Mediterranean Sea [47][48][49][50][51]. Furthermore, recent studies, through an in-depth review of historical data on NIS and IAS species, have shown that their number, considerably, increased over time [52]. ...
This study aims to summarize the history of biological invasions by alien macrophytes in the Mediterranean Sea from 1880 to 2020 years on a decadal basis.
... Since the opening of the Suez Canal and its continuous expansion (Zenetos and Galanidi, 2020), a significant number of alien species have been introduced into the Mediterranean Sea. These species have exerted immense pressure on the native fauna of the Mediterranean ecosystem and caused adverse biotic changes (Çinar et al., 2011;Zenetos et al., 2012;Çinar, 2013;Çinar et al., 2021). Nearly 1000 alien species have been reported from the Mediterranean Sea (Zenetos et al., 2018), and the number of alien species in the region is increasing steadily. ...
This study compiled data on the distribution of sponge species on the coasts of Türkiye. The checklist consists of 183 species
belonging to 52 families, 16 orders, and 3 classes. The orders Haplosclerida (32 species), Poecilosclerida (28 species), Tetractinellida (26
species), Dictyoceratida (21 species), and Suberitida (18 species) have the highest numbers of species found in the region. The Aegean
coast has the highest number of sponge species (155 species), followed by the Sea of Marmara (84 species), the Levantine coast (50
species), and the Black Sea coast (24 species). Among the species, Niphates toxifera and Paraleucilla magna are alien species. A total of 12
sponge species listed as endangered or threatened according to the Barcelona Convention or Bern Convention are found in the region.
... To this date, more than 1000 exotic species are found in the Mediterranean, the majority of which are tropical thermophilic species that have entered the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal [5]. More than 130 Lessepsian fish are found in the Mediterranean, 40% of which have been documented after 2001, with most of them having increased their invasive distribution since [6]. Bioinvasions can disturb marine ecosystems greatly and are considered the second biggest threat to biodiversity after habitat loss [7]. ...
The common lionfish, Pterois miles (Bennett, 1828), is one of the most recent Lessepsian migrants into Mediterranean Sea. In this study, a first attempt is made to explore some life history parameters of the species in the Messenian Gulf (SW Greece). Its growth, morphometry, and feeding behavior were studied in samples collected with a speargun during the summer and autumn of 2021 at depths from 0 m to 20 m. Lionfish were found to have established a thriving population, growing faster and reaching larger sizes than in their native range. Analysis of their diet showed that this species is a generalized feeder with a preference towards piscivory, targeting key species for local food webs, such as the damselfish (C. chromis), possibly provoking competition with other native predators. Overall, the dietary habits of the species, rapid growth rate, and lack of predation pressure make the lionfish an additional risk for the integrity of the Messenian marine ecosystem, an ecosystem which is already disturbed by intense human intervention.
... Finally, artificial marine infrastructures such as interoceanic channels have favoured the transfer of certain species (Goren and Galil 2005). For instance, since the Suez Canal was opened in 1869, more than half of the 900 marine alien species recorded in the Mediterranean have probably been introduced from the Red Sea (Zenetos et al. 2012(Zenetos et al. , 2017Ulman et al. 2017). Most of these NIS first successfully established in the Mediterranean Levantine Sea and then tended to spread to the western Mediterranean (Galil 2006). ...
... Aeverrillia setigera was also recorded from the Red Sea (Ostrovski et al. 2011). It was also recorded from the Mediterranean in Port-Saïd, close to the Suez Channel (Hasting 1927 as Buskia setigera) and is currently considered a non-indigenous species in the Mediterranean (Zenetos et al. 2010(Zenetos et al. , 2012Rosso and Di Martino 2016), representing a Lessepsian species. Consequently, the origin of the species is unclear, and it was considered to be cryptogenic by several authors (e.g. ...
Samples of bryozoans collected from two localities in the Bay of Cádiz with different levels of anthropogenic impact are studied. A total of 25 species was identified, of which 8 are considered non-indigenous (NIS), 12 as native and 5 cryptogenic. A new species of Hippopodina , Hippopodina similis sp. nov., is here described, and corrections to the diagnosis of the genus are proposed. The species appears to be a recent immigrant in Cádiz, although it could also be present in the eastern Mediterranean. Aeverrilla setigera and the genus Hippopodina itself are recorded for the first time in the eastern Atlantic. Anguinella palmata is recorded for the first time in Spanish waters. Amathia vidovici was already recorded in the Iberian Peninsula, but previous records should be confirmed. Other species, such as Amathia verticillata , Biflustra tenuis , Watersipora subatra and Schizoporella errata , were already recorded in the Bay of Cádiz very recently.
... The Mediterranean Sea is an area of particular interest as it is the most invaded sea worldwide, currently hosting approximately 1000 NIS (Zenetos et al., 2022b). The main vectors of NIS' introductions in the Mediterranean are sea corridors (the Strait of Gibraltar and the Suez Canal), shipping activity (ballast waters and hull fouling) and aquaculture (escapes and contaminants of cultured species) (Zenetos et al., 2012). The eastern Mediterranean is the most impacted subregion, due to its proximity to the Suez Canal, resulting in a higher influx of NIS from the Red Sea (Galil et al., 2018). ...
This Collective article presents 18 introduced taxa in the Mediterranean Sea, belonging to seven phyla and documented at 22 new locations and seven countries spanning from the Levantine to the western Mediterranean. These records include the first country records of the African mussel Perna perna (Syria), the sea slug species complex Elysia cf. marginata-grandifolia (Cyprus), the green algae Acetabularia caliculus and the parasitic amphipod Brachyscelus rapacoides (Türkiye), the lizardfish Synodus randalli (Greece), the red algae Chondria coerulescens (Croatia) and the gastropod Pyrgulina maiae (Tunisia). Moreover, the cardinalfish Cheilodipterus novemstriatus is recorded for the first time from the Aegean Sea (Greece), the shrimp Urocaridella pulchella from the Ionian Sea (Greece) and the colonial ascidian Aplidium accarense and the polychaete Laonome triangularis from the Adriatic Sea (Italy). Regarding the expansion of non-indigenous species, this article documents the southernmost occurrence of the cornet-fish Fistularia petimba in the Aegean Sea (Greece) and the westernmost occurrence of the lizardfish Saurida lessepsianus in the Mediterranean (Greece). Moreover, it includes information on the continued spread of the zooxanthellate coral Oculina patagoni-ca in Türkiye, as well as the further expansion of the crab Dyspanopeus sayi and the colonial ascidian Polyandrocarpa zorritensis in Italy. Finally, the first Mediterranean record of the sea slug Tubulophilinopsis reticulata (Tunisia), and the northernmost global record of the snapping/pistol shrimp Synalpheus africanus (Italy) are reported.
... A growing number of non-indigenous species (NIS) is being recorded in the Mediterranean Sea, one of the world's primary hotspots for marine biological invasions [1][2][3]. According to recent studies, almost 1000 non-indigenous taxa have been identified in the basin [4,5]. ...
In the Mediterranean, the bluespotted cornetfish Fistularia commersonii Rüppell, 1838, presents a minor socioeconomic impact and the assessment of any environmental impact requires more relevant data. The congeneric red cornetfish Fistularia petimba Lacepède, 1803, has expanded its distribution range within the basin but only small numbers have been reported to date. A total of 207 individuals of F. commersonii were collected between April 2021 and March 2022 from the Levantine coast of Rhodes and 92 more from various locations. Additionally, 13 individuals of Fistularia petimba were caught in March 2024 from the Aegean coasts of the island. We aim to assess the current progression of the population of the two cornetfish, the possible further exploitation of F. commersonii to boost the local fishing economy, their possible dietary overlaps and to add valuable biological and ecological data. In F. commersonii, male to female ratio (1:1.33) significantly departed from 1:1, with length–weight relationships exhibiting positive allometric growth. Six age groups were identified. The highest reproductive intensity was observed during summer. The onset of sexual maturity was estimated at 65.52 cm in total length (1.8 years). Longevity was estimated at 11.1 years with females growing larger than males. The exploitation rate (E = 0.47) indicated that the population is underexploited. The optimum and target fishing mortality were higher in comparison with the present fishing mortality (F = 0.48), indicating a potential for commercial exploitation of the species. For F. petimba, the sex ratio was 1:2.25. The species preys on crustaceans, followed by fish and molluscs. The finding of Vanderhorstia mertensi (Klausewitz, 1974) in the stomach content of both cornetfishes constitutes the second published record for Hellenic waters and the first for the Dodecanese Islands.
... *Corresponding author Today, the Mediterranean Sea has become one of the largest recipients of invasive species in the world (Tsiamis et al., 2020). Human activities, such as shipping, aquaculture and the opening of the Suez Canal, have led to the introduction of almost 1000 alien species into the Mediterranean, with almost 400 Lessepsian species becoming established (Zenetos et al., 2012;Katsanevakis, 2014). These invasive species can drive native marine life towards extinction and alter the fragile Mediterranean ecosystem with potentially devastating consequences. ...
During a field survey of marine alien species along the Mediterranean coast of Morocco, the invasive sabellid polychaete Branchiomma luctuosum (Grube, 1870) was detected for the first time in the Ramsar site of Marchica lagoon. This finding represents the second record of this species in the country and the westernmost record in the southern Mediterranean, indicating its rapid expansion along the Moroccan coast.
... *Corresponding author Today, the Mediterranean Sea has become one of the largest recipients of invasive species in the world (Tsiamis et al., 2020). Human activities, such as shipping, aquaculture and the opening of the Suez Canal, have led to the introduction of almost 1000 alien species into the Mediterranean, with almost 400 Lessepsian species becoming established (Zenetos et al., 2012;Katsanevakis, 2014). These invasive species can drive native marine life towards extinction and alter the fragile Mediterranean ecosystem with potentially devastating consequences. ...
During a field survey of marine alien species along the Mediterranean coast of Morocco, the invasive sabellid polychaete Branchiomma luctuosum (Grube, 1870) was detected for the first time in the Ramsar site of Marchica lagoon. This finding represents the second record of this species in the country and the westernmost record in the southern Mediterranean, indicating its rapid expansion along the Moroccan coast. Tijekom terenskog istraživanja morskih stranih vrsta duž sredozemne obale Maroka, po prvi puta je pronađena invazivna vrsta mnogočetinaša cjevaša Branchiomma luctuosum (Grube, 1870) na Ramsar-skom lokalitetu u laguni Marchica. Taj nalaz je drugi za ovu vrstu u Maroku, i najzapadniji u južnom Sredozemlju, što pokazuje njeno brzo širenje duž marokanske obale.
... EU policies, such as the EU Biodiversity Strategy, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), and the European Strategy for Marine and Maritime Research, address the problem of the introduction of NNS [8,9]. The MSFD defines a good environmental status, i.e., a healthy marine environment by 2020, on the basis of eleven descriptors [10][11][12]. ...
... Regarding the location of all recorded species from WRiMS in the Mediterranean Sea, the most affected areas were identified. In the categories of species "of concern" and "invasive", most are found in the eastern Mediterranean region, which is consistent with other relevant lists of NNS [8,43]. Most "invasive" species were found in the Greek part of the Aegean Sea and Israeli part of the Mediterranean-the eastern basin. ...
The invasion of non-native species (NNS) is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity loss and represents a major problem in the Mediterranean Sea. Although many recent EU policies and di-rectives address this problem and numerous scientific papers have been published, the available data remains scattered and incomplete. In 2021, the World Register of Introduced Marine Species (WRiMS), a newly established database, was launched but has not yet undergone systematic analysis. This study performed a thorough examination of the NNS documented in the WRiMS database within the Mediterranean Sea (International Hydrographic Organisation Sea Area). Our findings revealed that the majority of species in the WRiMS database for the Mediterranean are classified as “unspecified” or “uncertain”, with only 79 species labeled as “invasive” and 13 as “of concern”. The number of recorded animal species exceeds that of plants, and most species belong to the phyla Chordata and Mollusca. Callinectes sapidus and Fistularia commersonii were the most frequently recorded species in the WRiMS for the Mediterranean. Only one species, Eriocheir sinen-sisis, is on the list of invasive alien species of concern for the European Union. Although there ex-ists some data on the impact of NNS and the vectors of their introduction, it remains incomplete and requires further scientific research. The synthesized and summarized data in supplement can be valuable input for a range of management decisions and for guiding further scientific research concerning NNS invasions in the Mediterranean Sea.