0000000000230113
AUTHOR
Bella S. Galil
<p class="HeadingRunIn"><strong>An additional record of <em>Kyphosus vaigiensis</em> (Quoy &amp; Gaimard, 1825) (Osteichthyes, Kyphosidae) from Sicily clarifies the confused situation of the Mediterranean kyphosids</strong></p>
The lowfin chub, Kyphosus vaigiensis, is reported for the first time off Favignana Island, Sicily, central Mediterranean Sea. The specimen was identified on the basis of morphometric and meristic characters as well as mitochondrial DNA sequences (COI and 16S-rDNA). Two, perhaps three, Kyphosus species-K. bigibbus, K. sectatrix and K. vaigiensis-have been occasionally recorded in the Mediterranean. These species occur both in the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions but it is likely they entered the Mediterranean through the Strait of Gibraltar. However, it is unclear whether they have established reproductive native populations in the Mediterranean.
Desalination effluents and the establishment of the non-indigenous skeleton shrimp Paracaprella pusilla Mayer, 1890 in the south -eastern Mediterranean
A decade long monitoring programme has revealed a flourishing population of the non-indigenous skeleton shrimp Paracaprella pusilla in the vicinity of outfalls of desalination plants off the Mediterranean coast of Israel. The first specimens were collected in 2010, thus predating all previously published records of this species in the Mediterranean Sea. A decade-long disturbance regime related to the construction and operation of the plants may have had a critical role in driving the population growth. University of Palermo FFR 2018
<strong><em>Grandidierella</em> <em>bonnieroides</em> Stephensen, 1948 (Amphipoda, Aoridae)—first record of an established population in the Mediterranean Sea</strong>
The first record in the Mediterranean Sea of the invasive aorid amphipod crustacean Grandidierella bonnieroides is presented. A widespread circumtropical species, recorded off the Saudi coast of the Arabian Gulf, the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, it may have been introduced into the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal. This tube-builder species of soft bottoms recently established a population in the polluted Haifa Bay, Israel. Further, this is the first Mediterranean record of the genus.
Geometric morphometry supports a taxonomic revision of the Mediterranean Bathyporeia guilliamsoniana (Spence Bate, 1857) (Amphipoda, Bathyporeiidae)
Bathyporeia guilliamsoniana (Spence Bate, 1857) specimens collected in the Levantine Basin of the Mediterranean Sea displayed polymorphism in some characters. More than 100 specimens were examined and their intra-specific variation in the shape of the third epimeral plate analysed and quantified. The morphometric geometry methodology is used to assess the ‘cryptic’ variation in shape which may obscure identification. The results support the assignment of sunnivae and megalops to morphotypes of B. guilliamsoniana sensu d’Udekem d’Acoz & Vader (2005).
Much can change in a year: The massawan mantis shrimp, erugosquilla massavensis (Kossmann, 1880) in sicily, Italy
A flourishing population of the Massawan mantis shrimp, Erugosquilla massavensis, an Erythraean species, is recorded off Sicily, Italy, one year after the very first specimen was collected off the eastern coast of the island. The species is already established as a minor, albeit valuable, fishery resource. Once its population increases, however, it may compete with the native Mediterranean spot-tail mantis shrimp, Squilla mantis. This article presents the results of a joint effort between members of the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale of Comiso and local fishermen to monitor non-indigenous species in Sicilian waters.
First record of Beroe gracilis Künne, 1939 (Ctenophora: Beroida: Beroidae) from Norway, found in a Mnemiopsis leidyi A. Agassiz, 1865 bloom
In September 2014 an unusual mixture of ctenophores was recorded at Arboretet, south-western Norway and at Flødevigen, near Arendal on the south coast of Norway. In addition to the invasive American lobate ctenophore,Mnemiopsis leidyi, the common northern lobate ctenophoreBolinopsis infundibulumand the cydippidPleurobrachia pileus, two beroid ctenophores, were noted –Beroe cucumisandBeroegracilis. The latter species had not been documented before in Norwegian waters.