Search results for "Non-indigenous specie"

First Record Of Aplysia Dactylomela Rang, 1828 (Heterobranchia, Aplysiidae) from Pianosa Island (northern Tyrrhenian Sea)

2018

The non-indigenous spotted sea hare Aplysia dactylomela Rang, 1828, entered the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic, is recorded for the first time from shallow coastal waters of Pianosa Island in 2015. This record can be considered the first occurrence in the northern Tyrrhenian Sea. One specimen of A. dactylomela was photographed while was feeding on a rock bottom mainly covered with red algae.

Isotopic Niche and Trophic Position of the Invasive Portunid Portunus segnis Forskål, (1775) in Elounda Bay (Crete Island, Eastern Mediterranean)

2022

There is a growing recognition that an advanced understanding of the trophic characteristics of an invasive consumer can provide important information on its ecological impact. In recent years, the blue swimming crab Portunus segnis, one of the earliest Lessepsian invaders, has considerably expanded its distribution range in the Mediterranean Sea, yet, its trophic habits in invaded areas remain scarcely investigated. In this study, we used carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes analysis (SIA) to determine the trophic position and isotopic niche of the crab compared with other representatives of the flora and fauna occurring in Elounda Bay (Crete). P. segnis showed a trophic position of 3.9, hi…

CAN HALOPHILA STIPULACEA OUTCOMPETE CYMODOCEA NODOSA? A CASE STUDY OF A MEDITERRANEAN SHALLOW WATER HABITAT

2022

The tropical seagrass Halophila stipulacea (Forsskål) Ascherson entered the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal more than 100 years ago. In the coastal-marine ecosystems the spatial niche of H. stipulacea is often overlapped with that of native Mediterranean Sea seagrasses and therefore it might out-compete them. On the basis of previous observations, we monitored for one year a Southern Mediterranean shallow water habitat (North-Western Sicily Island, Italy, Southern Mediterranean Sea), where H. stipulacea co-occurred with the native seagrass Cymodocea nodosa (Ucria) Ascherson. In this paper we compare sites with (impacted sites) and without H. stipulacea (non-impacted sites) to analy…

Is Citizen Science a valid tool for monitoring alien species in Marine Protected Areas?

2020

We report on our experience of NIS monitoring within the Egadi Islands MPA and at Pianosa Island National Park of Tuscan Archipelago through Citizen Science projects The Projects Caea cdacea Egadi Islands and Aliens in the Sea allowed to gather useful information on the distribution and colonisation strategies of NIS and cryptogenic species within the Egadi Islands MPA The project Percorsi nel bluBlue Paths allowed to register the first record of two cryptogenic species, Aa dacea Rang, and Pec gbbe H Milne Edwards, , at Pianosa Island As in MPAs the protection does not hinder the introduction and spreading of NIS, we expect they are likely to continue to arrive and expand in the absence of …

A review on the animal xenodiversity in Sicilian inland waters (Italy)

2015

This paper reviews the available knowledge about faunal xenodiversity in Sicilian inland waters (Italy). The aim is to provide an updated checklist and bibliography of those non-indigenous species (NIS) which occur in the island, and to identify possible threats to its native biological diversity. Data were collected through an extensive literature search which encompassed also local journals, books, congress abstracts, and other grey literature. All the collected data were critically revised and, when possible, verified by consulting available collections or through dedicated sampling surveys. Only those data contained in reports indicating precise occurrence localities, which were confirm…

How do non-indigenous species affect native species and habitats?

Biological invasions are a key driver of global change, affecting biodiversity and natural ecosystem functioning. Non-indigenous species (NIS) with significant established and expanding populations have the potential to become invasive, with serious environmental, socio-economic, and/or human health consequences. Mediterranean Islands (including Marine Protected Areas “MPAs”), important hotspots of biodiversity, are particularly vulnerable to NIS invasions. Understanding the effects of NIS species on biodiversity, as well as their current distribution and expansion trends, is therefore critical for creating effective conservation strategies. Here, we present three different case studies fro…

Searching for the competitive ability of the alien seagrass Halophila stipulacea with the autochthonous species Cymodocea nodosa

2023

The tropical seagrass Halophila stipulacea (Forsskål) Ascherson, 1867 entered in the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal more than 100 years ago. In coastal-marine ecosystems the spatial niche of H. stipulacea is often overlapped with that of native Mediterranean Sea seagrasses and therefore it might out-compete them. Aiming to better understand its invasiveness potential, we monitored a Southern Mediterranean shallow coastal-marine water habitat from August 2010 to August 2011, where H. stipulacea co-occurred with the native seagrass Cymodocea nodosa (Ucria) Ascherson, 1870. Besides, the year-round dynamics of H. stipulacea was also monitored in four periods. To test the hypothesis th…

First data on the genetic structure of Trachemys scripta populations in Sicily (Testudines: Emydidae)

2022

The pond slider Trachemys scripta is one of the most widespread alien turtle species in the world. Its unregulated trade and the consequent uncontrolled releases into the wild led to negative impacts on the native turtles of the invaded areas. In Italy, alien pond sliders are widely spread, and the occurrence of hatchlings and well-established populations is known in some areas. However, to date in Sicily, only a single female of Trachemys scripta laying eggs was reported. Besides that, nothing is known about the actual reproduction success and establishment of self-sustaining T. scripta populations in Sicily. Therefore, based on 14 previously characterised highly polymorphic microsatellite…

Effects of NIS on Mediterranean marine ecosystems: the case study of Egadi Island MPA (Sicily, Tyrrhenian Sea)

2018

Habitat modification and loss, climate change and the introduction of Non-Indigenous Species (NIS, i.e. organisms introduced outside of their natural, past or present, range and outside of their natural dispersal potential) are considered to be the main threats to Mediterranean marine biodiversity and natural ecosystem functioning. NIS may become invasive (IAS = Invasive Alien Species) and may have significant environmental, socio-economic and human health impacts. The Mediterranean Sea is one of the major hotspots for NIS introductions, with the total for these species having almost reached the 1,000 figure (equivalent to ca. 6% of the total flora and fauna). NIS are entering the Mediterra…

CHEMICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE INVASIVE ALGA CAULERPA TAXIFOLIA VAR. DISTICHOPHYLLA FROM SICILIAN COASTS

2018

Biological invasions by non-indigenous species have been widely recognized among the most important threats to the integrity of Mediterranean ecosystems, often resulting in huge economic and societal impacts. The success of non-indigenous macrophytes in the new range may be due to a variety of factors such as their vegetative reproductive strategy and synthesis of toxic compounds. These toxic compounds may influence native consumers by reducing their performance with negative implications for their overall grazing activity and, ultimately, for their ability to control the spread of the invasive algae in the new area. In particular, the invasive algae Caulerpa taxifolia (Vahl) C. Agardh (Ct)…