Joachim Langeneck

Unexpected alien species in Cyprus waters: Acanthurus coeruleus (Actinopterygii: Acanthuridae)

In December 2011 a specimen of the blue tang surgeonfish Acanthurus coeruleus was observed in the waters of Cyprus. As this species typically lives in the tropical western Atlantic Ocean, its presence in the Mediterranean Sea is very likely to be related to human activities. Speculated ways of introduction in the Mediterranean Sea are discussed.

The spread of an Atlantic fish species, Pomadasys incisus (Bowdich, 1825) (Osteichthyes: Haemulidae), within the Mediterranean Sea with new additional records from the French Mediterranean coast

Abstract For the first time three specimens belonging to the species Pomadasys incisus (Bowdich, 1825), the bastard grunt, were caught in the French Ligurian Sea. This subtropical species, which naturally entered the Mediterranean Sea through the Straits of Gibraltar in the first half of the nineteenth century, and is currently colonizing the whole Mediterranean coast except the Adriatic Sea, was until now unknown for this region. We reviewed its distribution after a compilation of the available literature, and tried to explain the spreading and the establishment of the bastard grunt as a Mediterranean species in light of the prevailing Mediterranean currents and the possible climate changes.

Deep-sea polychaetes (Annelida) from the Malta Escarpment (western Ionian Sea)

Abstract The polychaete assemblages from an escarpment area in the western Ionian Sea are characterised in terms of species richness, evenness and trophic composition. Moreover, the first occurrence of the genus Barantolla in the Mediterranean Sea, and of Lumbrinerides carpinei and Exogone (Parexogone) campoyi in Italian waters, is reported. Aricidea trilobata Laubier and Ramos, 1974 is redescribed on the basis of new material with the new name Aricidea (Acmira) jeaneteae, together with a brief description of two deep-water species belonging to the genus Levinsenia.

Project “Biodiversity MARE Tricase”: biodiversity research, monitoring and promotion at MARE Outpost (Apulia, Italy)

The project “Biodiversity MARE Tricase” aims to research and promote coastal and marine biodiversity at the MARE Outpost (Avamposto MARE), a marine station established in Tricase (Lecce, Italy) in 2015. From March 2016 to September 2017, the first biodiversity inventory of the Tricase coastal area (Ionian Sea) was realized with the aid of citizen scientists (e.g. local fishermen, divers, bathers, and tourists). Preliminary results include 556 taxa, of which the 95% were identified at the species level. Despite the broad knowledge on Mediterranean coastal biodiversity, 71 species represented new records for the Ionian Sea. In parallel with the research activities, people’s awareness of the value of biodiversity was raised with scientific dissemination initiatives, involving about 1700 people. The “Biodiversity MARE Tricase” project realized a first small-scale species inventory contributing to the distributional, taxonomic, and ecological knowledge of the present Mediterranean biota. The coastal area of Tricase will be soon included in a new Marine Protected Area and this project represents a step forward for the sustainable development of the community of this coast.

Worming its way into Patagonia: an integrative approach reveals the cryptic invasion by Eulalia clavigera (Annelida: Phyllodocidae)

A phyllodocid polychaete belonging to the genus Eulalia is reported from Nuevo Gulf, Patagonia (South-western Atlantic Ocean) with abundant populations thriving in the intertidal zone. Morphological and molecular data allowed assigning this population to Eulalia clavigera (Audouin & Milne-Edwards, 1834), a species typically occurring along the north-eastern Atlantic coast. The absence of genetic structuring between north-eastern and south-western Atlantic E. clavigera strongly supports a non-native origin of the Patagonian population. Conversely, the majority of the Mediterranean Eulalia cf. clavigera analysed in this study turned out to belong to a different, probably undescribed species, suggesting that the diversity and taxonomy of green Eulalia is more complex than previously supposed. The high adaptation capabilities to stressed environments showed by E. clavigera, along with its possible high impact on native assemblages through predation, compel to carefully monitor its spread along the Patagonian coasts.

Distribution of natural populations of the killifish Aphanius fasciatus (Valenciennes, 1821) (Teleostei: Cyprinodontidae) in Italy: past and current status, and future trends

Abstract The census of natural populations provides relevant information for both conservation purposes and environmental monitoring. In the present work, natural populations of the killifish Aphanius fasciatus (Teleostei: Cyprinodontidae) were censused in the Italian territory. The historical distribution of the species was reconstructed with the aid of bibliographic material and museal samples, in order to evaluate the extent of changes in its distribution. Three periods (pre-1990s, 1990s, post-1990s) and five habitat types (lagoons/coastal ponds, saltworks, canals, river mouths, inland water bodies) were considered. Overall, we recorded the presence of A. fasciatus in 82 localities, the majority of which are lagoons/ponds. The species showed a widespread decline and sometimes local population extinction, due to habitat degradation and competition with the introduced poeciliid Gambusia holbrooki. With a few exceptions, A. fasciatus is currently extinct in inland waters, being mainly present in coastal brackish-water habitats. The occurrence of stable populations along the central Tyrrhenian, northern Adriatic, Sardinian and Apulian coastal biotopes is confirmed. The populations of Sicilian inland waters, considered extinct, showed recovery capabilities. In northern Tuscany, where the species was also considered extinct, there are also recent records. From a temporal perspective, the present work shows that A. fasciatus experienced population reductions throughout its range in the 1990s, when the species appeared locally extinct, or strongly rarefied, in several localities. Since then, the species recovered in the majority of the native range. However, careful monitoring is needed in order to control the effects of habitat alterations and competition with G. holbrooki on natural populations of A. fasciatus. Given the importance of brackish-water habitats as both biodiversity hotspots and buffer areas against rainfalls and floods, A. fasciatus may be raised to the status of “umbrella species” with regard to these habitats.

Syllidae (Annelida: Phyllodocida) from the deep Mediterranean Sea, with the description of three new species.

Despite almost two centuries of research, the diversity of Mediterranean deep-sea environments remain still largely unexplored. This is particularly true for the polychaete family Syllidae. We report herein 14 species; among them, we describe Erinaceusyllis barbarae n. sp., Exogone sophiae n. sp. and Prosphaerosyllis danovaroi n. sp. and report Parexogone wolfi San Martín, 1991, Exogone lopezi San Martín, Ceberio Aguirrezabalaga, 1996 and Anguillosyllis Day, 1963 for the first time from the Western Mediterranean, the latter based on a single individual likely belonging to an undescribed species. Moreover, we re-establish Syllis profunda Cognetti, 1955 based on type and new material. Present data, along with a critical analysis of available literature, show that Syllidae are highly diverse in deep Mediterranean environments, even though they are rarely reported, probably due to the scarce number of studies devoted to the size-fraction of benthos including deep-sea syllids. Most deep-sea Syllidae have wide distributions, which do not include shallow-waters. 100 m depth apparently represents the boundary between the assemblages dominated by generalist shallow water syllids like Exogone naidina Ørsted, 1843 and Syllis parapari San Martín López, 2000, and those deep-water assemblages characterised by strictly deep-water species like Parexogone campoyi San Martín, Ceberio Aguirrezabalaga, 1996, Parexogone wolfi San Martín, 1991 and Syllis sp. 1 (= Langerhansia caeca Katzmann, 1973).

Diversity and ecology of crustaceans from shallow rocky habitats along the Mediterranean coast of Egypt

Spatio-temporal patterns of the distribution of crustaceans from shallow hard bottoms along the Alexandria coast (Egypt, Mediterranean Sea) were studied during a complete year cycle and also in relation to potential drivers of change (both biotic and abiotic), including variation in habitat-forming species. Overall, the crustacean assemblages appeared poor, including only 14 species belonging to Amphipoda (five species), Isopoda (five species), Tanaidacea (two species), Cirripedia and Decapoda (one species each). The distribution patterns of crustacean assemblages appeared significantly variable both in the spatial and in the temporal dimension on a rather unpredictable basis, albeit variation was related to changes in dominant algal and invertebrate habitat formers. High variability and low species richness observed suggest that the analyzed assemblages are selected by local unfavorable environmental conditions. In fact, the crustacean hard bottom fauna is composed by a bulk of tolerant forms, including the dominant Tanais dulongi, Apohyale perieri, Dynamene bidentata, Sphaeroma serratum, Elasmopus pectenicrus, and Jassa marmorata. Their spatio-temporal dynamics, as well as those of the remaining species, and correlations with the variation of habitat formers and environmental variables are reported. This is a baseline assessment of the crustacean diversity along the Mediterranean coast of Egypt, thus having paramount importance for understanding the predicted future changes of biodiversity for the area.

Finding Dory: first record of Paracanthurus hepatus (Perciformes: Acanthuridae) in the Mediterranean Sea

A single individual of the palette surgeonfish, Paracanthurus hepatus, is reported for Bat Yam, Israel. This is the first report of this species for the Mediterranean Sea. Since this Indo-Pacific species does not occur in the Red Sea, and is one of the most popular marine aquarium fish, its introduction is referred to as aquarium release. The impact of aquarium trade on biological invasions in the Mediterranean Sea is briefly revised and discussed.