Biodiversity changes along the Algerian coast (Southwest Mediterranean basin): from 1834 to 2017: A first assessment of introduced species

Abstract

“Introduced” species of the Algerian coast remains the most undocumented issue in the Mediterranean Sea. Only few studies were dedicated to Introduced species due to the lack of taxonomists. In-depth research on Introduced species along the Algerian coast should provide new data that could explain the spreading mechanisms in the southwestern part of the Mediterranean basin particularly near the Alboran Sea. Introduced species among other related research; of which the outcome is expected in the next few years, is in progress in the southwest Mediterranean basin. The aim of this work is to provide an inventory of available data pertaining to marine species “introduced” in Algerian waters, whether these species were introduced intentionally or accidentally. This large number of Introduced species records covers the period from 1834 to December 2017. Seventy “Introduced” species have been recorded along the Algerian coast, composed by 55.7% true aliens25.7 % range expanding species, 15.7% cryptogenic species and 2,9% vagrant species, with a clear domination of fish (38.57%) and macroalgae (30%). Approximately 348 introduction events have been reported; 64,9 % of them belong to macroalgae and one sighting out of two is done in the central region. The distribution and the status of introduced species in Algeria were evaluated. In total, 20% of the Introduced species can be considered as established along the Algerian coast, in particular the macrophyta, Codium fragile and Ulva lactuca as well as the cryptogenic species, Oculina patagonica, while Asparagopsis armata, A. taxiformis and Caulerpa cylindracea are considered as invasive.

Modeling the risk of introduction of non-native species by biofouling on ships' hulls: case study of Arzew port (Algeria)

“…The implementation of environmental parameters in this study, as well as the shipping routes linking the ecoregions to the port of Arzew, allowed us to analyze on average the capacity of species to resist the stress generated by the voyage and their ability to adapt. The results are in line with Zenetos studies on the Mediterranean Sea (Zenetos et al, 2012), and with observations by (Grimes et al, 2018) and (Bensari et al, 2020) and other reports of introductions into the Mediterranean Sea. At the end of this study, we can suggest the introduction of speci c regulations on the re t of the two categories of ships: OIL/CHEMICAL TANKER and LPG TANKER.…”

First records of non-indigenous species in port of Arzew (Algeria: southwestern Mediterranean)

“…In the most recent inventory of introduced marine species of Algeria, Grimes et al (2018) listed 39 NIS and 11 cryptogenic species. Although there have been some new reports of NIS from the Algerian coast since this work (e.g.…”

New Mediterranean Biodiversity Records 2019

“…During the monitoring activities, 38 and 25 individuals of A. dactylomela and A. punctata, respectively, were recorded ( Table 3). The present work adds one more introduced species to those reported by Grimes et al (2018).…”

“…(Filiz & Er, 2004). To date, this Lessepsian immigrant has estab- lished populations along the coasts of the eastern Mediterranean basin and has expanded towards the western part of the Mediterranean Sea, reaching Spanish territorial waters, in 2014 (Izquierdo-Muñoz et al, 2014), while it is established along the Algerian coasts (Grimes et al, 2018). In the Adriatic, it has been recorded since 2012 (Dulcic et al, 2014).…”