Citizen Science Helps in Tracking the Range Expansions of Non-Indigenous and Neo-Native Species in Greece and Cyprus (Eastern Mediterranean Sea)

Abstract

Raising knowledge of the dispersal of non-indigenous species (NIS) in new geographic areas is a matter of major concern, as alien species may outcompete the native biota through competition, predation, and hybridization. In the Mediterranean Sea, where biological invasions constitute a serious threat, the combined use of citizen science and social networks amplified the results obtained via traditional research activities, often recording species that would otherwise presumably have passed unnoticed. We hereby report unpublished data for five NIS (the annelid Branchiomma luctuosum, the shrimp Saron marmoratus and the fishes Lutjanus argentimaculatus, Oxyurichthys petersii, and specimens of the group of Abudefduf saxatilis/vaigiensis/troschelii) and one neo-native species (Seriola fasciata) in Greece and Cyprus (eastern Mediterranean Sea), the majority of which were obtained via a focused citizen-science project and constitute new records at a country level. We also revise and update their known distribution in the invaded area, thus contributing to the study of large-scale and well-defined distributional patterns of alien species spreading in the Mediterranean Sea.

First record of Parasquilla ferussaci (Roux, 1828) (Stomatopoda, Parasquillidae) in the Adriatic Sea with notes on its morphology and molecular identification

“…The present record of P. ferussaci also illustrates the advantages of citizen science in detection of rare species as already noted in several studies (Azzurro et al, 2019;Deidun et al, 2021;Langeneck et al, 2022). The present case is an example of this, as the specimen came to the attention of the scientist through an employee of the local fish market, which prompted us to contact the fisherman who caught it.…”

New Alien Mediterranean Biodiversity Records (August 2022)

“…Based on this, the study and monitoring of alien species in the Mediterranean Sea covers a key role in biological invasions' management, and is very important in order to create updated lists and taxonomic inventories useful for long-term comparisons Thomson et al, 2018). In this context, the contribution of citizen science revealed of great utility in the basin for early detection of alien species (Tiralongo et al, 2019;Langeneck et al, 2022).…”

“…Seven species have been identified in the Mediterranean Sea, including three introduced species: B. boholense (Grube, 1878), B. brandi (McIntosh, 1885) and B. luctuosum (Langeneck et al, 2020;Licciano & Giangrande, 2008). Due to its dispersion linked to anthropic activities, the latter is spreading throughout the Mediterranean (Spain, Morocco, Tunisia, Albania, Greece, Turkey) and Atlantic since its first detection in 1978 in Italy (Langeneck et al, 2022). We here provide the first record of B. luctuosum on the French Mediterranean coast.…”