Population dynamics of Ericaria zosteroides (Ochrophyta, Fucales) in the central Mediterranean

Marletta, Giuliana; Lombardo, Andrea

doi:10.5209/mbot.79885

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 25 publications

(45 reference statements)

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“…Moreover, the coastal morphology determines local variations in the general current regime, with multiple eddies characterized by marked directional instability [35]. As also observed for E. zosteroides populations present in the same sites [40], these factors create microhabitats. This could explain why S. furcatum shows a wide adaptability in the study areas, in terms of range of depth, temperature, light exposure, and type of substrate.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecology and Phenology of the Subtidal Brown Alga Sargassum furcatum (Ochrophyta, Fucales), a Likely Non-Indigenous Species from the Mediterranean Sea

Marletta,

Lombardo,

Serio

2024

JMSE

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This study provides new insights regarding the ecology and phenology of the likely non-indigenous canopy-forming species Sargassum furcatum on the central-eastern coast of Sicily (Italy, Central Mediterranean). This species was described for St. Thomas (Virgin Islands), and it was reported for the first time in the Mediterranean in 1995 in the Chafarinas islands (Spain, western Mediterranean). After the first report, this species was found in 2021 in several sites located along the eastern coast of Sicily (Italy), along the French Mediterranean coastline, in Corsica, and recently also in the Aeolian Islands (Italy). No phenological studies on this species have been ever carried out in the Mediterranean Sea. To conduct this study, a visual census activity was performed in three sites along the Ionian coast of Sicily throughout 2023, during which the length of the main axis of S. furcatum specimens was measured and the frequency of findings of the species during the year was noted. In this study, it was observed that S. furcatum shows a wide adaptability in terms of range of depth, temperature, light exposure, and type of substrate. Since the distribution of this species is mostly centralized in the western Atlantic Ocean, it is likely that S. furcatum entered the Mediterranean through the Gibraltar Strait. Consequently, the entrance of this species in this Basin could be further proof of the ongoing seawater warming and tropicalization of Mediterranean waters. From this point of view, it is important to keep monitoring the dynamics of S. furcatum in the Mediterranean Sea in order to understand its putative impacts on autochthonous communities.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecology and Phenology of the Subtidal Brown Alga Sargassum furcatum (Ochrophyta, Fucales), a Likely Non-Indigenous Species from the Mediterranean Sea

Marletta,

Lombardo,

Serio

2024

JMSE

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First Record of the Invasive Alien Species Rugulopteryx okamurae (Phaeophyceae, Dictyotales) along the Eastern Coast of Sicily (Italy, Mediterranean Sea): Is It Ready to Expand into the Ionian Sea?

Marletta,

Lombardo,

Serio

2024

Diversity

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The Mediterranean Sea is a hotspot for the introduction of non-indigenous species. Among them, invasive alien species can seriously affect the areas they colonize, not only by altering the marine food webs and community structure, but also by harming certain economic activities, such as fishing, tourism, aquaculture and marine infrastructure. Rugulopteryx okamurae is a brown macroalga considered the fourth most harmful species among the 10 most invasive species reported in the Mediterranean; in fact, it has recently been included in the list of invasive alien species of Union concern due to its serious impact on biodiversity and socioeconomic implications. This species was reported for the first time in the Mediterranean in 2002 in Thau Lagoon (France), introduced by the aquaculture of the Japanese oyster Magallana gigas. Since then, this species has spread in both the Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean with a strong invasive behavior, particularly along the Strait of Gibraltar. Rugulopteryx okamurae was also recently reported for the first time in Italian waters, in the Gulf of Palermo (Sicily). In this study, we report a record of this species further to the east, in the Ionian Sea, where it has not previously been recorded, and provide possible explanations of the spreading and arrival routes in this area. The rapid expansion of R. okamurae is raising concerns; thus, in order to safeguard native communities, it is crucial to keep monitoring this invasive species so that it is possible to regularly update its distribution and follow up on its spread dynamics in the Mediterranean basin.

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Population dynamics of Ericaria zosteroides (Ochrophyta, Fucales) in the central Mediterranean

Cited by 2 publications

References 25 publications

Ecology and Phenology of the Subtidal Brown Alga Sargassum furcatum (Ochrophyta, Fucales), a Likely Non-Indigenous Species from the Mediterranean Sea

Ecology and Phenology of the Subtidal Brown Alga Sargassum furcatum (Ochrophyta, Fucales), a Likely Non-Indigenous Species from the Mediterranean Sea

First Record of the Invasive Alien Species Rugulopteryx okamurae (Phaeophyceae, Dictyotales) along the Eastern Coast of Sicily (Italy, Mediterranean Sea): Is It Ready to Expand into the Ionian Sea?

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