Preliminary study on the biological traits of the Por’s goatfish Upeneus pori (Chordata: Actinopterygii) off the southern coast of Lampedusa Island (Central Mediterranean)

Abstract

One hundred and six specimens of the Por's goatfish, Upeneus pori Ben-Tuvia & Golani (1989), a Lessepsian species native to the Western Indian Ocean, were collected from bottom trawlers' catches from 2012 to 2016 on the deep shelf off the southern coast of Lampedusa Island (Strait of Sicily, Central Mediterranean Sea). Since it first appeared in Iskenderun Bay (Turkey) in 1950, the Por's goatfish has quickly spread in Levantine Sea waters to become a commercial species used by local fisheries, while continuing its range expansion along the southeastern coasts of the Mediterranean. Because the Strait of Sicily currently represents the westernmost sector of this species distribution area, it might serve as a stepping-stone for this species' expansion in the western basin of the Mediterranean. Supporting this hypothesis was our finding of specimens with post-spawning gonads. The pattern of westward expansion by the Por's goatfish in the Mediterranean Sea and its settlement in the Strait of Sicily are discussed in relation to the warming trend over the last 30 years.

Further records of Callinectes sapidus (Rathbun, 1896) (Decapoda, Brachyura, Portunidae) in the Strait of Sicily

“…Nevertheless, these records together with the finding of other alien species (e.g. Katsanevakis et al 2020;Dragičević et al 2019;Geraci et al 2018;Scannella et al 2017) strengthen the hypothesis that the Strait of Sicily plays a key role in the spatial dynamics of alien species. Indeed, this area is characterized by a mesoscale circulation system that might facilitate their spread and arrival (Capodici et al 2018) as well as by local conditions, such as water temperature, salinity, oxygen and seabed habitat, that can improve their settlement and survival ability (Montalto et al 2020).…”

First Records with Biological Notes of Umbrina ronchus, Valenciennes, 1843 (Osteichthyes, Sciaenidae) in the Strait of Sicily (Central Mediterranean Sea)

“…These first records of U. ronchus in the Strait of Sicily could represent the limit to the eastward expansion of the species geographical distribution in the Mediterranean Sea. Indeed, the reported records of U. ronchus reiterate the crucial role of the Strait of Sicily as the main hydrodynamic and biogeographical boundary, especially between the western basin, which has been characterized by a high affinity for (sub)tropical Atlantic species since the beginning of the last interglacial period [58][59][60][61][62][63], and the eastern basin with an affinity with the indo-pacific warm water species of lessepsian migration from the Red Sea [61,62,64,65].…”

Characterization and biogeographic affinity of megazoobenthos in the Central Mediterranean Sea

“…Therefore, it is crucial to have an updated and detailed knowledge of species occurrence especially in the light of current climate change effects on marine ecosystems (Azzurro, 2008;Geraci et al, 2018;Lejeusne et al, 2010).…”

“…Because of its recognized role as “crossroad,” the SoS represents an important area for the distribution of Non‐Indigenous Species (NIS) of distinct biogeographic origins (Atlantic and Indo‐Pacific). Therefore, it is crucial to have an updated and detailed knowledge of species occurrence especially in the light of current climate change effects on marine ecosystems (Azzurro, 2008; Geraci et al., 2018; Lejeusne et al., 2010).…”