Research articles |
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Dominique G. Roche and Mark E. Torchin
Established population of the North American Harris mud
crab, Rhithropanopeus harrisii (Gould, 1841) (Crustacea:
Brachyura: Xanthidae) in the Panama Canal (pp 155-161)
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Rhithropanopeus harrisii (Gould, 1841) is an estuarine
crab native to the East Coast of North America. This species has
invaded both the West Coast of the United States and several
European countries since the late 1800s where it has reportedly
altered native ecosystems. This crab can tolerate a broad range
of salinities and temperatures, which probably contributes to
its success as an invader. In 1969, five specimens of R. harrisii
were recorded in Panama, but subsequent surveys suggest it was
not established. Here, evidence is reported of an established,
reproducing population of R. harrisii in the
Panama Canal. The crab’s entire distribution within this
waterway remains to be determined and potential changes in its
ecology, especially given the imminent expansion of the Canal,
need to be evaluated.
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M. Baki Yokes, S. Ünsal Karhan, Erdogan
Okus, Ahsen Yüksek, Asli Aslan-Yilmaz, I. Noyan Yilmaz,
Nazli Demirel, Volkan Demir and Bella S. Galil
Alien Crustacean Decapods from the Aegean Coast of Turkey
(pp 162-168)
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Thirty of the 33 alien decapod crustacean species that have been
reported off the Turkish Mediterranean coast are believed to
have invaded the region via the Suez Canal, but only three of
the species have been recorded along the Turkish Aegean coast.
The marine biota of Gökova Bay, Datça Peninsula and Gulf of
Fethiye, on the southern Aegean coast of Turkey, was studied by
diving between 2002 and 2006. Of the eight Erythrean alien
decapod species collected there, five constitute new records for
the Aegean Sea and three are newly recorded from the Turkish
coast of the Aegean Sea.
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Firdauz M. Shakirova, Vadim E. Panov
and Paul F. Clark
New records of the Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir
sinensis H. Milne Edwards, 1853, from the Volga River,
Russia (pp 169-173)
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Single adult specimens of the Chinese mitten crab have been
regularly found in the Volga River since the mid-1970s, most
likely originating from the eastern Baltic Sea via the
Volga-Baltic Canal. Three new records of Eriocheir sinensis
H. Milne Edwards, 1853 are reported from the Kuibyshev
Reservoir, Volga River, Russia, found in fishing nets in October
2002 and April-May 2007. The origins and possible vectors for
the introduction of these crabs are discussed.
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Mikhail O. Son
Native range of the zebra mussel and quagga mussel and
new data on their invasions within the Ponto-Caspian Region (pp 174-184)
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This is a special review on the native ranges of the zebra
mussel (Dreissena polymorpha polymorpha) and quagga
mussel (Dreissena bugensis). Revision of museum
collections showed that the Dniepr Delta is a native locality of
the quagga mussel, for example in the Lower Southern Bug and
that Dreissena presbensis occurs in the Aegean Sea Basin
in Greece. The native range of the zebra mussel includes Danube,
Dniestr, Berezan, Southern Bug, Dniepr, Molochnaya, Don, Kuban,
Kamchia, and Veleca river basins; isolated and semi-isolated
relic estuarian reservoirs along the Bulgarian, Romanian,
Ukrainian, and Russian Black and Azov seas coasts; and in zones
of these seas influenced by freshwater. Invasive dreissenids in
Turkish rivers are local species and subspecies. More recent
locations of the dreissenid expansion within the Ponto-Caspian
region (Lake Sasyk, Baraboj River, and Sukhoj Liman Basin for
the zebra mussel; Dniestr River Basin for the quagga mussel) are
described. One empty valve of Dreissena polymorpha andrusovi
was found in the Taganrog Bay.
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Otto M. P. Oliveira
The presence of the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi
in the Oslofjorden and considerations on the initial
invasion pathways to the North and Baltic Seas
(pp 185-189)
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The ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi is one of the most cited
invasive species due to its ecological and economical impact
that occurred in the Black and Caspian Seas in previous years.
Recent reports on the species presence in the Baltic and North
Seas alarmed the scientific community. While the earliest report
of M. leidyi in the Baltic was spring 2006, this paper
indicates of the presence of M. leidyi in the Oslofjorden
as early as autumn 2005, and discusses the possible invasion
routes from its native range along the eastern coast of the
Americas.
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Andrew D. Nunn, Jonathan D. Bolland,
Jonathan P. Harvey and Ian G. Cowx
Establishment of self-sustaining populations of
non-native fish species in the River Trent and Warwickshire
Avon, UK, indicated by the presence of 0+ fish (pp 190-196)
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This study investigated the reproduction of non-native fish
species, inferred from the presence of 0+ fish, in three English
lowland rivers over an 8 year period. Evidence of
self-sustaining populations was found for three non-native fish
species, namely zander Sander lucioperca (in the River
Trent and Warwickshire Avon), bitterling Rhodeus amarus
(in the Trent) and carp Cyprinus carpio (in the Trent and
Avon). Notwithstanding, such fishes are currently rare,
accounting for <1% of the 0+ fish communities of these two
rivers, and no non-native species were recorded from the
Yorkshire Ouse. It is possible, however, that improvements in
water quality and habitat, together with the potential effects
of climate change, may facilitate consolidation and expansion of
their populations, as well as those of other non-native fish
species already present or introduced in the future. This could
have repercussions for the ecology and management of non-native
fishes in the UK.
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Leo G. Nico, William H. Beamish and
Prachya Musikasinthorn
Discovery of the invasive Mayan Cichlid fish
“Cichlasoma” urophthalmus (Günther, 1862) in Thailand,
with comments on other introductions and potential impacts
(pp 197-214)
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We report on the occurrence and possible establishment of a
non-native cichlid fish in a brackish-water system in the lower
Chao Phraya River delta region, Thailand. Although, the
possibility of some degree of introgressive hybridization can
not be ruled out, Thailand specimens agree best with Mayan
Cichlid “Cichlasoma” urophthalmus (Günther 1862). Our
collections represent the first records of this New World,
highly-invasive, euryhaline fish from Thailand and coincides
with recent collections from Singapore. Positive identification
of specimens as “C.” urophthalmus requires caution due to
the diversity of the Cichlidae (>1,300 species), widespread
introduction of many family members, variation within species,
extensive interspecific overlap in characters, and proliferation
of artificial cichlid hybrids (e.g., Flowerhorns). We first
became aware of the Thailand population in 2005 when “C.” urophthalmus
began appearing in the catches of local fishermen. We visited
the site in November 2006 and obtained and examined voucher
specimens. The abundance and wide size range of juveniles and
adults in local ponds and an adjacent canal is evidence of
natural reproduction. Because water bodies throughout the Chao
Phraya delta are interconnected and subject to flooding, it is
likely that “C.” urophthalmus is already established and
is dispersing, but surveys and monitoring are needed to
determine their exact geographic range. The Thailand population
is compared to “C.” urophthalmus introduced into Florida
(USA). Based on what is known about Florida “C.” urophthalmus,
it is predicted that this cichlid will further invade coastal
and inland waters in Thailand and elsewhere in Southeast Asia.
This cichlid has a long history in the aquarium trade in Europe.
However, there are no records from the wild in European waters
and, because of the colder climate, the possibility of
establishment in that region is relatively low.
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Boris Alexandrov, Alexandr Boltachev,
Taras Kharchenko, Artiom Lyashenko, Mikhail Son, Piotr
Tsarenko and Valeriy Zhukinsky
Trends of aquatic alien species invasions in Ukraine (pp 215-242)
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This review is a first attempt to summarize data on the records
and distribution of 240 alien species in fresh water, brackish
water and marine water areas of Ukraine, from unicellular algae
up to fish. A checklist of alien species with their taxonomy,
synonymy and with a complete bibliography of their first records
is presented. Analysis of the main trends of alien species
introduction, present ecological status, origin and pathways is
considered.
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Francis Kerckhof, Jan Haelters and
Stephan Gollasch
Alien species in the marine and brackish ecosystem: the
situation in Belgian waters (pp 243-257)
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In total 61 aquatic alien species (AAS) are known from Belgian
marine and brackish waters, eight of which are considered as
cryptogenic species. The majority of the Belgian AAS have
established self-sustaining populations, although for some
species the establishment is uncertain or in need of
verification. Prime introduction vectors are shipping, including
small recreational craft, and aquaculture. Most AAS originate
from the temperate northwest Pacific. The invasion rate has been
increasing during the last two decades.
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Short communications |
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Antonios Daskos and Argyro Zenetos
Additions to the knowledge of alien Opisthobranchia of
Greece (pp 258-260)
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Two alien opisthobranch gastropod species are recorded from
Greece in 2003-2004: Chromodoris annulata is a new record
for the Mediterranean Sea, while Bursatella leachii is
newly reported from Crete and Saronikos Gulf. Chromodoris
annulata may have been introduced by shipping, whereas
B. leachii has long been considered to have immigrated via
the Suez Canal.
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Gerard van der Velde and Dirk Platvoet
Quagga mussels Dreissena rostriformis bugensis (Andrusov,
1897) in the Main River (Germany)
(pp 261-264)
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The first record of the quagga mussel Dreissena rostriformis
bugensis (Andrusov, 1897) in Germany is described. This
species has expanded its distribution area in Europe at a slower
rate than the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas,
1771). Recent records from the Danube in Romania and from an
enclosed Rhine-Meuse estuary in The Netherlands, suggest that
the Main-Danube canal and River Rhine have functioned as the
dispersal pathway of the quagga mussel to The Netherlands. The
record of this species in the River Main supports this
hypothesis.
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Oana P. Popa, Beatrice S. Kelemen,
Dumitru Murariu and Luis O. Popa
New records of Sinanodonta woodiana (Lea, 1834) (Mollusca:
Bivalvia: Unionidae) from Eastern Romania (pp 265-267)
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In 2006 and 2007 living individuals of Sinanodonta woodiana
(Lea 1834) were collected from the eastern part of Romania.
These samples represent the first report of this invasive
species in the region and indicate that this alien species has
colonized the main aquatic basins of Romania.
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Michał Grabowski, Karolina Bącela and
Remi Wattier
Dikerogammarus villosus (Sowinsky, 1894) (Crustacea,
Amphipoda) colonizes next alpine lake – Lac du Bourget,
France (pp 268-271)
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Dikerogammarus villosus has been recorded for the first
time in the alpine lake – Lac du Bourget, French Alps. Low
abundance of the alien species in gathered samples suggests that
the colonization is just in its initial stage. Two native
gammarid species: Gammarus fossarum (Koch, 1836) and
G. pulex (Linnaeus, 1758) are still present in the lake. The
invader has most probably reached the lake through the Canal de
Savières joining the lake to the Rhone River in which it has
been already present since late 1990s.
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Vitaliy Semenchenko, Vladimir Razlutsky
and Vasiliy Vezhnovetz
First record of the invasive Ponto-Caspian mysid
Limnomysis benedeni Czerniavsky, 1882 from the River
Pripyat, Belarus (pp 272-274)
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The invasive Ponto-Caspian mysid Limnomysis benedeni
Czerniavsky, 1882 has been recorded for the first time in August
2007 at three sites on the River Pripyat (the Belarusian part of
the inland European central invasion corridor). This species
occurs in the onshore shallow zone (depth 0.2-0.3 m) with
aquatic vegetation and high temperature. High abundances of this
species have been observed in port bays. Most likely, this
invasive mysid entered the River Pripyat basin from the Dnieper
Reservoirs where it was intentionally introduced after 1960.
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Viktor Rizevsky, Michail Pluta, Andrei
Leschenko and Inna Ermolaeva
First record of the invasive Ponto-Caspian tubenose goby
Proterorhinus marmoratus (Pallas, 1814) from the
River Pripyat, Belarus (pp 275-277)
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The invasive Ponto-Caspian gobiid fish Proterorhinus
marmoratus has been recorded in August 2007 for the first
time in the upper and middle sections of the River Pripyat
(Republic of Belarus), a principal invasion corridor of European
inland waters. This species was found mainly in river oxbows
characterized by depths of 0.3–1.0 m, aquatic vegetation and
muddy substrata. Tubenose goby invasion of the River Pripyat
basin was via reservoirs on the River Dnieper, which was invaded
by the species during the late-1970s.
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Corrigendum notice
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