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Jon E. Hess, Billie J. Swalla and Paul Moran
New molecular markers to genetically differentiate populations of Didemnum vexillum (Kott, 2002) - an invasive ascidian species
(pp 299-310)
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Invasive ascidians can be a menace to both ecosystems and marine aquaculture in the coastal United States.
One of the very recent introductions of an ascidian species in Puget Sound, a large inland waterway
in the Northwest of the United States, appears to be the same species, Didemnum vexillum (Kott, 2002)
that has caused significant economic and environmental harm in New England, California, British Columbia,
northern Europe, and New Zealand. In light of such grave threats, identifying the vectors and sources
of introduced organisms in order to prevent and possibly combat invasions is crucial. Distinguishing
between primary introduction (source population from native range) and secondary introduction (source
population from a previously colonized site) is fundamental to identifying pathways of introduction.
We have developed three molecular markers that can be used to address these “source” questions as well
as other basic questions of molecular evolution in D. vexillum. Two of these markers (Dnr1 and DL2.1A1)
are polymorphic sequence regions which we found to each have four alleles. A third marker is a microsatellite
locus, D6, which we observed has ten alleles. Including all samples characterized with these three markers,
the proportion of heterozygotes for each marker was 0.682, 0.721, and 0.773 for Dnr1, DL2.1A1, and D6 respectively.
Using these markers, we show significant genetic differentiation between population samples from New Hampshire
and Puget Sound (FST= 0.226, p<0.05). These markers will thus be helpful in genetically characterizing worldwide
populations of D. vexillum and providing a means to reconstruct pathways of introduction by determining the genetic
relationships of these populations. In addition, we report the discovery of multiple genotypes at microsatellite
locus D6 found in DNA samples derived from larvae within single colonies of D. vexillum. This marker may prove useful
in gaining insight into multiple paternity in D.vexillum, which is a topic rarely studied in ascidians.
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Gabrielle Thiébaut and Fiorant Di Nino
Morphological variations of natural populations of an aquatic macrophyte Elodea nuttallii in their native and in their introduced ranges
(pp 311-320)
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Introduced plant species appear often more vigorous than their conspecifics in the native range. We investigated the
morphological variations of Elodea nuttallii (Planch.) St John and its behaviour in its native and in its introduced habitats.
We assessed eight morphological traits of 24 populations in the native North America range and 16 populations in the introduced European range.
The introduced taxa can be very distinct in their growth form and size from counterparts in their native range.
The shorter broaded-leaved phenotype typically occurs in shallow streams, whereas the longer spacer narrow-leaved phenotype occurs in lakes.
Larger leaf width and higher number of lateral shoots - when nutrients are not limiting- may enhance plant performance.
The European populations grow more vigorously than their American relatives, possibly because of different selection pressures.
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Marco Faasse and Marianne Ligthart
American (Urosalpinx cinerea) and Japanese oyster drill (Ocinebrellus inornatus) (Gastropoda: Muricidae) flourish near shellfish culture plots in The Netherlands
(pp 321-326)
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Two non-native muricid gastropods are known from The Netherlands since 2007, i.e. the American oyster drill Urosalpinx cinerea
and the Japanese oyster drill Ocinebrellus inornatus. Both species reproduce and slowly increase their area of distribution.
Eight vacant shells of another non-native muricid, Hexaplex trunculus, have been collected in 2007, 2008 and March 2009.
The latter species from southern Europe has recently been observed along the western coast of Europe in areas of shellfish culture.
Vacant shells of Haustellum brandaris and Ocenebra erinacea, two more non-native muricids, have been collected as well.
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Krešimir Žganec, Sanja Gottstein and Sandra Hudina
Ponto-Caspian amphipods in Croatian large rivers
(pp 327-335)
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This study examines distribution of non-indigenous amphipods in Croatian large rivers and hypothesizes distributional changes
of alien and native amphipods in these rivers on the basis of historical records. Samples were collected at 42 sites in the Sava,
Drava, Kupa and Danube Rivers during the period from 2004 to 2008. Occurrence of five Ponto-Caspian amphipod species was recorded:
Chelicorophium curvispinum, Dikerogammarus bispinosus, D. haemobaphes, D. villosus and Obesogammarus obesus.
C. curvispinum was the most widespread species, recorded in all four examined rivers, at 20 sites in total. This species now
inhabits the whole Croatian part of the Danube River and it has invaded Sava and Drava Rivers, about 500 and 210 km upstream from the mouth,
respectively. D. villosus was the dominant gammarid species at all sites in the Danube. The species was also found in the section
of the Drava River up to 175 km upstream from the river mouth, but it was not recorded in the Sava River. D. haemobaphes exhibited
the same distribution in the Sava River as C. curvispinum, while in the Drava River it was found only at two sites (175 and 195 km
from river mouth). D. bispinosus and O. obesus were recorded only in the Danube. Based on the comparison of historical records
with present distribution of non-indigenous amphipods in the middle course of Danube, Sava and Drava Rivers, we conclude that C. curvispinum
and D. haemobaphes were the first Ponto-Caspian invaders in these rivers, followed by O. obesus only in Danube and D. villosus
in Danube and Drava. The latter species replaced D. haemobaphes in the middle part of Danube and in lower course of Drava, while it did not
colonize the Sava River.
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Vitaliy P. Semenchenko, Viktor K. Rizevsky, Sergey E. Mastitsky, Vasiliy V. Vezhnovets,
Mikhail V. Pluta, Vladimir I. Razlutsky and Tatiana Laenko
Checklist of aquatic alien species established in large river basins of Belarus
(pp 337-347)
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The assessment of risks associated with alien invasive organisms implies a detailed knowledge of their taxonomical composition and
distribution within an assessment unit. In this paper we used both literature data and results from our field surveys of more
than forty sites, conducted in 2006-2008, to compile a checklist of aquatic aliens species (invertebrates and fish) established in
the three large river basins of Belarus (Dnieper, Pripyat, Neman). Thirty six alien species have been revealed, most of which are
of Ponto-Caspian origin. The discovery of several new species during our surveys indicates that the rate of introductions has
substantially increased over the last two decades
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Suchana Chavanich, Voranop Viyakarn, Somkiat Piyatiratitivorakul, Khanit Suwanborirux and Somchai Bussarawit
Two introduced tunicate species, Ecteinascidia thurstoni Herdman, 1891 and Clavelina cyclus Tokioka & Nishikawa, 1975, in Thailand
(pp 349-351)
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Recently, two introduced tunicate species Ecteinascidia thurstoni Herdman, 1891 and Clavelina cyclus Tokioka & Nishikawa, 1975
were discovered in the coastal waters of Thailand. E. thurstoni was found in Andaman Sea, the west coast of Thailand while C. cyclus
was first recorded in the east coast, upper Gulf of Thailand. From the historical records, E. thurstoni can be found in South Asia,
South Africa, Australia, and Red Sea while C. cyclus can be found in the tropical Indo-West Pacific.
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Álvaro Altuna
Eucheilota menoni Kramp 1959 (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa: Lovenellidae), an Indo-Pacific species new to the Atlantic fauna from the Bay of Biscay (north of Spain)
(pp 353-356)
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The Indo-Pacific hydrozoan Eucheilota menoni Kramp 1959 (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa: Lovenellidae) is recorded from the Basque
coast (Bay of Biscay, Spain, northeastern Atlantic). This is the first record of the species from the Atlantic. Polyps of the species,
previously unknown to science, were discovered on the floating docks of a fishing harbour, and colonies were releasing medusae
at the time of collection. The species has been introduced to the Iberian Peninsula very likely by ship fouling, and may soon be
discovered in nearby areas including the Mediterranean Sea. Given that the medusa is known from the Red Sea (closest record),
it could be a Lessepsian migrant but, despite being an easy-to-recognize medusa, there are no Mediterranean records.
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Bella S. Galil, Nurit Kress and Tamara A. Shiganova
First record of Mnemiopsis leidyi A. Agassiz, 1865 (Ctenophora; Lobata; Mnemiidae) off the Mediterranean coast of Israel
(pp 357-360)
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The American comb jelly, Mnemiopsis leidyi, was first noted off the central Mediterranean coast of Israel on 3 March 2009,
when a swarm interfered with the operation of a desalination plant. Throughout the spring dense populations have been recorded
along the entire Israeli coast. The occurrence of M. leidyi in the SE Levant is of great concern because its notorious impacts on
fisheries and because its swarms clog seawater intake pipes and hamper the operation of coastal installations.
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Chryssanthi Antoniadou and Dimitris Vafidis
Updated distribution of the holothuroid Synaptula reciprocans (Forskal, 1775) in the Mediterranean: does it follow shallow-water circulation patterns?
(pp 361-363)
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The Indo-Pacific holothurian, Synaptula reciprocans, entered the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal and has spread along
the Levantine coast. The present study reports the finding of flourishing populations off the Dodecanese and Cyclades islands,
southeastern Aegean Sea. The species occurs on shallow rocky and sandy bottoms. Further research is needed to monitor its
possible spread northwards and westwards and the ecological implications of its establishment.
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Michał Grabowski and Aleksandra Jabłońska
First records of Branchiura sowerbyi Beddard, 1892 (Oligochaeta: Tubificidae) in Greece
(pp 365-367)
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The present work reports the findings of a new alien annelid, Branchiura sowerbyi, in freshwaters of mainland Greece.
The species was found in August 2008 in Strymonas River near Neo Petritsi in Serres Prefecture, and in Aliákmonas River near
Niselli in Imathia Prefecture.
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Murtada D. Naser and Mikhail O. Son
First record of the New Zealand mud snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum (Gray 1843) from Iraq: the start of expansion to Western Asia?
(pp 369-372)
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For the first time, shells of New Zealand mud snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum were detected in the Garmat Ali River (Iraq).
Existing and potential corridors and pathways of Euro-Asian transfers of aquatic species are discussed.
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D. Menno Soes, Peter Glöer and Anton J. de Winter
Viviparus acerosus (Bourguignat, 1862) (Gastropoda: Viviparidae), a new exotic snail species for the Dutch fauna
(pp 373-375)
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Viviparus acerosus, a Central European species originally inhabiting the Danube drainage system, is reported for the first time
from The Netherlands. The species is commercially sold for gardens ponds or aquaria, from which they may have escaped or have been released.
On account of its resemblance with the two native Viviparus species the species is easily overlooked.
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Rachel Collin, Paul Farrell and Simon Cragg
Confirmation of the identification and establishment of the South American slipper limpet
Crepipatella dilatata (Lamark 1822) (Caenogastropoda: Calyptraeidae) in Northern Spain
(pp 377-380)
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Calyptraeid gastropods have been introduced frequently in bays and ports around the world, and have become rampantly invasive
in several cases. Here we confirm the identification and establishment of a recently-detected population of Crepipatella
in northern Spain. Because their shells do not have many diagnostic features, introductions of calyptraeids are often accompanied
by confusion about the identity and therefore origin of the species in question. We use DNA sequence data and developmental
observations to verify the species identity of this population as the South American species Crepipatella dilatata.
The apparently rapid spread of this species, which lacks a larval stage, may be due to human action.
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Rym Zakhama-Sraieb, Yassine Ramzi Sghaier and Faouzia Charfi-Cheikhrouha
On the occurrence of Bursatella leachii De Blainville, 1817 and Pinctada radiata (Leach, 1814)
in the Ghar El Melh lagoon (NE Tunisia)
(pp 381-383)
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Two alien molluscs, Bursatella leachii and Pinctada radiata, have extended their range
along the Tunisian coast and are reported here from the Ghar El Melh lagoon, at the northeast of the Gulf of Tunis.
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Argyro Zenetos, Panayotis Ovalis and Evi Vardala-Theodorou
The American piddock Petricola pholadiformis Lamarck, 1818 spreading in the Mediterranean Sea
(pp 385-387)
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Petricola pholadiformis, native of American shores, is currently established in the Mediterranean Sea.
More than ten live adult specimens were collected in Saronikos Gulf, eastern Mediterranean, in 2007.
Possible pathways of introduction are discussed.
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Jeroen Goud and Constantine Mifsud
Fulvia fragilis (Forsskål in Niebuhr, 1775) (Bivalvia: Cardiidae), an alien species new to the Maltese malacofauna
(pp 389-391)
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This short note reports the presence of the lessepsian bivalve Fulvia fragilis (Forsskål in Niebuhr, 1775)
in Maltese waters at the central Mediterranean. The first occurrence here at the SE of Malta, in the bay behind
the Freeport terminal, with much recent shipping activities, strongly suggests that the mode of transportation is through ballast water.
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Yuriy Kvach
First report of Saduria (Mesidotea) entomon (Linnaeus, 1758) (Isopoda: Chaetiliidae) in the Black Sea
(pp 393-395)
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Saduria entomon (Linnaeus, 1758) is a glacial relict with a distribution restricted
to the Baltic Sea and several lakes in the Scandinavian region. It is also mentioned in arctic
shallow waters of the North America, Siberia, and in the Caspian Sea. In February 2009, this isopod
was reported for the first time from near the village of Lustdorf, in the Gulf of Odessa, Black Sea, Ukraine.
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Michal Straka and Jan Špaček
First record of alien crustaceans Atyaephyra desmarestii (Millet, 1831) and Jaera istri Veuille, 1979 from the Czech Republic
(pp 397-399)
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The alien crustaceans Atyaephyra desmarestii (Millet, 1831) and Jaera istri Veuille, 1979 were recorded
for the first time in the territory of the Czech Republic. Atyaephyra desmarestii was found in May 2007
in the River Elbe near Liběchov and Jaera istri was found in August 2008 in the River Elbe at Děčín.
Only a single specimen of Atyaephyra desmarestii was collected, while Jaera istri was found
in tens of specimens and was the most numerous aquatic invertebrate on site.
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Francesco Nonnis Marzano, Massimiliano Scalici, Stefania Chiesa, Francesca Gherardi, Armando Piccinini and Giancarlo Gibertini
The first record of the marbled crayfish adds further threats to fresh waters in Italy
(pp 401-404)
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The red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, is the most abundant invasive crustacean decapod in Italy.
Evidence is however emerging for the presence of other Cambaridae that are erroneously assigned to the P. clarkii taxon.
The marbled crayfish, belonging to a still uncertain species of the genus Procambarus, has been found for the first time
in Italy in the Canale Maestro della Chiana (Tuscany, Central Italy), where it lives in sympatry with a large P. clarkii population.
Although a single specimen was found, this record is particularly relevant due to the parthenogenetic reproductive habit of the marbled crayfish.
However, molecular analyses based on COI barcoding did not reveal any differentiation within the P. clarkii population and excluded any
form of hybridization between the two species. We will shortly discuss new pathways of invasive species and the threats posed by parthenogenetic
species, even though they seem to be still sporadic.
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Janne Raunio, Lauri Paasivirta and Yngve Brodin
Marine midge Telmatogeton japonicus Tokunaga (Diptera: Chironomidae) exploiting brackish water in Finland
(pp 405-408)
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Pupal exuviae of marine intertidal midge Telmatogeton japonicus Tokunaga (Diptera: Chironomidae)
were found in September 2008 from the Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea. Previous records of the species in the Baltic Sea
were from Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Poland. Telmatogeton japonicus is an alien species introduced to Europe
from the Pacific Ocean. It probably uses shipping as the vector, since in north-western Europe it has first been detected
near large seaports. This was also the case in the Gulf of Finland. Our findings suggests that the species’ distribution
extends further northeast in the Baltic Sea than understood before, and that the species is able to establish viable
populations into fresh-brackish (salinity < 4 ‰) coastal habitats.
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Menachem Goren, Bella S. Galil, Ariel Diamant, Kfir Gayer and Nir Stern
First record of the Indo-Pacific cardinal fish Apogon fasciatus (White, 1790) in the Mediterranean Sea
(pp 409-411)
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To date, three alien species of the cardinal fish genus Apogon (Lacépède, 1801)
have been reported from the Mediterranean Sea. Here we report the first record
of a fourth Indo-Pacific species, A. fasciatus, from the Mediterranean coast of Israel.
The invasion, within three years, of three alien cardinal fish species of Indo-Pacific origin
of the soft bottom infralittoral in the eastern Mediterranean is discussed.
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Menachem Goren, Kfir Gayer and Nimrod Lazarus
First record of the Far East chameleon goby Tridentiger trigonocephalus (Gill, 1859) in the Mediterranean Sea
(pp 413-415)
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The chameleon goby Tridentiger trigonocephalus (Gill, 1859) was found in Ashdod Harbor (Israel).
This is the first record of this species in the Mediterranean. T. trigonocephalus is the third fish
species directly human-mediated introduction (via ballast water in vessels) of a fish species into the Eastern
Mediterranean and the sixth alien goby in this region.
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Yoshiaki Kai and D. Menno Soes
A record of Sebastes schlegelii Hilgendorf, 1880 from Dutch coastal waters
(pp 417-419)
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Sebastes schlegelii, a western Pacific rockfish species, is reported for the first time for The Netherlands.
The presence of an established population is possible and warrants further investigation.
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Nils van Kessel, Martijn Dorenbosch and Frank Spikmans
First record of Pontian monkey goby, Neogobius fluviatilis (Pallas, 1814), in the Dutch Rhine
(pp 421-424)
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The Pontian monkey goby, Neogobius fluviatilis, was recorded for the first time in the Netherlands in March 2009.
Seven specimens were caught in the lower parts of the River Rhine, at close distance of the German border. Based on the species
invasive history, N. fluviatilis could become invasive. Potential ecological impacts should therefore be studied.
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Julián Comesaña and Cesar Ayres
New data on the distribution of pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus and largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides,
and of non endemic Iberian gudgeon Gobio lozanoi in the Galicia region (NW Spain)
(pp 425-427)
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This paper provides the first report of non endemic Iberian gudgeon Gobio lozanoi
in the Tamega River Basin, Northern Iberian Peninsula, and summarizes new and recently-published
information on the current distribution of introduced pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus and
largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides in the Galicia region.
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