Published in March 2018
Research articles
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Cristian M. Galván-Villa and Eduardo Ríos-Jara
First detection of the alien snowflake coral Carijoa riisei (Duchassaing and Michelotti, 1860) (Cnidaria: Alcyonacea)
in the port of Manzanillo in the Mexican Pacific (pp 1-6) |
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One colony of the snowflake coral Carijoa riisei (Alcyonacea: Clavulariidae) was found in June 2016, and three more in January 2017,
during dives in the port of Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico (Tropical Eastern Pacific). This species was considered as native to the tropical
Western Atlantic and invasive in the Pacific, but recent studies suggest that it is native to the Indo-West Pacific. Colonies were found
and collected from artificial substrates in the port. A total of 29 species of invertebrates of five different phyla were associated with
the colonies of C. riisei. Moreover, the octocoral was found as an epibiont on the architect crab Pelia tumida. Our observations
suggest that the invasion of C. riisei in Manzanillo is in an early stage and that on-going monitoring and implementation
of an eradication plan is necessary before its distribution is increased.
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M.M.K.I. Marasinghe, R.R.M.K.P. Ranatunga and Arga C. Anil
Settlement of non-native Watersipora subtorquata (d'Orbigny, 1852) in artificial collectors deployed in Colombo Port, Sri Lanka (pp 7-14) |
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Sri Lanka has been a key node in the historical maritime "silk route" since the 14th century. Colombo Port, with its strategic location
in the Indian Ocean, handles most of the country’s foreign cargo. With increased foreign trade and ship traffic, Colombo Port environs
are highly susceptible to invasions by non-indigenous species (NIS), which may threaten native biota. There is a dearth of information
in Sri Lanka on the present status of the biofouling community and the nature and level of threats posed to native biota. The present
study was conducted to investigate the biofouling assemblage within the Colombo Port. Artificial settlement collectors were deployed
in order to study the colonization of fouling organisms. The encrusting foliaceous colonial bryozoan, Watersipora subtorquata was recorded
for the first time in Sri Lanka. It was found on settlement collectors in two of the eight sampling locations one in New Pilot Station
(12.50% cover) at 2 m depth and the other in Bandaranayake Quay (2.19% cover) at 1 m depth. Random and patchy distribution within
the port environment and the absence of W. subtorquata on permanently located collectors indicate that their arrival is relatively recent.
However, invasive behavior of W. subtorquata is significant since they can facilitate the settlement of other biofoulers providing
a non-toxic substrate for them to attach. Furthermore, they pose deleterious impacts on ecology through interspecific competition
with native organisms modifying community structure and dynamics. Therefore, continuous monitoring is vital for early detection
and management of a possible invasion by globally known invasive species.
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Ting Hui Ng, Yanin Limpanont, Yupa Chusongsang, Phirapol Chusongsang and Somsak Panha
Correcting misidentifications and first confirmation of the globally-invasive Physa acuta Draparnaud, 1805 (Gastropoda: Physidae)
in Thailand and Laos (pp 15-19) |
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Introduced freshwater gastropods in the Indo-Burmese region may be under-documented owing to a lack of research attention.
For the first time, we report on the widespread establishment of the globally invasive freshwater snail Physa acuta
(Physidae) in Thailand and Laos, including decades old records that had previously been misidentified as Camptoceras jiraponi
(Planorbidae). Occurrence of Physa acuta as hitchhikers among ornamental aquatic plants suggests that the ornamental trade was
a likely introduction pathway of the species into Thailand. That a globally invasive species was able to spread unnoticed for such
a long period of time highlights the need for countries like Thailand to focus research efforts on prevention and early detection
of introduced species, in addition to increasing our understanding of native biodiversity.
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Francis Kerckhof, Ilse De Mesel and Steven Degraer
First European record of the invasive barnacle Balanus glandula Darwin, 1854 (pp 21-31) |
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During recent surveys of hard substrata biofouling communities in Belgian marine waters we discovered specimens of the invasive
barnacle Balanus glandula. This species is new to the European marine fauna. The species was first encountered in July 2015
in a biofouling community on RV Belgica. In October 2016, the species proved to be common on navigational buoys in Belgian coastal
waters and after a dedicated search we discovered the species on many groynes all along the Belgian coast and in the harbour of Zeebrugge.
We identified the species both morphologically and genetically. We found two generations indicating that B. glandula had settled
in 2015 (possibly the first year of its presence) and also in 2016. We provide identification characters to distinguish B. glandula
from other, similar looking, Western European intertidal barnacles. The distribution of B. glandula was originally limited
to the Pacific coast of North America. In the past half century B. glandula successfully invaded subsequently the coasts
of Argentina, Japan and South Africa. Given its invasion history elsewhere, we forecast that B. glandula is on the brink
of invading other European shores.
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Yana Deschutter, Gabriela Vergara, Jonas Mortelmans, Klaas Deneudt, Karel De Schamphelaere and Marleen De Troch
Distribution of the invasive calanoid copepod Pseudodiaptomus marinus (Sato, 1913) in the Belgian part of the North Sea (pp 33-41) |
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The population structure of the non-indigenous calanoid copepod Pseudodiaptomus marinus (Sato, 1913) in the Belgian part
of the North Sea (BPNS) is reported for the first time. Detailed P. marinus abundance data including sex and age class
of the individuals was gathered on a monthly basis from February 2015 to February 2016 at six sites within the BPNS and Belgian harbors.
Relevant environmental variables were analysed to identify potential drivers explaining the population structure of P. marinus
within the BPNS. The abundances found were unexpectedly high, with peak densities of up to 560 ± 163 ind.m-3. Even though P. marinus
was found in all stations sampled, large spatial and temporal differences were found in the abundance of this species. P. marinus
population structure was best explained by water temperature and chlorophyll a concentrations, while salinity and concentrations
of dissolved inorganic nitrogen did not influence the distribution. The reported high abundances of the species, especially in the harbor
of Zeebrugge, together with the high relative abundances of copepodites indicate that the species is able to reproduce within the BPNS
and Belgian harbors, possibly leading to an established, permanent population. It is crucial to study the distribution of this species
for a longer period in order to determine the possible establishment of this species in the BPNS and consequences for local planktonic populations.
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John R. Beaver, Thomas R. Renicker, Claudia E. Tausz, Jade L. Young, Jennifer C. Thomason, Zachary L. Wolf, Amber L. Russell, Mac A. Cherry, Kyle C. Scotese and Dawn T. Koenig
Winter swarming behavior by the exotic cladoceran Daphnia lumholtzi Sars, 1885 in a Kentucky (USA) reservoir (pp 43-50) |
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We describe swarming behavior in the invasive cladoceran Daphnia lumholtzi Sars, 1885 in a Kentucky, USA, reservoir during winter 2017.
The taxon is a highly successful tropical invader and has spread throughout the lower latitude systems in the USA since its discovery in 1991.
Other than a few isolated reports, the abundance of D. lumholtzi is often <1 organism L-1. Previous studies indicate that
D. lumholtzi is a largely thermophilic species often peaking in abundance in late summer after native daphnids are gone from the water
column of lakes and reservoirs. Prior to our study, there have been no published reports of swarming behavior by this species. We document
the occurrence of massive swarms (>10,000 organisms L-1) of sexually reproducing females of this exotic cladoceran at water column
temperatures <10 °C.
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Sherif Sadek, Walid Abou El-Soud and Bella S. Galil
The brown shrimp Penaeus aztecus Ives, 1891 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Penaeidae) in the Nile Delta, Egypt:
an exploitable resource for fishery and mariculture? (pp 51-54) |
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The penaeid shrimp Penaeus aztecus is recorded for the first time from Egypt. The West Atlantic species was first noted off Damietta,
on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt, in 2012. This species has already been recorded in the Mediterranean Sea from the southeastern Levant
to the Gulf of Lion, France. The impacts of the introduction of P. aztecus on the local biota, and in particular on the native and
previously introduced penaeids, are as yet unknown. Shrimp farmers at the northern Nile Delta have been cultivating P. aztecus since 2016,
depending on postlarvae and juveniles collected from the wild in the Damietta branch of the Nile estuary.
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Tatsiana Lipinskaya, Adriana Radulovici and Andrei Makaranka
First DNA barcoding based record of Echinogammarus trichiatus (Martynov, 1932) (Crustacea, Gammaridae) in Belarus (pp 55-60) |
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A new alien Ponto-Caspian amphipod species Echinogammarus trichiatus (Martynov, 1932) was identified in the Belarusian part
of the Dnieper River using DNA barcoding. This species expands the national checklist of Ponto-Caspian amphipods to nine species.
We found individuals of both sexes, including ovigerous females and juveniles. The structure of E. trichiatus population
and low abundance suggest that it is still being established. We conclude that further expansion of E. trichiatus into
Belarusian waters is possible.
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Roy T. Sawyer and Dan R. Sawyer
The alien Asian leech Barbronia weberi (Blanchard, 1897) (Hirudinea: Salifidae) reported from two disjunct localities in North Carolina,
United States, with observations on its biology and potential for laboratory research (pp 61-64) |
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The alien Asian leech Barbronia weberi (Blanchard, 1897) was discovered in two widely separate localities in coastal North Carolina, USA,
during an eco-systematic study of the Erpobdellidae of this region. Both populations display key external characteristics of this easily recognizable
species, most significantly two accessory pores on the venter and gonopores separated by 4 ½ annuli. Of taxonomic significance, the accessory pores
are not always detectable, but arise during maturation, with the posterior pore developing first. The question arises whether these populations
are truly disjunct (i.e., two introductory events) or have a continuous distribution (i.e., one introductory event). Toward an answer, we propose
exploiting differences in the respective cocoons between the native erpobdellid Mooreobdella tetragon Sawyer and Shelley, 1976, and the alien
salifid B. weberi, to trace the distribution of the alien species in the area of study since adult individuals are scarcely available.
Owing to its incomparable reproductive success, from egg to egg under constant conditions, B. weberi may make a useful laboratory research tool,
especially for developmental studies.
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Yuriy Kvach, Markéta Ondračková, Yuliya Kutsokon and Nataliya Dzyziuk
New record of monogenean parasites on non-indigenous fishes in the Ukrainian Danube Delta (pp 65-72) |
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The Danube Delta is a recognised hot-spot for non-indigenous aquatic species, with 11 new species recorded over the last 20 years.
The North-American pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus L., 1758), has been common in the Ukrainian Danube Delta since 1918, while
the Chinese sleeper (Perccottus glenii Dybowski, 1877) has only recently been introduced. In April 2017, 21 fish species were
recorded during a study of the fish fauna around Vylkove (Ukraine, Danube Delta). The Chinese sleeper was the dominant sampled fish
from the studied locality, comprising 41.4% of the fish community, while pumpkinseed comprised only 1.1%. Three non-indigenous monogenean
parasites were registered: Gyrodactylus perccotti Ergens and Yukhimenko, 1973 infecting the Chinese sleeper; and Gyrodactylus avalonia
Hanek and Threlfall, 1969 and Onchocleidus similis Müller, 1936 infecting pumpkinseed. The American monogenean G. avalonia is reported
for the first time in Europe though further molecular/genetic characterisation is needed for species validation. Likewise, G. perccotti,
a specific parasite of the Chinese sleeper, is recorded in the Danube Delta for the first time. Finally, our data confirm the presence
of the monogenean O. similis, a specific parasite of centrarchid fishes, in the Ukrainian part of the Danube.
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Haakon Hansen and Egil Karlsbakk
Pacific false kelpfish, Sebastiscus marmoratus (Cuvier, 1829) (Scorpaeniformes, Sebastidae) found in Norwegian waters (pp 73-78) |
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During an angling competition in the Oslofjord, Southern Norway, a fish species previously unknown to the anglers was caught. Subsequent
morphological studies and DNA barcoding identified it as a false kelpfish, Sebastiscus marmoratus (Cuvier, 1829), a species native
to the Western Pacific from southern Hokkaido, Japan to the Philippines. The specimen was a female with a length of 29.2 cm and weighing 453 g.
Stomach contents revealed fish remains, as well as the brachyuran Xantho pilipes A. Milne-Edwards, 1867 and remains of anomuran decapods.
Parasitological examination revealed infections with the locally common generalist parasites Derogenes varicus (Digenea) and
Hysterothylacium aduncum (Nematoda) that likely have been acquired through prey fish. A literature study of the parasites of S. marmoratus
was carried out, listing at least 31 species. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of this fish species in the Atlantic.
The introduction route is unknown, but the most likely possibility is via a ship’s ballast water as a larva or fry, which again would imply that
the specimen has been in temperate waters for several years. This, in addition to the fact that the fish was caught on a bait and thus actively
foraging, indicates it was thriving and is a strong indication that this fish species could survive well in the conditions present in Norwegian waters.
It was also clear from this study that available cytochrome oxidase 1 (CO1) sequences cannot differentiate between S. marmoratus and
S. tertius and thus, cannot be used alone for barcoding and discriminating these two species.
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Michel Bariche and Ronald Fricke
Dipterygonotus balteatus (Valenciennes, 1830) (Teleostei: Caesionidae), a new alien fish in the Mediterranean Sea (pp 79-82) |
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The mottled fusilier Dipterygonotus balteatus is a midwater planktivorous fish, native to the tropical Indo-Pacific realm.
Here we document the first record of five individuals of this species captured in the eastern Mediterranean, off Al Abdeh in Lebanon.
Given its small size, inconspicuous appearance, behaviour and also the number of individuals caught, it is suggested that the species
may already have been present in the Mediterranean Sea for some time. Because of the proximity to the Suez Canal, Lessepsian migration
is a likely mode of entry but transport by ballast water is also another possible pathway.
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Alexandros Frantzis
A long and deep step in range expansion of an alien marine mammal in the Mediterranean:
First record of the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin Sousa plumbea (G. Cuvier, 1829) in the Greek Seas (pp 83-87) |
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On 7 November 2017 a solitary Indian Ocean humpback dolphin, Sousa plumbea (G. Cuvier, 1829), was sighted in Karavolas Bay,
near the port of Heraklion, Crete, Greece. On 14, 16 and 17 November 2017 another humpback dolphin sighting, likely the same individual,
was recorded 100 km further west in Souda Bay, Crete. North Crete is the third area where this Lessepsian species was sighted
in the Mediterranean Sea after records in Israel in 2001 and in SE Turkey in 2016. To reach the north coast of Crete, the dolphin
crossed deep offshore waters that are theoretically incompatible with its typical coastal and shallow habitat. The distance travelled
by this dolphin (1000–2330 km depending on the path followed) is the largest movement recorded for this species. Our observations
show the potential of humpback dolphins to reach the shallow and coastal waters of the Cyclades in the Aegean Sea, where native populations
of the vulnerable common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and the endangered short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) occur.
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Rogério Bertani, Rosiani Kakiuti Bonini, Marisa Mayimi Toda, Leandra Sayuri Isa, Júlia Vono Alvarez Figueiredo, Miyuki Roberta dos Santos and Sérgio Cominato Ferraz
Alien scorpions in the Municipality of São Paulo, Brazil – evidence of successful establishment of Tityus stigmurus (Thorell, 1876) and first records of Broteochactas parvulus Pocock, 1897,
and Jaguajir rochae (Borelli, 1910) (pp 89-94) |
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We report the successful introduction and invasion of the scorpion species, Tityus stigmurus (Thorell, 1876), in São Paulo municipality,
Brazil, more than 1,000 km from its southern-most record. The species has considerable impacts on human health, because of its venomous sting.
The first specimen appeared in 2012, and by the end of 2015, three populations were identified, with 86 records so far. They were probably
introduced via the fruit trade. Two other alien scorpion species were recorded in São Paulo, including a single specimen of Broteochactas parvulus
Pocock, 1897, and two specimens of Jaguajir rochae (Borelli, 1910).
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Álvaro Luna, Pedro Romero-Vidal, Fernando Hiraldo and José L. Tella
Cities favour the recent establishment and current spread of the Eurasian collared dove Streptopelia decaocto (Frivaldszky, 1838)
in Dominican Republic (pp 95-99) |
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The Eurasian collared dove Streptopelia decaocto (Frivaldszky, 1838) spread over the world in the last century.
Its presence in America started in the Caribbean islands in the 1970s due to an accidental escape, but the establishment
of this non-native species in Dominican Republic (La Hispaniola Island) remains unclear despite of the existence of recent
records and its presence in nearby countries since decades ago. We combined citizen science data (compiled in eBird) together
with a large-scale survey conducted in 2017 (travelling approximately 2,150 kilometers across the main habitats of the island)
to ascertain the current invasion status of the species in Dominican Republic. Our results indicate that the species probably
colonized -or was introduced into- the island in 2002, being now well established in cities distant up to 270 km far from
the city where it was firstly recorded. The current spatial distribution and recent exponential increase in the number
of individuals recorded suggest that the spread to more cities and even natural habitats is likely to occur in the near future.
Further research is needed to assess its possible impacts on native biodiversity.
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