scholarly journals Two-way bioinvasion: tracking the neritic non-native cyclopoid copepods Dioithona oculata and Oithona davisae (Oithonidae) in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 586
Author(s):  
XIMENA VELASQUEZ ◽  
ARSENIY R. MOROV ◽  
TUBA TERBIYIK KURT ◽  
DALIT MERON ◽  
TAMAR GUY-HAIM
Keyword(s):  
Water Temperature ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Coastal Waters ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Levantine Sea ◽  
Oithona Davisae ◽  
Introduced Range ◽  
Almost All

Accelerated anthropogenic changes in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea (EMS) have facilitated the introduction, spread and establishment of invasive copepod species in this region. Here, we report the introduction of two non-native cyclopoid copepods Dioithona oculata and Oithona davisae for the first time in the Israeli coastal waters and describe their temporal variability. The species were identified by morphological characteristics, DNA barcoding and phylogenetic inference. Molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis supported the taxonomical identification, nevertheless, showed cryptic speciation within D. oculata, separating the Western Pacific and EMS clades. In the Israeli coastal waters, D. oculata presented a temporally restricted occurrence, appearing from September 2019 to December 2019 (30.0±0.7 – 21.0±1.1 °C) and October 2020 (28.0±0.7 °C). The highest abundances of D. oculata occurred in the autumn (October 2019 and 2020), when the water temperature reached 28.0 °C (7 and 10 ind. m-3, respectively). The lowest abundance occurred in December 2019 (0.35 ind. m-3), when the water temperature decreased to 21.0 °C, indicating that the thermal affinity of D. oculata for warm-temperate conditions, for reproduction and the maintenance of viable populations, has persisted in the introduced range. In contrast, O. davisae appeared almost all year around (17.0±0.5 – 28.0±0.7 °C). This species demonstrated peaks in abundance both in October 2019 and October 2020, when the water temperature reached 28.0 °C (406 and 92 ind. m-3), as well as when the temperature decreased to 17.0 °C (31 ind. m-3, February 2020), confirming its wide eurythermal tolerance. Based on our findings and previous observations, we suggest that D. oculata may have invaded the EMS through the Suez Canal and is now at the onset of its spread in the Mediterranean Sea, whereas O. davisae has been introduced via shipping, likely from the Northeast Atlantic, widely spreading and successfully establishing viable populations across the entire Mediterranean Sea, until the coastal Levantine Sea.

scholarly journals First occurrence of Scarus ghobban (Actinopterygii: Scaridae) in the coastal waters of Cyprus (Eastern Mediterranean Sea)

2010 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 353 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. IOANNOU ◽  
N. MICHAILIDIS ◽  
A. LOUCAIDES ◽  
I. MANITARAS
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Coastal Waters ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Sea ◽  
First Occurrence ◽  
Scarus Ghobban

The first occurrence of the Indo-Pacific blue-barred parrotfish (Scarus ghobban) in the coastal waters of Cyprus is reported. The finding corroborates the establishment of this Lessepsian immigrant along the Levantine coasts.

scholarly journals Distribution Patterns of Floating Microplastics in Open and Coastal Waters of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea (Ionian, Aegean, and Levantine Seas)

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Argyro Adamopoulou ◽  
Christina Zeri ◽  
Francesca Garaventa ◽  
Chiara Gambardella ◽  
Christos Ioakeimidis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Coastal Waters ◽  
Spectroscopic Analysis ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Morphological Properties ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Surface Circulation ◽  
Open Sea

Microplastic pollution is a pervasive anthropogenic phenomenon at the ocean surface. Numerous studies have been performed worldwide; nevertheless, the distribution patterns, morphological properties, and sources of origin in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea are still poorly explored. The purpose of this study is to investigate the distribution patterns of surface floating microplastics (MPs) in the Ionian, Aegean, and Levantine Seas in relation to their sources and sea surface circulation. In total, eighty-four samples were collected using manta nets from 2014 to 2020, covering open waters, coastal waters, and enclosed gulfs (Corfu and Saronikos). MPs concentration measurements revealed high variability ranging from 0.012 to 1.62 items m–2 and did not present maximum concentrations close to MPs hotspot areas. The presence of sea surface slicks, as recorded visually during our samplings, seems to play a key role on the distribution pattern of MPs, and highest concentrations were recorded in samples affected by these formations. The dominant MPs shape type identified were fragments (50–60%), whilst filaments (1–23%), films (3–26%), and foams (0–34%) varied among the studied areas. The majority of MPs in open waters had sizes ≤2 mm peaking between 0.6 and 1.4 mm. Spectroscopic analysis of MPs revealed the presence of 11 polymer types in both open sea and gulfs; the most abundant type was polyethylene (PE), followed by polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS). The relative abundance of polymer types was more diverse in Saronikos Gulf, compared to the open sea due to the proximity to major urban and industrial sources. Our findings suggest that the vicinity to coastal population centers determined the properties, size and polymer types of MPs and highlight that MPs concentrations are affected significantly by local oceanographic conditions, such as surface slicks.

scholarly journals 210Po and 210Pb concentration in zooplankton of the Syrian coastal waters (eastern Mediterranean Sea)

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 320 ◽  
Author(s):  
MOHAMMAD SAID AL-MASRI ◽  
SAMER MAMISH ◽  
MOHAMMAD ABDEL-HALEEM ◽  
HANI HANI DURGHAM
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Coastal Waters ◽  
Concentration Ratio ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Reference Database ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Marine Zooplankton ◽  
Activity Concentrations ◽  
210Pb Activity ◽  
Average Activity

210Po and 210Pb activity concentrations and their concentration ratio (CR) in marine zooplankton collected for the first time from the Syrian coastal waters (the eastern Mediterranean Sea) have been determined. The average activity concentrations of 210Po and 210Pb were 243±36 and 26.4±4.3 Bqkg-1 dw. The 210Po/210Pb activity ratio was found to be more than one  in all zooplankton samples with an average of 9.2 (8.4 to 10), which indicates that the accumulation of 210Po in zooplankton does not come from the decay of the 210Pb only, and reflects a preferential bioaccumulation of 210Po over 210Pb. In addition, the Concentration Ratio (CR) for 210Po and 210Pb reached 104 and 103, respectively. This study will contribute to the radioecological reference database for zooplankton in the Mediterranean Sea.

scholarly journals Penetration of coastal waters into the Eastern Mediterranean Sea using the SeaWiFS data

2002 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guenrik Karabashev ◽  
Marina Evdoshenko ◽  
Sergei Sheberstov
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Coastal Waters ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Sea

scholarly journals Spatiotemporal and ecological distribution of megabenthic crustaceans on the shelf-shelf break of Antalya Gulf, the eastern Mediterranean Sea

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 446
Author(s):  
ANNALISA PATANIA ◽  
ERHAN MUTLU
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Fine Fraction ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Shelf Break ◽  
Otter Trawl ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Levantine Sea

The spatiotemporal distribution and ecology of the suprabenthic and benthic mega-crustaceans were studied in the shelf-shelf break of Turkish waters of the eastern Mediterranean Sea (Antalya Gulf). Sampling was conducted seasonally in May 2014, August, October, and February 2015 using an otter trawl at depths of 10, 25, 75, 125 and 200 m along three transects. A total of 59 species were identified comprising 53 decapods (Eumalacostraca: Eucarida), 3 isopods (Eumalacostraca: Peracarida), and 3 stomatopods (Hoplocarida). Eighteen of the total identifiable species were invasive, and some of them significantly influenced the crustacean community structure. Parapenaeus longirostris, Pagurus prideaux, Charybdis (Goniohellenus) longicollis and Medorippe lanata were the most common species. Parasquilla ferussaci was reported for the first time in Turkish water of the Levantine Sea. Community structure showed seasonal patterns and differed along the depth gradient of habitat heterogeneity. The megabenthic crustacean assemblage was driven mainly by seafloor depth and was related to the fishing disturbance in the area (fishing/no-fishing zones). Environmental parameters were measured for each sample and tested in relationship to crustacean abundance by multivariate analysis CCA (canonical correspondence analysis). The results revealed significant differences in community structure related to substrate and the fine fraction of the bioseston.

Feeding habits of three Batoids in the Levantine Sea (north-eastern Mediterranean Sea) based on stomach content and isotopic data

2017 ◽  
Vol 98 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emre Yemışken ◽  
Manuela G. Forero ◽  
Persefoni Megalofonou ◽  
Lütfıye Eryilmaz ◽  
Joan Navarro
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Stomach Content ◽  
Trophic Position ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Marine Predators ◽  
Levantine Sea ◽  
North Eastern

Understanding the diet of marine predators is essential to defining their trophic role in an ecosystem. Elasmobranchs (sharks and batoids) are considered pivotal components of marine food webs, and are often included in the top predator or mesopredator groups. However, in comparison with other Mediterranean areas, research focusing on marine predators inhabiting the Levantine Sea (eastern Mediterranean Sea) is very limited. Here, we examined the feeding habits (diet, trophic width and trophic position) of three endangered batoids (Gymnura altavela (Linnaeus, 1758), Raja asterias Delaroche, 1809 and Raja clavata, Linnaeus, 1758) coexisting in Iskenderun Bay (north-eastern Levantine Sea, Mediterranean Basin) by combining stomach content and stable isotope analyses. The results revealed clear differences in the trophic habits between them. Stomach contents showed differences in the diet between species, showing a clear feeding preference for teleosts in the case of G. altavela and a diet composed of fish and crustaceans in the case of R. asterias and R. clavata. In line with stomach content results, interspecific differences in the isotopic values and trophic levels were found. In particular, G. altavela was isotopically segregated from R. asterias and R. clavata, showing lower isotopic trophic width and higher trophic level. The results of this study provide new insights into the ecological role of these three endangered batoid species in the Levantine Sea and are of crucial importance for management and conservation of these species.

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