scholarly journals Vulnerable Forests of the Pink Sea Fan Eunicella verrucosa in the Mediterranean Sea

Diversity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Chimienti
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Citizen Science ◽  
New Records ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Science Data ◽  
Ligurian Sea ◽  
New Finding ◽  
Commercial Value ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Sea Fan

The pink sea fan Eunicella verrucosa (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Alcyonacea) can form coral forests at mesophotic depths in the Mediterranean Sea. Despite the recognized importance of these habitats, they have been scantly studied and their distribution is mostly unknown. This study reports the new finding of E. verrucosa forests in the Mediterranean Sea, and the updated distribution of this species that has been considered rare in the basin. In particular, one site off Sanremo (Ligurian Sea) was characterized by a monospecific population of E. verrucosa with 2.3 ± 0.2 colonies m−2. By combining new records, literature, and citizen science data, the species is believed to be widespread in the basin with few or isolated colonies, and 19 E. verrucosa forests were identified. The overall associated community showed how these coral forests are essential for species of conservation interest, as well as for species of high commercial value. For this reason, proper protection and management strategies are necessary.

scholarly journals Tracking Marine Alien Macroalgae in the Mediterranean Sea: The Contribution of Citizen Science and Remote Sensing

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Maria Mannino ◽  
Flavio Borfecchia ◽  
Carla Micheli
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Citizen Science ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Indigenous Species ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Time Changes

The accelerating rate of the introduction of non-indigenous species (NIS) and the magnitude of shipping traffic make the Mediterranean Sea a hotspot of biological invasions. For the effective management of NIS, early detection and intensive monitoring over time and space are essential. Here, we present an overview of possible applications of citizen science and remote sensing in monitoring alien seaweeds in the Mediterranean Sea. Citizen science activities, involving the public (e.g., tourists, fishermen, divers) in the collection of data, have great potential for monitoring NIS. The innovative methodologies, based on remote sensing techniques coupled with in situ/laboratory advanced sampling/analysis methods for tracking such species, may be useful and effective tools for easily assessing NIS distribution patterns and monitoring the space/time changes in habitats in order to support the sustainable management of the ecosystems. The reported case studies highlight how these cost-effective systems can be useful complementary tools for monitoring NIS, especially in marine protected areas, which, despite their fundamental role in the conservation of marine biodiversity, are not immune to the introduction of NIS. To ensure effective and long-lasting management strategies, collaborations between researchers, policy makers and citizens are essential.

scholarly journals The Presence of the invasive Lionfish Pterois miles in the Mediterranean Sea

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. BARICHE ◽  
M. TORRES ◽  
E. AZZURRO
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
New Records ◽  
Pterois Miles ◽  
Invasive Lionfish ◽  
Future Potential ◽  
The Mediterranean

Here we report the occurrence of Pterois miles in the Mediterranean Sea, based on the capture of two specimens along the coast of Lebanon. Previously, only one record of the species from the Mediterranean Sea had been documented. The new records highlight the arrival of new propagules of P. miles, more than two decades later, hinting to a future potential invasion of the Mediterranean Sea.

scholarly journals Mining citizen science data to explore stopover sites and spatiotemporal variation in migration patterns of the red-footed falcon

2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (5) ◽  
pp. 467-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anastasios Bounas ◽  
Maria Solanou ◽  
Michele Panuccio ◽  
Sanja Barišić ◽  
Taulant Bino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Science ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Migration Routes ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
Science Data ◽  
Yearly Variation ◽  
Migration Patterns ◽  
Species Migration ◽  
Stopover Sites ◽  
The Mediterranean

Abstract Citizen science data have already been used to effectively address questions regarding migration, a fundamental stage in the life history of birds. In this study, we use data from eBird and from 3 additional regional citizen science databases to describe the migration routes and timing of the red-footed falcon Falco vespertinus in the Mediterranean region across 8 years (2010–2017). We further examine the seasonal and yearly variation in migration patterns and explore sites used during the species migration. Our results suggest that the autumn passage is spatially less variable and temporally more consistent among years than in spring and that birds migrate faster in spring than in autumn. The species seems to be more prevalent along the Central Mediterranean during spring migration, probably as a result of the clockwise loop migration that red-footed falcons perform. There was a high variation in annual median migration dates for both seasons as well as in migration routes across years and seasons. Higher variation was exhibited in the longitudinal component thus indicating flexibility in migration routes. In addition, our results showed the species’ preference for lowlands covered with cropland and mosaics of cropland and natural vegetation as stopover sites during migration. Stopover areas predicted from our distribution modeling highlight the importance of the Mediterranean islands as stopover sites for sea-crossing raptors, such as the red-footed falcon. This study is the first to provide a broad-scale spatiotemporal perspective on the species migration across seasons, years and flyways and demonstrates how citizen science data can inform future monitoring and conservation strategies.

Seawater warming at the northern reach for southern species: Gulf of Genoa, NW Mediterranean

2017 ◽  
Vol 98 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlo Nike Bianchi ◽  
Francesco Caroli ◽  
Paolo Guidetti ◽  
Carla Morri
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Indigenous Species ◽  
Ligurian Sea ◽  
The North ◽  
Nw Mediterranean ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Non Indigenous Species ◽  
Southern Species ◽  
North Western

Global warming is facilitating the poleward range expansion of plant and animal species. In the Mediterranean Sea, the concurrent temperature increase and abundance of (sub)tropical non-indigenous species (NIS) is leading to the so-called ‘tropicalization’ of the Mediterranean Sea, which is dramatically evident in the south-eastern sectors of the basin. At the same time, the colder north-western sectors of the basin have been said to undergo a process of ‘meridionalization’, that is the establishment of warm-water native species (WWN) previously restricted to the southern sectors. The Gulf of Genoa (Ligurian Sea) is the north-western reach for southern species of whatever origin in the Mediterranean. Recent (up to 2015) observations of NIS and WWN by diving have been collated to update previous similar inventories. In addition, the relative occurrences of both groups of southern species have been monitored by snorkelling between 2009 and 2015 in shallow rocky reefs at Genoa, and compared with the trend in air and sea surface temperatures. A total of 20 southern species (11 NIS and 9 WWN) was found. Two WWN (the zebra seabream Diplodus cervinus and the parrotfish Sparisoma cretense) and three NIS (the SW Atlantic sponge Paraleucilla magna, the Red Sea polychaete Branchiomma luctuosum, and the amphi-American and amphi-Atlantic crab Percnon gibbesi) are new records for the Ligurian Sea, whereas juveniles of the Indo-Pacific bluespotted cornetfish Fistularia commersonii have been found for the first time. While temperature has kept on increasing for the whole period, with 2014 and 2015 being the warmest years since at least 1950, the number of WWN increased linearly, that of NIS increased exponentially, contradicting the idea of meridionalization and supporting that of tropicalization even in the northern sectors of the Mediterranean basin.

scholarly journals New records of Calappa tuerkayana Pastore, 1995 (Brachyura, Calappidae) from the central Mediterranean

2018 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-218
Author(s):  
Carlo Pipitone ◽  
Gianni Insacco ◽  
Daniela Massi ◽  
Bruno Zava
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Adult Male ◽  
New Records ◽  
Geographic Range ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
Juvenile Individual ◽  
The Mediterranean

Two specimens of the uncommon calappid crab Calappa tuerkayana Pastore, 1995 are reported from the central Mediterranean. One juvenile individual was caught in a trawl net at about 105 m depth on a detritus bottom, and one adult male was caught in a trammel net at 50 m depth in a similar habitat. Details about carapace ornamentation and fresh color of the adult, which complement previous descriptions are provided. Family Calappidae includes four species in the Mediterranean Sea. C. tuerkayana has been recorded a few times from its known geographic range. These are the southernmost records to date.

scholarly journals The northernmost record of the blue-spotted cornetfish from the Mediterranean Sea

2008 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 125 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. OCCHIPINTI-AMBROGI ◽  
B.S. GALIL
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Ligurian Sea ◽  
Fast Spreading ◽  
The Mediterranean

A school of Fistularia commersonii was sighted off Laigueglia (Italy), Northwestern Ligurian Sea, inAugust 2008. This fast spreading invasive Indo-Pacific fish was first recorded in the Mediterranean fromIsrael, and it has since spread clear across the sea. This is the northernmost record from the Mediterranean.

Spiophanes adriaticus, a new species from the Mediterranean Sea

2019 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michela D'Alessandro ◽  
Luca Castriota ◽  
Teresa Maggio ◽  
Federica Nasi ◽  
Marilyn Carletti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
The North ◽  
Sublittoral Zone ◽  
New Finding ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
North Adriatic Sea ◽  
A New Species

AbstractMorphological and genetic investigations have led to the identification of Spiophanes adriaticus sp. nov. (Polychaeta: Spionidae) from the North Adriatic Sea (Central Mediterranean). A total of 81 specimens were recorded along the sublittoral zone between 8 and 27.5 m of depth. This species differs from other congeners by having: two pairs of black eyes, a cirriform occipital antenna, dorsal ciliated organs as thin bands usually extending to chaetigers 11–12, dorsal ciliated crests from chaetiger 14–17, undulate glandular opening on chaetigers 5–7, unhooded hooks from the 15th chaetiger and Y shaped tubes. A detailed description and illustrations are provided for the new species. Through DNA barcoding results and comparison of DNA sequences of the new species with those of other congeners available in the GenBank database, the validity of the new finding was confirmed. Spiophanes adriaticus sp. nov. represents the eighth species of Spiophanes recorded for the Mediterranean Sea. A key for the identification of Mediterranean Spiophanes species is also provided.

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