TFOS European Ambassador meeting: Unmet needs and future scientific and clinical solutions for ocular surface diseases

The mission of the Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society (TFOS) is to advance the research, literacy, and educational aspects of the scientific field of the tear film and ocular surface. Fundamental to fulfilling this mission is the TFOS Global Ambassador program. TFOS Ambassadors are dynamic and proactive experts, who help promote TFOS initiatives, such as presenting the conclusions and recommendations of the recent TFOS DEWS II™, throughout the world. They also identify unmet needs, and propose future clinical and scientific solutions, for management of ocular surface diseases in their countries. This meeting report addresses such needs and solutions for 25 European countries, as detailed in the TFOS European Ambassador meeting in Rome, Italy, in September 2019

Unpublished Mediterranean and Black Sea records of marine alien, cryptogenic, and neonative species

To enrich spatio-temporal information on the distribution of alien, cryptogenic, and neonative species in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, a collective effort by 173 marine scientists was made to provide unpublished records and make them open access to the scientific community. Through this effort, we collected and harmonized a dataset of 12,649 records. It includes 247 taxa, of which 217 are Animalia, 25 Plantae and 5 Chromista, from 23 countries surrounding the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Chordata was the most abundant taxonomic group, followed by Arthropoda, Mollusca, and Annelida. In terms of species records, Siganus luridus, Siganus rivulatus, Saurida lessepsianus, Pterois miles, Upeneus moluccensis, Charybdis (Archias) longicollis, and Caulerpa cylindracea were the most numerous. The temporal distribution of the records ranges from 1973 to 2022, with 44% of the records in 2020–2021. Lethrinus borbonicus is reported for the first time in the Mediterranean Sea, while Pomatoschistus quagga, Caulerpa cylindracea, Grateloupia turuturu, and Misophria pallida are first records for the Black Sea; Kapraunia schneideri is recorded for the second time in the Mediterranean and for the first time in Israel; Prionospio depauperata and Pseudonereis anomala are reported for the first time from the Sea of Marmara. Many first country records are also included, namely: Amathia verticillata (Montenegro), Ampithoe valida (Italy), Antithamnion amphigeneum (Greece), Clavelina oblonga (Tunisia and Slovenia), Dendostrea cf. folium (Syria), Epinephelus fasciatus (Tunisia), Ganonema farinosum (Montenegro), Macrorhynchia philippina (Tunisia), Marenzelleria neglecta (Romania), Paratapes textilis (Tunisia), and Botrylloides diegensis (Tunisia)

Maximum size of Marbled spinefoot (Siganus rivulatus Forsskal & Niebuhr, 1775) for Aegean Sea

This study presents the maximum size record of Siganus rivulatus for the Aegean Sea with some additional biological information. The biggest individual of S. rivulatus was caught in Akbuk Bight, Gokova Bay (Southern Aegean Sea) at 15 m depth with trammel nets on 29.01.2018. Specimenof marbled spinefoot was 27.1 cm in total length and 414.8 g in total weight. The specimen was female with a gonad weight of 2.43 g and it was determined to be 9 years old. The total length of the mentioned individual is the longest for Aegean Sea among the reported studies so far and weight measurement displays the maximum value not only for Turkey but also for European waters. © 2021 The Author(s).Ege ÜniversitesiFunding: This study was supported by Ege University Scientifi

Weight–length relations for 103 fish species from the southern Aegean Sea, Turkey

Using a traditional, commercial, crustacean bottom trawl net we collected fish samples from the southern Aegean Sea, from Dec 2009 to Nov 2010, at depths of 30–225 m. We collected a total of 35 428 specimens representing 50 families and 103 species: Argentina sphyraena Linnaeus, 1758; Arnoglossus laterna (Walbaum, 1792); Arnoglossus rueppelii (Cocco, 1844); Arnoglossus thori Kyle, 1913; Belone belone (Linnaeus, 1761); Belone svetovidovi Collette et Parin, 1970; Blennius ocellaris Linnaeus, 1758; Boops boops (Linnaeus, 1758); Bothus podas (Delaroche, 1809); Buglossidium luteum (Risso, 1810); Callionymus lyra Linnaeus, 1758; Callionymus risso Lesueur, 1814; Capros aper (Linnaeus, 1758); Cepola macrophthalma (Linnaeus, 1758); Chelidonichthys cuculus (Linnaeus, 1758); Chelidonichthys lucerne (Linnaeus, 1758); Chlorophthalmus agassizi Bonaparte, 1840; Chromis chromis (Linnaeus, 1758); Citharus linguatula (Linnaeus, 1758); Coelorinchus caelorhincus (Risso, 1810); Conger conger (Linnaeus, 1758); Coris julis (Linnaeus, 1758); Dentex dentex (Linnaeus, 1758); Diplodus annularis (Linnaeus, 1758); Diplodus sargus sargus (Linnaeus, 1758); Diplodus vulgaris (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1817); Echelus myrus (Linnaeus, 1758); Equulites klunzingeri (Steindachner, 1898); Eutrigla gurnardus (Linnaeus, 1758); Fistularia commersonii Rüppell, 1838; Gadiculus argenteus Guichenot, 1850; Glossanodon leioglossus (Valenciennes, 1848); Gobius cruentatus Gmelin, 1789; Gobius niger Linnaeus, 1758; Helicolenus dactylopterus (Delaroche, 1809); Hoplostethus mediterraneus Cuvier, 1829; Labrus merula Linnaeus, 1758; Labrus viridis Linnaeus, 1758; Lampanyctus crocodilus (Risso, 1810); Lepidorhombus boscii (Risso, 1810); Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis (Walbaum, 1792); Lepidotrigla cavillone (Lacepède, 1801); Lepidotrigla dieuzeidei Blanc et Hureau, 1973; Lesueurigobius friesii (Malm, 1874); Lithognathus mormyrus (Linnaeus, 1758); Liza ramada (Risso, 1827); Lophius budegassa Spinola, 1807; Lophius piscatorius Linnaeus, 1758; Macroramphosus scolopax (Linnaeus, 1758); Merluccius merluccius (Linnaeus, 1758); Mullus barbatus barbatus Linnaeus, 1758; Mullus surmuletus Linnaeus, 1758; Mustelus mustelus (Linnaeus, 1758); Mustelus punctulatus Risso, 1827; Nemipterus randalli Russell, 1986; Oblada melanura (Linnaeus, 1758); Pagellus acarne (Risso, 1827); Pagellus bogaraveo (Brünnich, 1768); Pagellus erythrinus (Linnaeus, 1758); Parablennius tentacularis (Brünnich, 1768); Peristedion cataphractum (Linnaeus, 1758); Pomadasys incisus (Bowdich, 1825); Pomatoschistus minutus (Pallas, 1770); Raja miraletus Linnaeus, 1758; Raja radula Delaroche, 1809; Salaria pavo (Risso, 1810); Saurida undosquamis (Richardson, 1848); Sciaena umbra Linnaeus, 1758; Scomber japonicas Houttuyn, 1782; Scophthalmus rhombus (Linnaeus, 1758); Scorpaena notata Rafinesque, 1810; Scorpaena porcus Linnaeus, 1758; Scorpaena scrofa Linnaeus, 1758; Scyliorhinus canicula (Linnaeus, 1758); Scyliorhinus stellaris (Linnaeus, 1758); Serranus cabrilla (Linnaeus, 1758); Serranus hepatus (Linnaeus, 1758); Serranus scriba (Linnaeus, 1758); Solea solea (Linnaeus, 1758); Sphyraena chrysotaenia Klunzinger, 1884; Spicara maena (Linnaeus, 1758); Spondyliosoma cantharus (Linnaeus, 1758); Squalus blainvillei (Risso, 1827); Symphodus cinereus (Bonnaterre, 1788); Symphodus doderleini Jordan, 1890; Symphodus mediterraneus (Linnaeus, 1758); Symphodus melanocercus (Risso, 1810); Symphodus ocellatus (Linnaeus, 1758); Symphodus rostratus (Bloch, 1791); Symphodus tinca (Linnaeus, 1758); Syngnathus acus Linnaeus, 1758; Torpedo marmorata Risso, 1810; Torpedo nobiliana Bonaparte, 1835; Trachinus draco Linnaeus, 1758; Trachurus mediterraneus (Steindachner, 1868); Trachurus picturatus (Bowdich, 1825); Trachurus trachurus (Linnaeus, 1758); Trigla lyra Linnaeus, 1758; Trigloporus lastoviza (Bonnaterre, 1788); Upeneus moluccensis (Bleeker, 1855); Upeneus pori Ben-Tuvia et Golani, 1989; Uranoscopus scaber Linnaeus, 1758; Zeus faber Linnaeus, 1758.  We estimated weight–length relations for the fishes collected. Values of the allometric coefficient (b) ranged from 2.1729 for Cepola macrophthalma to 3.6372 for Equulites klunzingeri. All relations were highly significant (P < 0.001), with the majority (94.17% of 103 species) r2 values being greater than 0.9. Four species evidenced isometric growth, 50 species showed positive allometry, and 49 species have negative allometry. Seven species studied were Lessepsian migrants

Contribution to some biological aspects of invasive marbled spinefoot (Siganus rivulatus, Forsskål 1775) from the Turkish coast of southern Aegean Sea

2-s2.0-85084387907Some biological aspects of marbled spinefoot (Siganus rivulatus) were determined from a southern Aegean Sea small-scale fishery. A total of 721 individuals were captured (335 females, 279 males and 87 immature) and sex ratio was found to be 1:1.27, female to male. Total lengths and ages of individuals ranged between 9.0-26.1 cm and 1-9 years. Asymptotic length (L?), growth coefficient (K) and the theoretical age at zero length (t0) were estimated to be 27.7 cm, K = 0.162 y-1 and t0 =-1.87 y. Length at maturity value was determined as 16.6 cm for females and 16.84 cm for males. Although S. rivulatus is one of the target species for small-scale and recreational fishery in the Turkish coast of the southern Aegean Sea, especially in Gökova Bay, official landing data is lacking for Turkey. Results of the present study are of crucial importance for further fisheries management of this invasive species. Copyright © 2020 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom.Ege ÃœniversitesiThis study is supported by Ege University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit. Project Number: 2016/SÜF/014

First record of the blackbar hogfish, Bodianus speciosus (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Labridae), in the Mediterranean Sea

In this report, a very intriguing (although isolated) occurrence record of blackbar hogfish, Bodianus speciosus (Bowdich, 1825), is being made, at a significant distance from its known range. This record could be a useful addition to our understanding of alien species and their appearance in new areas, especially considering its relatively large size. The specimen was captured by spearfishing on a rocky bottom at the depth of 11 m in Horozgediği Bay (Aegean Sea, Turkey, Aliağa, 38°44′57.5′′N, 26°53′47.3′′E). Standard length (SL), fork length (FL), total length (TL), total net weight (W), age, and stomach content were analysed. The specimen was a 4-year-old female and, measuring 26.7 cm TL and weighing 354.95 g. Examination of the stomach content indicated that the specimen was feeding on Mollusca and Crustacea. Based on our knowledge on the biology and distribution of the species, the best explanation for its presence in the eastern Mediterranean is translocation, presumably as an aquarium release, which is known, important introduction vector to the Mediterranean Sea

Unpublished mediterranean records of marine alien and cryptogenic species

Good datasets of geo-referenced records of alien species are a prerequisite for assessing the spatio-temporal dynamics of biological invasions, their invasive potential, and the magnitude of their impacts. However, with the exception of first records on a country level or wider regions, observations of species presence tend to remain unpublished, buried in scattered repositories or in the personal databases of experts. Through an initiative to collect, harmonize and make such unpublished data for marine alien and cryptogenic species in the Mediterranean Sea available, a large dataset comprising 5376 records was created. It includes records of 239 alien or cryptogenic taxa (192 Animalia, 24 Plantae, 23 Chromista) from 19 countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. In terms of records, the most reported Phyla in descending order were Chordata, Mollusca, Chlorophyta, Arthropoda, and Rhodophyta. The most recorded species was Caulerpa cylindracea, followed by Siganus luridus, Magallana sp. (cf. gigas or angulata) and Pterois miles. The dataset includes records from 1972 to 2020, with the highest number of records observed in 2018. Among the records of the dataset, Dictyota acutiloba is a first record for the Mediterranean Sea. Nine first country records are also included: the alga Caulerpa taxifolia var. distichophylla, the cube boxfish Ostracion cubicus, and the cleaner shrimp Urocaridella pulchella from Israel; the sponge Paraleucilla magna from Libya and Slovenia; the lumpfish Cyclopterus lumpus from Cyprus; the bryozoan Celleporaria vermiformis and the polychaetes Prionospio depauperata and Notomastus aberans from Malta