Marine alien species in Italy: A contribution to the implementation of descriptor D2 of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive

A re-examination of marine alien species or Non Indigenous Species (NIS) reported in Italian Seas, until December 2018, is provided, focusing on establishment success, year of first record, origin, potential invasiveness, and likely pathways, in particular. Furthermore, their distribution is assessed according to the marine subregions outlined by the European Union (EU) Marine Strategy Framework Directive: Adriatic Sea (ADRIA), Ionian Sea and Central Mediterranean Sea (CMED), and Western Mediterranean Sea (WMED). In Italy, 265 NIS have been detected with the highest number of species being recorded in the CMED (154 species) and the WMED (151 species) subregions, followed by the ADRIA (143) subregion. Most of these species were recorded in more than one subregion. One hundred and eighty (180 or 68%) NIS have established stable populations in Italian Seas among which 26 have exhibited invasive traits. As regards the taxa involved, Macrophyta rank first with 65 taxa. Fifty-five of them are established in at least one subregion, mostly in the ADRIA and the CMED. Crustacea rank second with 48 taxa, followed by Polychaeta with 43 taxa, Mollusca with 29 taxa, and Fishes with 28 taxa, which were mainly reported from the CMED. In the period 2012-2017, 44 new alien species were recorded, resulting in approximately one new entry every two months. Approximately half of the NIS (~52%) recorded in Italy have most likely arrived through the transport-stowaway pathway related to shipping traffic (~28% as biofoulers, ~22% in ballast waters, and ~2% as hitchhikers). The second most common pathway is the unaided movement with currents (~19%), followed by the transport-contaminant on farmed shellfishes pathway (~18%). "Unaided" is the most common pathway for alien Fishes, especially in the CMED; escapes from confinement account for ~3% and release in nature for ~2%. The present NIS distribution hotspots for new introductions were defined at the first recipient area/location in Italy. In the ADRIA, the hotspot, Venice, accounts for the highest number of alien taxa introduced in Italy, with 50 newly recorded taxa. In the CMED subregion, the hotspots of introduction are the Taranto and Catania Gulfs, hosting 21 first records each. The Strait of Sicily represents a crossroad between alien taxa from the Atlantic Ocean and the Indo-Pacific area. In the WMED, bioinvasion hotspots include the Gulfs of Naples, Genoa and Livorno. This review can serve as an updated baseline for future coordination and harmonization of monitoring initiatives under international, EU and regional policies, for the compilation of new data from established monitoring programs, and for rapid assessment surveys

Psychological traits and states in equestrian sport influences on horse-rider performance

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Settlement and primary succession in a shallow submarine cave: the spatial and temporal benthic assemblage distinctness

Several studies have described patterns of distribution and species composition of sessile assemblages from marine caves but few have examined the processes of recruitment and larval settlement in the earlier stages of substrate colonisation. The present study evaluated (i) the distinctness of newly recruited assemblages on the local spatial scale, (ii) how this assemblage distinctness changes over time and (iii) how the recruitment patterns are affected by a different start-time in different positions in the cave. Two sets of 90 baked-clay panels (15 x 15 x 1 cm) were deployed in March (E1) and October 2002 (E2) at three positions in the shallow submarine cave 'Grotta di Ciolo' (South-East Italy, Central Mediterranean Sea): entrance (P1) and at 20 m (P2) and 80 m (P3) from the entrance, respectively. Each position was represented by two areas (1.5 x 1.5 m), and three panels from each area were randomly removed after 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months. The assemblages of the settled organisms comprised a total of 63 taxa. Different succession patterns were highlighted among assemblages across positions. A recruitment period of 2 years allowed a complete colonisation of panels at P1, where both encrusting algae dominated rocky walls and panels. In contrast, recruitment was very slow at P2 and P3, where the mature benthic community was not replicated on the 2-year panels. Finally, there was a partial convergence towards a common ecological succession in series started at different time

Zooplankton composition in the lake Varano (Adriatic Sea coast, Italy)

The zooplankton composition of Lake Varano has been studied from June 2007 to May 2008 considering three sampling stations (western, central, eastern). A total of 55 zooplankton categories were recognised, with medusae Aurelia aurita as the main macroscopic species; 43 of them occurred in less than 50% of the 71 samples collected, highlighting the seasonal aspect of the community. The remaining 12 categories, present in more than 50% of samples, were numerically dominated by the copepod ‘Non Indigenous Species’ Acartia tonsa (reported here for the first time in the lake), which occurred throughout the year. Maximal abundance of zooplankton was recorded in the eastern sampling station, while the lowest values were recorded in the central one. The statistical analysis of data allowed us to establish a not sharp separation of the three sampling stations, apart from isolated dates. The present zooplankton assemblage showed that about 40% of its components differed from those recorded in a study of 18 years before. This last comparison is not easily referable to the ongoing climate warming (the dominant species are of cold temperate origin) and analysis of uninterrupted time series could be useful to understand the underlying reasons

Occurrence and distribution pattern of Palaemon spp.shrimps in a shallow submarine cave environment: a studycase in South-eastern Italy

The common shrimps of the genus Palaemon are often reported as living in Mediterranean submarine caves. The present study quantifies the distribution pattern of a Palaemon spp. populations throughout 1 year of observations in a shallow submarine cave in South-eastern Italy, Ionian Sea. The cave was subdivided into six sectors from the entrance towards the inner portion of the ‘blind cave’ and 16 dives (four per season, during both day and night) were performed with SCUBA equipment. The population was estimated in situ using visual census. Four different species of Palaemon were identified. This study has shown that Palaemon spp. assemblages live throughout the year in submarine caves. Moreover, the results suggest submarine caves play an important role in the biology of Palaemon spp. populations, by providing refuge, juvenile recruitment and food resources

Fish assemblages in shallow marine caves of the Salento Peninsula (Southern Apulia, SE Italy)

Viene presentata una indagine sulla presenza di specie ittiche in tre grotte sommerse della penisola salentina. Un totale di 19 specie sono state censite con il metodo del visual census. Generalmente il numero di specie diminuisce dall'ingresso alle parti più interne e la specie più abbondante (fino all'85% dei ritrovamenti) risulta essere Apogon imberbis. Anche i giovanili di specie di valore commerciale sono stati censiti nelle grotte. Ne deriva che le grotte studiate possono giocare un ruolo importante come rifugio o nursery di molte specie costiere