Prvi nalaz novorođene jedinke morskog psa prasca Oxynotus centrina u istočnom Jadranskom moru

Many biological aspects of deep-water sharks are poorly known due to their rarity and difficulties in conducting detailed research on them. The angular roughshark (Oxynotus centrina) is a rare species, critically endangered in the Mediterranean Sea, of which records are scarce across this region. Here we present a record of a female neonate O. centrina from the south-eastern Adriatic Sea, caught by a Montenegrin commercial trawler. Scientific observers were present on-board and collected the specimen, which was subsequently analysed in the laboratory. The specimen was 225 mm long (TL), weighed 59.6 g and had an unhealed umbilical scar. To date, records of this species in the Adriatic Sea have comprised of both adult and older juvenile individuals, but no records of neonates were found in the published literature. In this work, the basic biological observations of the specimen are reported.Mnogi biološki aspekti dubokomorskih morskih pasa slabo su poznati zbog rijetkih nalaza te nedostatka detaljnijih istraživanja. Morski pas prasac (Oxynotus centrina) je rijetka i kritično ugrožena vrsta u Sredozemnom moru, a nalazi ove vrste na tom području su oskudni. U ovom radu se prikazuje nalaz novorođene ženke O. centrina iz jugoistočnog područja Jadranskog mora, uhvaćene od strane crnogorskog komercijalnog ribarskog broda. Jedinka je prikupljena od strane znanstvenih promatrača koji su bili na brodu u trenutku ulova, te je naknadno analizirana u laboratoriju. Jedinka je bila duga 225 mm (TL), težila je 59,6 g i imala je vidljiv nezarasli pupčani ožiljak. Dosadašnji nalazi ove vrste u Jadranskom moru uključivali su samo odrasle i starije juvenilne jedinke, dok nalazi novorođenih jedinki do sada nisu dokumentirani. U ovom radu su prikazana osnovna biološka zapažanja o analiziranoj jedinci

Morfometrijske mjere mlađi psa modrulja Prionace glauca (Linnaeus, 1758) i karakteristike potencijalnih lokaliteta za njegov mrijest u obalnim vodama Crne Gore (jugoistočni Jadran)

The blue shark belongs to the group of the most widespread pelagic sharks in the world. It inhabits the pelagic zone of almost all warm and temperate seas and oceans. As it is one of the most abundant shark species, it is frequently caught in different types of fishing gear operated in the pelagic zone. This study provides the first data on the reproduction of this species in Montenegrin waters (in the Southeastern Adriatic Sea). Six newborn blue sharks were found during our field excursions. For three of them, detailed morphometric measurements are presented. Alongside the newborns, a gravid female was also recorded. The data was collected in the period from April to October 2017. According to the published literature and the data presented in this paper, species reproduction is likely to be seasonal. A review of the areas where the specimens were recorded was carried out in order to infer if the adult females choose them specifically as their parturition grounds.Pas modrulj pripada grupi najviše rasprostranjenih pelagičnih morskih pasa na svijetu. Obitava u pelagičnoj zoni gotovo svih umjerenih i toplih mora i oceana. Premda je jedan od najčešćih morskih pasa, često se lovi različitim ribolovnim alatima koji se koriste u pelagijalu. Ovim istraživanjem sakupljeni su prvi podaci o reprodukciji ove vrste u Crnoj Gori (Jugoistočni Jadran). Tijekom terenskih istraživanja, evidentirano je šest tek rođenih jedinki. Za tri jedinke, prikazane su detaljne morfo-metrijske mjere. Pored spomenutih jedinki, zabilježena je i gravidna ženka ove vrste. Svi podaci su sakupljeni u razdoblju od travnja do listopada 2017. Prema do sada objavljenoj literaturi i ovdje prikazanim podacima, moguće je da je reprodukcija ove vrste sezonska. Izvršen je i pregled lokaliteta na kojima su jedinke pronađene, kako bi se utvrdilo biraju li ih ženke kao mjesta za rađanje mladih

Observations of juvenile sandbar sharks Carcharhinus plumbeus (Nardo, 1827) around the Bojana River delta (Southern Adriatic Sea)

The sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus) is considered rare in the Adriatic Sea and the majority of records originate from the northern Adriatic, where a nursery area for this species close to the Po delta system has been repeatedly proposed. This study provides 5 new records and analyses the previously published records of sandbar sharks recorded around the delta of the River Bojana (in Montenegro, in the south-eastern Adriatic). The River Bojana located on the border between Montenegro and Albania, is the second largest river flowing into the Adriatic Sea, where it forms a highly productive ecosystem already known as a local hotspot for smooth-hound sharks (Mustelus spp.). New records of sandbar sharks have emerged as a result of citizen science (a social media survey) and direct reports from fishermen. The total length of C. plumbeus juveniles ranged from approximately 800 mm to 1100 mm, and most (n=5) were caught by set gillnets. The data presented here show that juveniles are consistently present around the estuary and indicate the importance of this fragile estuarine ecosystem for sandbar sharks. Additionally, this study also provides morphometric data collected from a single individual

Nove vrste riba i rakova u Crnogorskim vodama (južni Jadran)

The structure and composition of Mediterranean biodiversity has changed significantly. So far, in Montenegrin coastal waters, nine new non-native species have been recorded: Tylosurus acus imperialis, Caranx crysos, Siganus luridus, Fistularia commersonii, Stephanolepis diaspros, Sphoeroides pachygaster, Lagocephalus sceleratus, Callinectes sapidus and Farfantepanaeus aztecus. Allochthonous species are starting to compete for food and space and leading to habitat degradation, socio-economic impacts and can hybridise with the native species. Natural factors and human activities have enabled the arrival of non-native species into the Adriatic Sea. Four of the species are Lessepsian immigrants, which arrived via the Suez Canal, but five others were introduced from the Atlantic Ocean, through the Strait of Gibraltar. Analysis using the Marine Fish Invasiveness Screening Kit (MFISK), Aquatic Invasiveness Screening Kit (AS-ISK) and Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) showed a calibration threshold of 22.5 for MFISK, a BRA (Basic Risk Assessment) score of 34 and a CCA (Climate Change Assessment) score of 46. A measure of the accuracy of the calibration analysis is the area under the ROC curve (AUC). Two species were characterised as non-invasive: Tylosurus acus imperialis and Caranx crysos, but five others were characterised as invasive and covered by the categories from moderate to high-risk.Struktura i sastav bioraznolikosti Sredozemlja značajno su se promijenili. Do sada je u crnogor- skom primorju zabilježeno devet novih ne-nativnih vrsta: Tylosurus acus imperialis, Caranx crysos, Siganus luridus, Fistularia commersonii, Stephanolepis diaspros, Sphoeroides pachygaster, Lagocephalus sceleratus, Callinectes sapidus i Farfantepanaeus aztecus. Alohtone vrste počinju se natjecati za hranu i prostor i dovode do degradacije staništa, socio-ekonomskih učinaka i mogu hibridizirati s autohtonim vrstama. Prirodni čimbenici i ljudske aktivnosti omogućili su dolazak ne- nativnih vrsta u Jadransko more. Četiri vrste su lesepsijski imigranti, koji su stigli preko Sueskog kanala, ali pet drugih uneseno je iz Atlantskog oceana, kroz Gibraltarski tjesnac. Analiza korištenjem programa MFISK (Marine Fish Invasiveness Screening Kit), AS-ISK (Aquatic Invasiveness Screen- ing Kit) i ROC (Receiver operating characteristic) pokazala je prag kalibracije od 22,5 za MFISK, BRA (Basic Risk Assessment)) rezultat od 34 i CCA (Climate Change Assessment) ocjenu od 46. Mjera točnosti kalibracijske analize je površina ispod ROC krivulje (AUC). Dvije vrste okarakter- izirane su kao neinvazivne: Tylosurus acus imperialis i Caranx crysos, no pet drugih okarakter- izirano je kao invazivno i obuhvaćeno kategorijama od umjerenog do visokog rizika

New records of rare species in the Mediterranean Sea (May 2020)

This Collective Article presents information about 17 taxa belonging to four Phyla (one Cnidaria, two Arthropoda, four Mollusca, and ten Chordata) and extending from the Western Mediterranean to the Levantine Sea. The new records were reported from nine countries as follows: Algeria: first published records of the clingfishes Apletodon dentatus and Lepadogaster lepadogaster after 1955; France: first record of the tripletail Lobotes surinamensis in French Mediterranean waters; Italy: new records of the rare bonito Orcynopsis unicolor and the recently described nudibranch Elysia rubeni from Sicily; first records of the parasitic cirriped Sacculina eriphiae and the nudibranch Dondice trainitoi in the Ionian Sea; first record of the nudibranch Taringa tritorquis in the Mediterranean Sea; first record of the tripletail Lobotes surinamensis in the North Ionian Sea; first documented record of the cephalopod Macrotritopus defilippi in the Adriatic Sea; Slovenia: first record of the Mediterranean endemic cryptobenthic goby Odondebuenia balearica; Montenegro: several recent occurrences of the critically endangered bull ray Aetomylaeus bovinus in the South-eastern Adriatic Sea; Greece: records of the nudibranch Dondice trainitoi in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea; new record of the occurrence of the Mediterranean spearfish Tetrapturus belone from Greece (Rhodes Island); Turkey: recent captures of the vulnerable ocean sunfish Mola mola, caught by purse-seine, in the Aegean Sea and the Dardanelles; new record of the luvar Luvarus imperialis along the Aegean coast of Turkey; Cyprus: first record of the habitat-forming hydroid Lytocarpia myriophyllum, often in considerable densities; first confirmed record of the agujon needlefish Tylosurus imperialis; Syria: first record of the decapod Ethusa mascarone

An assessment of regulation, education practices and socio-economic perceptions of non-native aquatic species in the Balkans

Alongside climate change, the introduction of non-native species (NNS) is widely recognized as one of the main threats to aquatic biodiversity and human wellbeing. Non-native species and biodiversity are generally low priority issues on the political agendas of many countries, particularly in European countries outside the European Union (EU). The objectives and tasks of this study were to address the policy regulation, education level, education practices, and socioeconomic perceptions of NNS in the Balkans. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Turkey (Balkan EU candidate and potential candidate members), in Croatia and Greece (Balkan EU Member States) and Italy (non-Balkan EU Member State). The EU Alien Regulation (1143/2014) concerning NNS is implemented in EU Member States and Montenegro, whereas Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey have not reported specific policy regulations for NNS. Permanent monitoring programmes specifically designed for NNS have not yet been established in the EU Member States. Most countries tackle the issue of NNS through educational activities as part of specific projects. Education level is indicative of the implementation of NNS policy regulation, and efforts are needed for the proper development of relative study programmes. Public awareness and educational preparedness concerning NNS in the Balkans were identified as poor. Strong programmes for management and education should be developed to increase public awareness to prevent further biodiversity losses in the Balkan region

The use of fishers’ Local Ecological Knowledge to reconstruct fish behavioural traits and fishers’ perception of conservation relevance of elasmobranchs in the Mediterranean Sea

none37The Mediterranean Sea has a long-lasting history of fishery exploitation that, together with other anthropogenic impacts, has led to declines in several marine organisms. In particular, elasmobranch populations have been severely impacted, with drastic decreases in abundance and species diversity. Based on their experience, fishers can provide information on marine species occurrence, abundance and behavioural traits on a long-term scale, therefore contributing to research on the poorly studied biological aspects of elusive or rare elasmobranch species. In this study, for the first time, the Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) of fishers was applied to study the behavioural traits of sharks, rays and skates in 12 FAO-GFCM geographical sub-areas (GSAs) of the Mediterranean Sea. This study found both new insight and proved the reliability of LEK-based catch seasonality, reflecting seasonal movements, by comparing LEK-based findings and available literature on five elasmobranch taxa (Mustelus spp., Squalus acanthias, Raja spp., Myliobatis aquila and Scyliorhinus stellaris) in the Adriatic Sea and 7 taxa (Mustelus spp., Raja spp., Prionace glauca, Scyliorhinus canicula, Torpedo spp., Pteroplatytrygon violacea and Isurus oxyrinchus) in the remaining Mediterranean GSAs. In addition, LEK provided new insights into a novel comprehensive representation of species aggregations (Mustelus spp., S. acanthias, M. aquila and S. canicula) in the sampled GSAs and supplied the first descriptions of the size, number of individuals and sex composition of the aggregations. When the limits and shortcomings of LEK-based research are considered, this methodology can be a complementary and cost-effective tool used to study elasmobranchs in either a data-poor scenario or a scenario in which a baseline is missing. LEK can also be useful for the evaluation and inclusion of fishers’ perceptions of bottom-up management and to provide important evidence for conservation plans.noneBARBATO, MATTEO; BARRÍA, CLAUDIO; BELLODI, ANDREA; BONANOMI, SARA; BORME, DIEGO; ĆETKOVIĆ, ILIJA; COLLOCA, FRANCESCO; COLMENERO, ANA I.; CROCETTA, FABIO; De CARLO, FRANCESCO; DEMİR, EGEMEN; Di LORENZO, MANFREDI; FOLLESA, MARIA CRISTINA; GARIBALDI, FULVIO; GIGLIO, GIANNI; GIOVOS, IOANNIS; GUERRIERO, GIULIA; HENTATI, OLFA; KSIBI, MOHAMED; KRUSCHEL, CLAUDIA; LANTERI, LUCA; LEONETTI, FRANCESCO LUIGI; LIGAS, ALESSANDRO; MADONNA, ADRIANO; MATIĆ SKOKO, SANJA; MIMICA, RENATA; MOUTOPOULOS, DIMITRIOS K.; MULAS, ANTONELLO; NERLOVIĆ, VEDRANA; PEŠIĆ, ANA; PORCU, CRISTINA; RIGINELLA, EMILIO; SPERONE, EMILIO; TSOUKNIDAS, KONSTANTINOS; TUNÇER, SEZGINER; VRDOLJAK, DARIO; MAZZOLDI, CARLOTTABarbato, Matteo; Barría, Claudio; Bellodi, Andrea; Bonanomi, Sara; Borme, Diego; Ćetković, Ilija; Colloca, Francesco; Colmenero, ANA I.; Crocetta, Fabio; De CARLO, Francesco; Demi̇r, Egemen; Di LORENZO, Manfredi; Follesa, MARIA CRISTINA; Garibaldi, Fulvio; Giglio, Gianni; Giovos, Ioannis; Guerriero, Giulia; Hentati, Olfa; Ksibi, Mohamed; Kruschel, Claudia; Lanteri, Luca; Leonetti, FRANCESCO LUIGI; Ligas, Alessandro; Madonna, Adriano; MATIĆ SKOKO, Sanja; Mimica, Renata; Moutopoulos, DIMITRIOS K.; Mulas, Antonello; Nerlović, Vedrana; Pešić, Ana; Porcu, Cristina; Riginella, Emilio; Sperone, Emilio; Tsouknidas, Konstantinos; Tunçer, Sezginer; Vrdoljak, Dario; Mazzoldi, Carlott