Deep cleaning of alien and cryptogenic species records in the Greek Seas (2018 update)

This work presents a current (2018) annotated list of marine NIS and cryptogenic species in Greek marine waters. For this purpose, we updated information from previous lists, included new data from several new NIS and cryptogenic records and recent taxonomic studies, and followed current taxonomic modifications for the alien/cryptogenic status of several introduced species. Our extensive literature survey and revisions resulted in the exclusion of 61 species, which were included in previous lists, and the addition of 41 new alien species reported in the 2016–2018 period plus ten old NIS records. The current number of introduced species in Greek waters whose presence is not questionable includes 214 alien species and 62 cryptogenic species. Approximately 80% of the introduced species in Greek Seas consists of the taxa—in decreasing order—Mollusca, Polychaeta, Crustacea, Fishes, and Macroalgae. Nevertheless, a considerable increase in the number of NIS Bryozoa and Ascidiacea was observed within the last decade. Unaided natural dispersal of Lessepsian immigrants (57%) and transport-stowaways (36.7%) are the major pathways of introduction reported for Greek waters. However, with few exceptions (6.8% of species), the confidence level in assigning a pathway was medium to low. Several species reported from adjacent marine areas are expected to reach Greek waters within the next years. The intensification of underwater observations by citizen scientists combined with further research in hot spot areas, understudied habitats and overlooked taxa will significantly raise the number of NIS species in Greek waters. This study can serve as a basis that could greatly benefit from the coordination and harmonization of monitoring initiatives under international, EU and Regional Policies, and the compilation of new data from established monitoring programs, and rapid assessment surveys.JRC.D.2-Water and Marine Resource

New Mediterranean Marine Biodiversity Records (December 2013)

Based on recent biodiversity studies carried out in different parts of the Mediterranean, the following 19 species are included as new records on the floral or faunal lists of the relevant ecosystems: the green algae Penicillus capitatus (Maltese waters); the nemertean Amphiporus allucens (Iberian Peninsula, Spain); the salp Salpa maxima (Syria); the opistobranchs Felimida britoi and Berghia coerulescens (Aegean Sea, Greece); the dusky shark Carcharhinus obscurus (central-west Mediterranean and Ionian Sea, Italy); Randall’s threadfin bream Nemipterus randalli, the broadbanded cardinalfish Apogon fasciatus and the goby Gobius kolombatovici (Aegean Sea, Turkey); the reticulated leatherjack Stephanolepis diaspros and the halacarid Agaue chevreuxi (Sea of Marmara, Turkey); the slimy liagora Ganonema farinosum, the yellowstripe barracuda Sphyraena chrysotaenia, the rayed pearl oyster Pinctada imbricata radiata and the Persian conch Conomurex persicus (south-eastern Kriti, Greece); the blenny Microlipophrys dalmatinus and the bastard grunt Pomadasys incisus (Ionian Sea, Italy); the brown shrimp Farfantepenaeus aztecus (north-eastern Levant, Turkey); the blue-crab Callinectes sapidus (Corfu, Ionian Sea, Greece). In addition, the findings of the following rare species improve currently available biogeographical knowledge: the oceanic pufferfish Lagocephalus lagocephalus (Malta); the yellow sea chub Kyphosus incisor (Almuñécar coast of Spain); the basking shark Cetorhinus maximus and the shortfin mako Isurus oxyrinchus (north-eastern Levant, Turkey).JRC.H.1-Water Resource

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.JRC.D.2-Water and Marine Resource