Modeliranje prostorne raspodjeleverbaša morskoga oraha Mnemiopsis leidyi (A. Agassiz, 1865) u Crnom moru korištenjem neizrazitog upravljanje

Species distribution models can predict species occurrences in areas where no data is available by finding relationships between occurrences and environmental parameters. In this study, we applied a fuzzy rule-based system to model the spatial distribution of Mnemiopsis leidyi in the Black Sea and predict the probability of its presence throughout the sea. Six variables were used as predictors, including water turbidity, organic and inorganic particulate carbon, photosynthetically active radiation, light absorption by phytoplankton, sea surface temperature, and chlorophyll-a concentration. The results revealed a 0.807 accuracy of the model based on the confusion matrix. The results also showed that photosynthetically active radiation and sea surface temperature were the most important predictors shaping the distribution of this species. The findings also showed that the northern Black Sea was with the highest probability of presence, especially in Ukraine and Russia’s coastal areas. In the coastal areas of Turkey, the highest presence probability was found near Rize, Trabzon, Ordu, and from Sinop to Zonguldak. Therefore, continuous monitoring of the Turkish coastal area is crucial to better understanding the effects of climate change and anthropogenic influences on the further distribution patterns of this invasive ctenophore in the southeastern Black Sea.Modeli raspodjele vrsta mogu predvidjeti pojavu vrsta u područjima gdje nema dostupnih podataka pronalaženjem odnosa između pojava i parametara okoliša. U ovoj studiji smo primijenili nejasan sustav temeljen na pravilima za modeliranje prostorne distribucije Mnemiopsis leidyi u Crnom moru i predviđanje vjerojatnosti njegove prisutnosti u cijelom moru. Šest varijabli korišteno je kao prediktori, uključujući zamućenost vode, organske i anorganske čestice ugljika, fotosintetsko aktivno zračenje, apsorpciju svjetla od strane fitoplanktona, temperaturu površine mora i koncentraciju klorofila a. Rezultati su otkrili točnost modela od 0,807 na temelju zabune matrice. Rezultati su također pokazali da su fotosintetski aktivno zračenje i temperatura površine mora najvažniji prediktori koji oblikuju distribuciju ove vrste. Nalazi su također pokazali da sjeverno Crno more ima najveću vjerojatnost prisustva, posebno u Ukrajini i obalnim područjima Rusije. U obalnim područjima Turske najveća je vjerojatnost prisutnosti utvrđena u blizini Rizea, Trabzona, Ordua i od Sinopa do Zonguldaka. Stoga je kontinuirano praćenje turskog obalnog područja ključno za bolje razumijevanje učinaka klimatskih promjena i antropogenih utjecaja na daljnje obrasce distribucije ovog invazivnog ctenofora u jugoistočnom Crnom moru

A basin-wide Black Sea Mnemiopsis leidyi database

A specific marine biological data management tool, the Black Sea Mnemiopsis leidyi database system was created within the European Commission 6th framework Black Sea SCENE project for the Black Sea region and is now being supported by the Permanent Secretariat of the Black Sea Commission. The core team of scientists studying M. leidyi in the Black Sea was brought together and all their available M. leidyi data and metadata were loaded into the common database. This works on the Internet and has a simple user interface. It gives Black Sea scientists the option to load all their corresponding data on the database and to use it as an effective tool to work both with M. leidyi and, in future, with other gelatinous organisms’ data, including another invasive ctenophore Beroe ovata. All loaded metadata and historical data are available to the entire scientific community. More recent data are available to the team members and with some restrictions to other scientists.JRC.H.5-Land Resources Managemen

Ocean current connectivity propelling the secondary spread of a marine invasive comb jelly across western Eurasia

Publication history: Accepted - 15 February 2018; Published - 16 May 2018.Aim: Invasive species are of increasing global concern. Nevertheless, the mechanisms driving further distribution after the initial establishment of non-native species remain largely unresolved, especially in marine systems. Ocean currents can be a major driver governing range occupancy, but this has not been accounted for in most invasion ecology studies so far. We investigate how well initial establishment areas are interconnected to later occupancy regions to test for the potential role of ocean currents driving secondary spread dynamics in order to infer invasion corridors and the source–sink dynamics of a non-native holoplanktonic biological probe species on a continental scale. Location: Western Eurasia. Time period: 1980s–2016. Major taxa studied: ‘Comb jelly’ Mnemiopsis leidyi. Methods: Based on 12,400 geo-referenced occurrence data, we reconstruct the invasion history of M. leidyi in western Eurasia. We model ocean currents and calculate their stability to match the temporal and spatial spread dynamics with large-scale connectivity patterns via ocean currents. Additionally, genetic markers are used to test the predicted connectivity between subpopulations. Results: Ocean currents can explain secondary spread dynamics, matching observed range expansions and the timing of first occurrence of our holoplanktonic non-native biological probe species, leading to invasion corridors in western Eurasia. In northern Europe, regional extinctions after cold winters were followed by rapid recolonizations at a speed of up to 2,000 km per season. Source areas hosting year-round populations in highly interconnected regions can re-seed genotypes over large distances after local extinctions. Main conclusions: Although the release of ballast water from container ships may contribute to the dispersal of non-native species, our results highlight the importance of ocean currents driving secondary spread dynamics. Highly interconnected areas hosting invasive species are crucial for secondary spread dynamics on a continental scale. Invasion risk assessments should consider large-scale connectivity patterns and the potential source regions of non-native marine species.Danish Council for Independent Research; Grant/Award Number: DFF-1325-00102B; FP7 People: Marie-Curie Actions, Grant/Award Number: MOBILEX, DFF - 1325-00025; EU, BONUS, BMBF, Grant/ Award Number: 03F0682; Excellence Cluster “Future Ocean”, Grant/Award Number: CP153

Composition of eggs and larvae of fish and macrogelatinious zooplankton in Sinop Region (The Central Black Sea) during 2002

This study was carried out in order to determine abundance and distribution of macrogelatinous organisms (Aurelia aurita, Pleurobranchia pileus, Mnemiopsis leidyi ve Beroe ovata) with respect to fish egg and larvae in Sinop region in 2002. Three stations were selected this region and plankton tows were made both verticallly and horizontally. In study the ctenophores M. leidyi between January and September, and B. ovata between August and December period were appeared. The cnidarian Aurelia aurita and the ctenophore Pleurobranchia pileus showed a wider distribution in 2002. A total of 857 eggs and 150 larvae were collected from ichthyoplankton samples and 8 species belonging to 8 families were identified. Most of ichthyoplankton included Sprattus sprattus phalericus 77.7%, Engraulis encrasicolus ponticus10% and Mullus barbatus 10% of total eggs, S. s. phalericus 51%, Blennidae family 15% and E. e. ponticus 13% of total larvae. The abundance and species number of ichthyoplankton were lower in the present study than found in 1999-2000. Overall in the warm period, the abundance of both macrogelatinous organisms and fish egg and larvae were found to increases. No correlations were found between macrogelatinous organisms and fish egg and larvae in this relatively short sampling (during a year) period (p>0.05)