Further expansion of the alien seaweed Caulerpa taxifolia var. distichophylla (Sonder) Verlaque, Huisman & Procacini (Ulvophyceae, Bryopsidales) in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

We are grateful to Andreas Antoniou (Dep. of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development & Environment, Cyprus) for his assistance in the preparation of the illustrations. We would also like to thank Dr. Sotiris Orfanidis (NAGREF – Fisheries Research Institute, Kavala, Greece) for his valuable advice and both the DFMR and HSR / HCMR Rhodes crew and George Hatiris for their help in samplings. Special thanks are due to Dinos Leonidou (SeaQuest Divers Cyprus) for accompanying the deep dive for sampling Caulerpa at Cavo Greco. We are grateful to the Total Foundation (Paris) for its funding support to this study within the framework of the project “Brown algal ecology and biodiversity in the eastern Mediterranean Sea” and to the MASTS pooling initiative (Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland, funded by the Scottish Funding Council and contributing institutions; grant reference HR09011).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Baseline Distribution of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern

A current EU geographical distribution of spatial information for the 37 Invasive Alien Species (IAS) of Union concern (IAS Regulation 1143/2014) is set, based on the best available knowledge, resulting from an assessment of data aggregated through the European Alien Species Information Network (EASIN) in collaboration with the Member States (MS) Competent Authorities of 18 EU countries. This baseline is an important tool supporting the implementation of the IAS Regulation and also provides a factual basis for the review of the application of the IAS Regulation. Ultimately, the information included can be used for monitoring the achievement of Target 5 of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 for combatting IAS, but also to the implementation of other EU policies with requirements on alien species, such as the Birds and Habitats Directives, and the Marine Strategy and Water Framework Directives.JRC.D.2-Water and Marine Resource

New records and observations of macroalgae and associated pathogens from the Falkland Islands, Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego

Subantarctic and Antarctic regions remain little explored with regards to their seaweed diversity. This study is based upon collections in the early 1970s and 2007–2013. It is supported by sequencing COI (mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I) and reports new records for four species of brown algae Hincksia granulosa, Hincksia sandriana, Myriotrichia clavaeformis, Syringoderma australe), four red algae (Erythrotrichia carnea, Paraglossum salicifolium, Phycodrys antarctica, Plumariopsis eatonii), one green alga (Chaetomorpha aerea) and of the oomycete Anisolpidium ectocarpii. A further four brown algae are reported at genus level and discussed (Cladostephus sp., Colpomenia sp., Dictyota sp., Punctaria sp.). Observations of the biology of three brown algal taxa (Cladothele decaisnei, Geminocarpus geminatus, Halopteris obovata) from the region are also reported here

Morske alge grčke obale: Rhodophyta bez Ceramiales

An updated checklist of the red seaweeds (Rhodophyta), excluding the order Ceramiales, of the Greek coasts is provided, based on literature records, critically reviewed from present-day taxonomic and nomenclatural aspects. The total number of genera, species and infraspecific taxa currently accepted is 78, 138 and 4 respectively. The occurrence of each taxon in the North Aegean, South Aegean and Ionian Seas is given. Knowledge gaps are pointed, with 57 taxa pending confirmation of their presence marked. Moreover, 13 excludenda and 12 inquirenda taxa are briefly discussed. In overall, a solid updated baseline of the Rhodophyta (excluding Ceramiales) taxa occurence in Greece is provided, critical for future tailor-targeting seaweed studies.U radu autori prikazuju ažurirani popis crvenih morskih algi grčkih obala (Rhodophyta), isklju-čujući red Ceramiales, koji se temelji na literaturnim zapisima, te je kritički pregledan s današnjih taksonomskih i nomenklaturnih aspekata. Ukupan broj rodova, vrsta i infraspecifičnih taksona koji su trenutno prihvaćeni je 78, 138 i 4, respektivno.Prikazana je pojava svake svojte u sjevernom i južnom Egejskom moru i u Jonskom moru. Uoče-ne su praznine u znanju, tj. s 57 taksona koji čekaju potvrdu njihove prisutnosti. Štoviše, ukratko se raspravlja o 13 isključenih i 12 ispitivanih svojti. U cjelini, osigurana je čvrsta ažurirana osnovica pojavljivanja Rhodophyta (isključujući Ceramiales) u Grčkoj, što je presudno za buduće studije usmjerene na ciljane vrste

When are we "expected" to die? Study of factors that affected life expectancy in Greece (1900-2015)

Η μελέτη της θνησιμότητας αποτελεί μια εκ των βάσεων για την εκτίμηση του μελλοντικού μεγέθους ενός πληθυσμού και την επακόλουθη διαμόρφωση της πολιτικής, κοινωνικής και οικονομικής ανάπτυξης μιας χώρας. Η παρούσα ανακοίνωση προσεγγίζει το βιολογικό φαινόμενο του θανάτου μέσω της μελέτης των παραγόντων που επηρέασαν την εξέλιξη του προσδόκιμου ζωής στη χώρα μας την περίοδο 1900-2015. Στη μελέτη χρησιμοποιήθηκε ένα διευρυμένο φάσμα πηγών όπως, οι Ελληνικές στατιστικές αιτιών θανάτων του Μεσοπολέμου, οι νεότερες πηγές της Ελληνικής Στατιστικής Αρχής, οι ληξιαρχικές πράξεις θανάτων 50 Δήμων της χώρας, αλλά και δεδομένα της Eurostat, της W.H.O. Mortality Database και της European Health Life Expectancy Information System (EHLEIS). Τα στοιχεία είναι συντριπτικά υπέρ της αναμφισβήτητης σταδιακής αύξησης της μέσης διάρκειας ζωής των Ελλήνων (1900: 36 έτη, 1930: 45, 1960: 65, 2000: 78). Σύμφωνα με τον W.H.O., για το έτος 2015, είχε υπολογισθεί ότι στην Ελλάδα το προσδόκιμο ζωής κατά τη γέννηση έφθανε τα 81 έτη, τη στιγμή που ο μέσος όρος του προσδόκιμου ζωής του παγκόσμιου πληθυσμού υπολογίστηκε στα 71,4 έτη. Όμως, από τη μελέτη μιας σειράς ιστορικών και κοινωνικο-οικονομικών παραγόντων που επέδρασαν διαχρονικά στην υγεία του Ελληνικού πληθυσμού, αναδύθηκε το ερώτημα για το τι ακριβώς αποτυπώνουν τα μοντέλα αναφορικά με τη ζωή και το θάνατο. Οι κοινωνικο-οικονομικές διαφορές ανάμεσα στους κατοίκους των γεωγραφικών διαμερισμάτων της χώρας, όπως αυτές διαμορφώθηκαν στο πέρασμα των δεκαετιών μέσω της εσωτερικής μετανάστευσης ή της μετατόπισης του επαγγελματικού προσανατολισμού, αποδεικνύονται βαρύνουσας σημασίας. Επιπλέον, η σταδιακή μετατόπιση του νοσολογικού φάσματος από τα λοιμώδη προς τα καρδιαγγειακά νοσήματα και τα νεοπλάσματα, αναδεικνύει επίσης το σημαντικό ρόλο των παραγόντων που σχετίζονται με την ποιότητα ζωής και το βαθμό χρήσης των μέσων πρόληψης και θεραπείας. Η ηλικία θανάτου είναι ένα εξατομικευμένο μέγεθος που επηρεάζεται από ένα πολυπαραγοντικό πλαίσιο. Εντούτοις, φαίνεται ότι οι συλλογικές κοινωνικο-οικονομικές επιλογές επηρεάζουν σε μεγάλο βαθμό το πότε «αναμένεται» να πεθάνει ένα άτομο.The study of mortality is one of the bases for estimating the future size of a population and the subsequent shaping of the political, social, and economic development of a country. This announcement approaches the biological phenomenon of death through the study of the factors that influenced the evolution of life expectancy in our country in the period 1900-2015. The study used a wide range of sources such as the Greek statistics of causes of death between the wars, the new sources of the Greek Statistical Authority, the death records of 50 Municipalities of the country, as well as data from Eurostat, the W.H.O. Mortality and European Health Life Expectancy Information System (EHLEIS) database. The evidence is overwhelmingly in favor of the undeniable gradual increase in the average life expectancy of Greeks (1900: 36 years, 1930: 45, 1960: 65, 2000: 78). According to W.H.O., for the year 2015, it was estimated that in Greece the life expectancy at birth reached 81 years, while the average life expectancy of the world population was calculated at 71.4 years. However, from the study of a series of historical and socio-economic factors that have influenced the health of the Greek population over time, the question emerged as to what exactly the models capture regarding life and death. The socio-economic differences between the inhabitants of the geographical divisions of the country, as they have been formed over the decades through internal migration or the shift of professional orientation, prove to be of great importance. In addition, the gradual shift of the disease spectrum from infectious to cardiovascular diseases and neoplasms also highlights the important role of factors related to quality of life and the degree of use of treatment and care. Age at death is an individualized measure influenced by a multifactorial context. However, it appears that collective socioeconomic choices greatly influence when a person is "expected" to die.1o Διεπιστημονικό Συμπόσιο "Πότε Πρέπει να Πεθαίνομε;

Alge grčkih obala: Rhodophyta: Ceramiales

An updated checklist of the red seaweeds (Rhodophyta) of the Order Ceramiales of the Greek coasts is provided, based on literature records, critically reviewed from present-day taxonomic and nomenclatural aspects. The total number of genera, species and infraspecific taxa currently accepted is 60, 118 and 2, respectively. The occurrence of each taxon in the North Aegean, South Aegean and Ionian Seas is given. Knowledge gaps are pointed, with 70 taxa pending confirmation of their presence marked. Moreover, 15 excludenda and 20 inquirenda taxa are briefly discussed. In this paper is given an updated base of the Ceramiales taxa occurrence in Greece, needed for future targeted seaweed studies.Ažurirani popis crvenih algi (Rhodophyta) iz reda Ceramiales na grčkim obalama napravljen je na temelju zapisa iz stručne literature i kritički je preispitan s današnjih aspekata taksonomije i nomenklature. Ukupan broj rodova, vrsta i intraspecijskih taksonomskih kategorija koje su danas prihvaćene je 60, 118, odnosno 2. Prikazana je pojava svake svojte u sjevernom i južnom Egejskom moru te u Jonskom moru. Ukazano je na propuste u dosadašnjim istraživanjima, uključivo za 70 svojti za koje je u tijeku potvrda da je zabilježena njihova prisutnost. Štoviše, u raspravi su izneseni podaci o 15 neprihvaćenih i problematičnih svojti kao i o 20 svojti upitnog i sumnjivog taksonomskog statusa. U ovom radu su prikazani ažurirani podaci o pojavljivanju crvenih algi Ceramiales u Grčkoj, a koji su neophodni za izradu budućih ciljanih studija

Time lags in reporting of biological invasions: the case of Mediterranean Sea

Time lags in non-indigenous species (NIS) reporting can create uncertainty in the analysis of NIS introduction rates, which can lead to inadequate actions, prevention measures and their evaluation. The present study aims to highlight time lags in marine NIS reporting in the Mediterranean Sea, i.e.: the time that mediates from the detection of a new NIS in the Mediterranean Sea until its publication. Our results revealed that the time lag in NIS reporting in the Mediterranean Sea has been considerably decreased during the last decades. There is also a noticeable difference in the time lag of reporting NIS in association with the taxonomic group of the species. Fish have generally shorter time lags in their reporting when compared with other taxonomic groups (e.g. macrophytes, Annelida, Bryozoa). Considering the widespread concern on marine introductions, it is essential to recognize the importance of taking into account time lags of reporting NIS that skew introduction patterns of marine NIS, permitting thus more accurate management assessments