Unpublished Mediterranean and Black Sea records of marine alien, cryptogenic, and neonative species

To enrich spatio-temporal information on the distribution of alien, cryptogenic, and neonative species in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, a collective effort by 173 marine scientists was made to provide unpublished records and make them open access to the scientific community. Through this effort, we collected and harmonized a dataset of 12,649 records. It includes 247 taxa, of which 217 are Animalia, 25 Plantae and 5 Chromista, from 23 countries surrounding the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Chordata was the most abundant taxonomic group, followed by Arthropoda, Mollusca, and Annelida. In terms of species records, Siganus luridus, Siganus rivulatus, Saurida lessepsianus, Pterois miles, Upeneus moluccensis, Charybdis (Archias) longicollis, and Caulerpa cylindracea were the most numerous. The temporal distribution of the records ranges from 1973 to 2022, with 44% of the records in 2020–2021. Lethrinus borbonicus is reported for the first time in the Mediterranean Sea, while Pomatoschistus quagga, Caulerpa cylindracea, Grateloupia turuturu, and Misophria pallida are first records for the Black Sea; Kapraunia schneideri is recorded for the second time in the Mediterranean and for the first time in Israel; Prionospio depauperata and Pseudonereis anomala are reported for the first time from the Sea of Marmara. Many first country records are also included, namely: Amathia verticillata (Montenegro), Ampithoe valida (Italy), Antithamnion amphigeneum (Greece), Clavelina oblonga (Tunisia and Slovenia), Dendostrea cf. folium (Syria), Epinephelus fasciatus (Tunisia), Ganonema farinosum (Montenegro), Macrorhynchia philippina (Tunisia), Marenzelleria neglecta (Romania), Paratapes textilis (Tunisia), and Botrylloides diegensis (Tunisia)

Composition and Distribution of Recent Marine Ostracod Assemblages in the Bottom Sediments of Central Aegean Sea (SE Andros Island, Greece)

The present study provides a thorough analysis of the composition of recent marine ostracod populations from the bottom sediments of the central Aegean Sea, as well as their distribution patterns. In particular, a detailed qualitative and quantitative study of living ostracod assemblages was carried out in the marine environments of SE Andros Island. Sampling took place at Kastro and Korthi Gulf, both located at the southeastern coast of the Andros Island and from depth of 1.5 to 18 m, while additional samples were collected outside the gulfs at a depth of 120-180 m. Only ostracods considered to have been living at the time of collection were picked from the samples. A total of 51 species belonging to 34 genera were identified and four main ostracod assemblages, representing different biotopes, were distinguished. The results produced from the application of Q-mode cluster analysis in the data set, the calculated assemblage structure indices for each sample, as well as the bathymetric and granulometric data are as follows: Hiltermannicythere rubra assemblage (occurs in substrates of sandy mud and at a water depth ranging from 40-60 m to the depth of 100 m or even more), Loxoconcha affinis, Xestoleberis sexmaculata assemblage (occurs in substrates of muddy very fine to fine sands and shallower environments), Semicytherura incogruens assemblage (occurs in very fine sands at a water depth from 10 to 28 m), Loculicytheretta pavonia and Neocytherideis fasciata, Pontocythere turbita assemblages (occurs mainly in fine sands and at a water depth between 3.5 and 15 m) and Urocythereis neapolitana assemblage (occurs in substrates of medium to coarse sand and at a water depth of less than 20 m). © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Ostracod faunas from recent marine environments of Central Aegean (Andros Island) and their evolution compared to marine faunas of the upper cenozoic

Σήμερα γνωρίζουμε ότι η οικολογική μελέτη του περιβάλλοντος ή η ανασύσταση ενός παλαιοπεριβάλλοντος απαιτεί τη χρήση πολλαπλών δεικτών. Έτσι, οι διάφοροι οργανισμοί ή τα υπολείμματα αυτών –δηλαδή τα απολιθώματα- προσφέρουν στην ερευνητική διαδικασία μια πληθώρα στοιχείων για ποικίλους σκοπούς. Στα πλαίσια της παρούσας εργασίας ασχολούμαστε με την ομάδα των οστρακωδών η οποία αποτελεί θεμελιώδες συστατικό όλων των υδρόβιων περιβαλλόντων. Κύριο μέλημα αυτής της διδακτορικής διατριβής είναι η διεξοδική ποσοτική και ποιοτική μελέτη των συγκεντρώσεων των σύγχρονων οστρακωδών στα θαλάσσια παράκτια περιβάλλοντα της Ν. Άνδρου. Στόχος αυτής της προσπάθειας είναι η συμβολή στην καταγραφή και την ανάλυση της κατανομής και της οικολογίας των σύγχρονων θαλασσιων οστρακωδών της περιοχής του κεντρικού Αιγαίου. Αυτό επιτυγχάνεται με την μελέτη επιφυτικών συγκεντρώσεων αλλά και συναθροίσεων ιζημάτων πυθμένα, καθώς και τη διερεύνηση της επίδρασης των ανθρωπογενών ή φυσικών περιβαλλοντικών μεταβολών στην σύνθεση και κατανομή των συγκεντρώσεων των οστρακωδών. Η προσπάθεια αυτή συνεισφέρει στην εξαγωγή σημαντικών νέων οικολογικών στοιχείων για πολλά είδη οστρακωδών, τα οποία στα πλαίσια εφαρμογών της περιβαλλοντικής μικροπαλαιοντολογίας χρησιμοποιούνται για τον εντοπισμό ανθρωπογενών περιβαλλοντικών αλλαγών. Στο επίκεντρο αυτής της προσπάθειας είναι ο κόλπος Κάστρου Χώρας της νήσου Άνδρου. Δεδομένου ότι ο κόλπος αυτός δέχεται μια ποικιλία ανθρώπινων παρεμβάσεων όπως π.χ. την έκχυση αποχετευτικών λυμάτων στο νότιο τμήμα του, τη λειτουργία σταθμού παραγωγής ηλεκτρικής ενέργειας της ΔΕΗ μέχρι και το 2003 στο βόρειο τμήμα του και τη λειτουργία μαρίνας (εικ. 2.1), πραγματοποιήθηκαν λεπτομερείς δειγματοληψίες από το καλοκαίρι του 2001 έως και το καλοκαίρι του 2004 ώστε να μελετηθούν όλοι οι τύποι θαλάσσιων μικροπεριβαλλόντων με στόχο την πληρέστερη καταγραφή της κατανομής των οστρακωδών. Για την αρτιότερη οικολογική ερμηνεία, κρίθηκε απαραίτητη η σύγκριση των πανίδων οστρακωδών του Κάστρου με αυτές άλλων αντίστοιχων περιοχών της ανατολικής πλευράς της νήσου Άνδρου. Συμπληρωματικά λοιπόν, συλλέχθηκαν δείγματα από τον κόλπο του Κορθίου, που επελέγη λόγω παρόμοιων περιβαλλοντικών συνθηκών με αυτών του κόλπου του Κάστρου (οικισμός, κίνηση ρευμάτων, γεωμορφολογία και γεωλογικοί σχηματισμοί, υποθαλάσσια βλάστηση). Τέλος, η προσπάθεια αυτή ολοκληρώνεται με την παρουσίαση της σύνθεσης και εξέλιξης των συναθροίσεων οστρακωδών του ανωτέρω Τεταρτογενούς από την παράκτια περιοχή του όρμου της Βραυρώνας (Αττική), με την χρήση των οικολογικών στοιχείων που αποκομίσθηκαν από την μελέτη των σύγχρονων οστρακωδών των παράκτιων θαλασσίων περιβαλλόντων της Ν. Άνδρου με σκοπό την εφαρμογή τους στην παλαιοικολογική ανάλυση και την αναπαράσταση παλαιοπεριβαλλόντων

Foraminiferal and ostracod ecological patterns in coastal environments of SE Andros Island (Middle Aegean Sea, Greece)

A comparative study of recent epiphytal ostracod and benthic foraminiferal populations was conducted in August 2001, at two gulfs (Korthi and Kastro) located at the southeastern part of Andros Island (middle Aegean Sea, Greece). Thirty samples (representing living macro-benthic algae and seagrasses) from both gulfs were studied and a total of 34 ostracod species and 60 benthic foraminiferal species were identified. In the gulf of Korthi both benthic foraminiferal and epiphytal ostracod assemblages were characterized by high abundances of Amphistegina lessonii and Xestoleberis spp., respectively, therefore the performed Q-mode cluster analysis verified the presence of a Normal Environment Biofacies (NE). Declined Environment (DE) and Stressed (SE) Environment Biofacies were recognized in the gulf of Kastro, an area more affected by anthropogenic activities. Several deformed foraminiferal specimens have been documented in the assemblages from both gulfs, but malformed tests are significantly increased in SE Biofacies of Kastro gulf. This study suggests that great accumulations of A. lessonii (35-60%) associated with high frequencies of Xestoleberis communis and/or Xestoleberis decipiens and high species diversities can be used as bioindicators of coastal health. © 2005 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved

Calcareous algae and Foraminifera from the Upper Capitanian/Lower Wuchiapingian (Middle/Upper Permian) transitional carbonates of the Chios Island (Greece). Biostratigraphic and paleogeographic implications

A 3 m thick carbonate sequence from northern Chios Island is assigned here to the latest Capitanian/earliest Wuchiapingian transitional interval. It is characterized by abundant gymnocodiacean algae, associated with some miliolate, nankinellin and nodosariate foraminifers. These strata display bioaccumulated perireefal microfacies with richthofeniid brachiopods and inozoa calcisponges. They are biostratigraphically characterized by a foraminifera assemblage composed of Reichelina cf. simplex, Dunbarula? sp., Altineria alpinotaurica together with the genera Labioglobivalvulina, Frondina and Robuloides. Other perireefal microfacies show abundant fragments of a new tubiphytid species, Tubiphytella guevenci Vachard nov. gen. nov. sp. Based on this study, the paleogeographical distribution of Altineria alpinotaurica now includes Chios, in addition to the Taurus and the NW and central Iran, whereas primitive forms of the genus are also known in Tunisia and Armenia. This paleobiogeographic distribution would suggest that all these regions still belonged to the Perigondwana margin in the early Wuchiapingian times. Consequently, it is likely that the opening of the Neotethys ocean did not begin prior to the late Wuchiapingian-early Changshingian transitional interval. © 2020 Elsevier Masson SA

Paleoenvironmental evolution of the coastal plain of Marathon, Greece, during the Late Holocene: Depositional environment, climate, and sea level changes

The Middle-Late Holocene infill of the coastal plain of Marathon, Greece, consists of lagoonal deposits related to the decrease of the sea level rise rate. Between a little earlier than 5800 and 3500 Cal BP, mesohaline-oligohaline lagoonal carbonate muds were uninterruptedly accumulating in the central and more seaward areas of the embayment. At the same time in the nearshore environment, oligohaline pelloidal charophytic muds were deposited during periods of a relatively increased rate of sea level rise, whereas during periods with lower rates of sea level rise, extensive marshes were forming in supratidal settings. The formation of framboidal pyrite and evaporitic minerals point to a periodic anoxic, sulfidic, and schizohaline environment. In addition, a warm, strongly seasonal climate under the influence of resurgent continental groundwater is suggested. After 3500 Cal BP, the lagoon witnessed a relatively abrupt change to palustrine mud deposition. The embayment was frequently exposed, and communication with the sea was not perennial. This period, terminated at about 2400 Cal BP, is most likely associated with a wetter and probably more temperate climate. The uppermost depositional unit is dominated mostly by fluvial sediments deposited in a wetland with no recorded communication with the sea. The sea level rise, indicated by several peat formations, is estimated to be lower than that predicted by the glacio-hydroisostatic model and the data from other Greek areas that are considered relatively stable. Hence, a tectonic uplift of the area is suggested at a rate of about 0.4-0.5 mm/y, which almost counterbalances the predicted rate of relative sea level rise of about 0.6-0.7 mm/y for the last 2000 years. This is a plausible explanation for the relative geomorphological stability, since at least Classical times, suggested by the historical documents

Foraminifera eco-biostratigraphy of the southern Evoikos outer shelf, central Aegean Sea, during MIS 5 to present

The South Evoikos Basin is a marginal basin in the Aegean Sea which receives little terrigenous supply and its sedimentation is dominated by hemipelagic processes. Late Quaternary benthic and planktonic foraminifera from core PAG-155 are investigated in order to understand their response to the glacial-interglacial cycles in this region. The quantitative analysis of planktonic foraminifera, coupled with accelerator mass spectrometry (14C-AMS) radiocarbon date measurements, provide an integrated chrono-stratigraphic time framework over the last 90 ka (time interval between late Marine Isotopic Stages 5 and 1; MIS5-MIS1). The temporary appearance and disappearance as well as several abundance peaks in the quantitative distribution of selected climate-sensitive planktonic species allowed the identification of several eco-bioevents, useful to accurately mark the boundaries of the eco-biozones widely recognized in the Mediterranean records and used for large-scale correlations. The established bio-ecozonation scheme allows a detailed palaecological reconstruction for the late Pleistocene archive in the central Aegean, and furthermore provides a notable contribution for palaeoclimatic studies, facilitating intercorrelations between various oceanographic basins. The quantitative analyses of benthic foraminifera identify four distinct assemblages, namely Biofacies: Elphidium spp., Haynesina spp. Biofacies, characterized by neritic species, dominated during the transition from MIS 5 to MIS 4; Cassidulina laevigata/carinata Biofacies dominated till 42 ka (transgressive trend from MIS 4 to MIS 3); Bulimina gibba Biofacies dominated from 42 ka to 9.5 ka (extensive regression MIS 3,2 through lowstand and early transgression; beginning of MIS 1); Bulimina marginata, Uvigerina spp. Biofacies dominated from 9.5 ka to the present (late transgression through early highstand; MIS 1)., This study showed that the South Evoikos Basin which is characterized by its critical depths and connections to the open sea, and its small volume water masses that nourished foraminiferal assemblages, accurately records 5th−4th order sea level and climatic fluctuations. Especially, the basin's limited communication with the open ocean implies that any climatic signals will be recorded in an amplified fashion, and therefore this heightened sensitivity to the effects of climate variability further underlies the prominent role of such marginal basins in the understanding of the global climatic evolution. © 2016 Elsevier Lt

Paleoenvironmental changes since 3000 BC in the coastal marsh of Vravron (Attica, SE Greece)

The coastal area of the Vravron Bay, in the vicinity of the homonym archaeological site, is a marshy plain located on the eastern part of the Attica Peninsula (eastern Greece). In order to provide evidence for palaeoenvironmental changes and landscape evolution of the area, detailed micropaleontological, palynological and sedimentological analyses have been conducted at the underlying Late Holocene coastal deposits. The recovered sediments (lithostratigraphic Units A-D) represent a continuous record of the environmental history of the area since the Early Bronze Age, covering all subsequent historical periods. The base of the recovered deposits is older than the 3rd millennium BC. Until late medieval times, the studied sequence contains plenty evidence for the existence of the natural port reported from the Mycenaean (lithostratigraphic Unit A), that infilled after repeated flooding events during the Classic period (lithostratigraphic Unit B) and gradually developed into a shallower marine environment (lithostratigraphic Unit C). In the uppermost part of the sequence (lithostratigraphic unit D), a transition towards brackish environment with intense fresh water input is featured around 1540 AD. Signs of human agricultural activities in Vravron appear since 3000 BC (Early Bronze Age) and are linked to the history of inhabitation in the area. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA

Palynological investigation of Holocene palaeoenvironmental changes in the coastal plain of Marathon (Attica, Greece)

The identification of Middle-Late Holocene palaeoenvironmental conditions of the Marathon coastal plain gained great interest in the last decades due to its high environmental and archaeological importance. Palynological analysis of samples from two boreholes and two trenches along a transect in the marshy area of the Marathon coastal plain, enabled the tracing of the vegetation and the main environmental changes for the last ∼6000 cal BP. Pollen data suggest a human disturbed environment with Pinus, Quercus, Juniperus and Ericaceae, while a general trend towards Mediterranean vegetation patterns is observed during the last ∼3000 cal BP. Pollen grains from aquatic and hydrophilous plants, dinoflagellate cysts, algal remains and other palynomorphs were used in order to determine the local depositional environment and its evolution through time. © 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved

Palaeoenvironments and site formation processes at the Neolithic lakeside settlement of Dispilio, Kastoria, Northern Greece

Dispilio is a lakeside settlement by the Orestias Lake, Kastoria, northern Greece. The site was inhabited from the Middle Neolithic to the Chalcolithic, with some surface evidence of Bronze Age occupation. Microfacies analysis of the sediments, supported by a suite of environmental indices, has provided detailed paleoenvironmental data and elucidated the main processes involved in the formation of the site and its history of occupation. The settlement was established on the lakeshore, on a shallow sand ridge and a shore marsh. Initially, houses were built on raised platforms above the water. After a major conflagration, a range of depositional microenvironments were established that caused local changes in the sedimentation rate. Therefore, some areas quickly emerged and became dry land, while some others continued to be flooded as part of the transitional supra-littoral environment. On the dry land, houses were built directly on the ground, whereas in the transitional areas houses continued to be built on raised platforms. Thus, gradually, a mound was formed and further shaped by subsequent lake-level fluctuations. One of the lake-level rises is tentatively related to the abandonment of the mound in the Chalcolithic and the development of a hardpan on its surface. There is also evidence of later occupation during the Bronze Age in the form of a few, mostly surface, archaeological remains. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc