POPULATION TREND OF THE INVASIVE BLUE CRAB CALLINECTES SAPIDUS RATHBUN,1896 IN PATOKU LAGOON.

The blue crab Callinectes sapidus is one of the 23 marine alien species reported for the Albanian coast so far (Beqiraj et al., 2012; Katsanevakis et al., 2011). The first scientific report on the presence of this species in the Albanian coast is in 2009, in Patoku Lagoon. The blue crab population in Patoku Lagoon had grown significantly by 2009 and the blue crab had started to be traded. The data collected in that year showed that this species is assessed to be established in the Patoku Lagoon (Beqiraj & Kashta, 2010). Special attention has been paid to the study of blue crab population in the following years during 2010 - 2015. The aim of this study is to evaluate the development and population trend of blue crab in the Patoku Lagoon referring to the data collected throughout years of study.

Combating marine invasive alien species effectively in Australia

Marine invasive alien species are sea-based organisms that are non-native to a marine ecosystem, and which can or have spread to a degree that has an adverse impact on biodiversity and human livelihoods. In a globalized and inter-connected world, the threats posed by marine invasive alien species are here to stay. Accordingly, it often has been lamented that the threats from marine alien species are too difficult to combat effectively. In Australia, these threats are exacerbated by the country's unique characteristics such as its sheer size, as well as its geographical and historical isolation from the rest of the world. More importantly for the purposes of this article, Australia's unique constitutional framework that entrenches its national system of federalism has led to complex power-sharing arrangements between the Commonwealth, and the State and Territory governments in the management of invasive alien species, which are arguably inadequate to combat marine invasive alien species effectively. In Australia, laws have been made to manage only one vector of marine invasive species, ballast water from vessels, but not for other vectors. This article analyses how marine invasive alien species are currently managed within the Australian legal framework, and discusses what can be done to improve the status quo in order effectively to control the spread of such foreign organisms. It argues with optimism that marine invasive alien species can be effectively managed under a strong legal framework that seeks to prevent their occurrence and minimize the negative impacts of their occurrence. Such a legal framework consists of sound domestic laws and institutions, the effects of which can be enhanced by greater international cooperation.

Marine alien species in Italy: A contribution to the implementation of descriptor D2 of the marine strategy framework directive

The re-examination of marine alien species or Non-indigenous species (NIS) reported in Italian Seas by December 2018, is here provided, particularly focusing on establishment success, year of first record, origin, potential invasiveness, and likely pathways. Furthermore, their distribution is assessed according to marine subregions outlined by the European Union (EU) Marine Strategy Framework Directive: Adriatic Sea (ADRIA), Ionian Sea and Central Mediterranean Sea (CMED), and Western Mediterranean Sea (WMED). In Italy, 265 NIS have been detected with the highest number of species being recorded in the CMED (154 species) and the WMED (151 species), followed by the ADRIA (143). Most of these species were recorded in more than one subregion. The NIS that have established stable populations in Italian Seas are 180 (68%), among which 26 have exhibited invasive traits.Among taxa involved, Macrophyta rank first with 65 taxa. Fifty-five of them are established in at least one subregion, mostly in the ADRIA and the CMED. Crustacea rank second with 48 taxa, followed by Polychaeta with 43 taxa, Mollusca with 29 taxa, and Pisces with 28 taxa, which were mainly reported from the CMED. In the period 2012-2017, 44 new alien species were recorded, resulting in approximately one new entry every two months. Approximately half of the NIS (~52%) recorded in Italy have most likely arrived through the transport-stowaway pathway related to shipping traffic (~28% as biofoulers, ~22% in ballast waters, and ~2% as hitchhikers). The second most common pathway is the unaided movement with currents (~19%), followed by the transport-contaminant on farmed shellfishes pathway (~18%). Unaided is the most common pathway for alien Fisshes, especially in CMED. Escapes from confinement account for ~3% and release in nature for ~2% of the NIS. The present NIS distribution hotspots for new introductions were defined on the first recipient area/location in Italy. In ADRIA the hotspot is Venice which accounts for the highest number of alien taxa introduced in Italy, with 50 newly recorded taxa. In the CMED, hotspots of introduction are the Taranto and Catania Gulfs, hosting 21 first records each. The Strait of Sicily represents a crossroad between the alien taxa from the Atlantic Ocean and the Indo-Pacific area. In the WMED, hotspots of bioinvasions include the Gulfs of Naples, Genoa and Livorno.This review can serve as an updated baseline for future coordination and harmonization of monitoring initiatives under international, EU and regional policies, for the compilation of new data from established monitoring programs, and for rapid assessment surveys.

Fouling Polychaetes in Tanjung Priok Port of Jakarta, Indonesia

Fouling polychaetes in Tanjung Priok Port, Jakarta and their status were studied in order to update the list of marine alien species in Indonesia. Polychaetes were collected using six PVC panels that were submerged at a depth of 0.5 m over three months in Jakarta Bay. Polychaetes were identified to the lowest taxon possible based on characteristics of external morphology. The geographical distribution of identified polychaetes was then determined based on taxonomic literature in order to justify whether they were native or alien species for Indonesian waters. Twelve fouling polychaetes belonging to nine families are reported here. Of these, nine species (i.e., Chrysopetalum debilis, Eunice hirschi, Ceratonereis mirabilis, Leonnates decipiens, Polyophthalmus pictus, Eulalia (Eumida) sanguinea, Lepidonotus tenuisetosus, Hydroides elegans, and Polydora ciliata) were native species, while three other taxa (i.e., Namanereis sp., Hypsicomus sp. 1, and Hypsicomus sp. 2) were undetermined.

Marine Alien Species at Pserimos Island (Greece): census with the help of citizen scientists

Observations of citizen scientists have become an indispensable source in the collection of biodiversity data worldwide. In Greece, the findings of these citizen scientists, in collaboration with the Hellenic Network on Aquatic Invasive Species (ELNAIS), have resulted in compiling diverse information on marine alien species. Since 2004, the Liamis Dive Centre has recorded visual data on 12 marine alien species around Pserimos Island (Dodekanisa, Greece), thus enabling us to sequence their progression and displacement amongst other vital information. The real number of biological invasions is likely to be higher than reported here because citizen scientists do not have the scientific skills required for species identification and also due to financial constraints. Nevertheless, the high number of observers to a certain extent compensates the lack of taxonomic expertise.

Predicting the spread of marine species introduced by global shipping

The human-mediated translocation of species poses a distinct threat to nature, human health, and economy. Although existing models calculate the invasion probability of any species, frameworks for species-specific forecasts are still missing. Here, we developed a model approach using global ship movements and environmental conditions to simulate the successive global spread of marine alien species that allows predicting the identity of those species likely to arrive next in a given habitat. In a first step, we simulated the historical stepping-stone spreading dynamics of 40 marine alien species and compared predicted and observed alien species ranges. With an accuracy of 77%, the model correctly predicted the presence/absence of an alien species in an ecoregion. Spreading dynamics followed a common pattern with an initial invasion of most suitable habitats worldwide and a subsequent spread into neighboring habitats. In a second step, we used the reported distribution of 97 marine algal species with a known invasion history, and six species causing harmful algal blooms, to determine the ecoregions most likely to be invaded next under climate warming. Cluster analysis revealed that species can be classified according to three characteristic spreading profiles: emerging species, high-risk species, and widespread species. For the North Sea, the model predictions could be confirmed because two of the predicted high-risk species have recently invaded the North Sea. This study highlights that even simple models considering only shipping intensities and habitat matches are able to correctly predict the identity of the next invading marine species.