1. Bottom trawling and environmental variables drive the biodiversity of mediterranean demersal assemblagesDavide Agnetta, Ivano Vascotto, Diego Panzeri, Igor Celić, Cosimo Solidoro, Tomaso Fortibuoni, Saša Raicevich, Simone Libralato, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Marine ecosystems are healthy with a high degree of biodiversity. Assessing how factors affect spatial and temporal patterns of biodiversity is an essential task for the Ecosystem Based Management approach. In this work, we investigated the effect of fisheries disturbance and ocean variables in determining α- and β-diversity of Mediterranean demersal assemblages. Generalized additive mixed models were used to explain the spatio-temporal variability of diversity indices from 2014 to 2020 in three Mediterranean subregions as a function of covariates. An in-depth analysis also made it possible to decouple the effects of bottom trawling from the other covariates. The results show that several fishing activities and environmental variables influence biodiversity, but the direction of change depends on the subregion considered. Bottom trawling instead has a quasi-linear erosion effect on α- and β-diversity in all areas. Valuable commercial species and threatened rays and sharks importantly characterized the sites with low fishing impact. Results are a step towards the development of conservation and management strategies, particularly in the context of the Marine Strategy. Ključne besede: biodiversity, fishing, Mediterranean sea, marine strategy Objavljeno v DiRROS: 28.10.2025; Ogledov: 331; Prenosov: 131
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3. Enhancing ex situ cultivation of Mediterranean Fucales: species-specific responses of Gongolaria barbata and Ericaria crinita seedlings to algal extractsAna Lokovšek, Martina Orlando-Bonaca, Edi Gljušćić, Andrea Bilajac, Ljiljana Iveša, Alberta Di Cave, Saverio Savio, Federico Ortenzi, Domen Trkov, Roberta Congestri, Annalisa Falace, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Mediterranean brown algal forests, dominated by Cystoseira sensu lato species, are undergoing widespread decline due to the cumulative effects of anthropogenic pressure and climate-related stressors. Restoration efforts increasingly rely on ex situ cultivation and outplanting of seedlings, yet early developmental stages often suffer from low survival and growth rates. This study investigated the potential of algal extracts to enhance the seedling development and survival in two canopy-forming species, Gongolaria barbata and Ericaria crinita. We tested extracts from a cyanobacterium (Trichormus variabilis), two microalgae (Desmodesmus sp. and Cylindrotheca closterium), and a commercial macroalgal formulation (AlgatronCifo®) at varying concentrations under controlled mesocosm conditions. Seedling performance was significantly influenced by extract type, and target species identity. Notably, a low-concentration Desmodesmus sp. extract (0.07 mg mL− 1 ) improved survival and growth, whereas T. variabilis exerted an inhibitory effect on G. barbata. AlgatronCifo® did not outperform Desmodesmus sp. extract in promoting seedling development. These findings suggest that specific extracts from green microalgae could improve protocols for the early stages of restoration, offering a scalable tool for rehabilitating degraded marine forests. However, the results underscore the importance of species-specific optimization and the need for in situ validation of biostimulant-based restoration approaches. Ključne besede: Cystoseira s.l., seaweed biostimulants, microalgal extracts, seedling development, restoration, Mediterranean sea Objavljeno v DiRROS: 22.09.2025; Ogledov: 378; Prenosov: 174
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6. Feeding habits of the invasive ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi in the Gulf of Trieste (Adriatic Sea)Borut Mavrič, Danijel Ivajnšič, Davor Lučić, Alenka Malej, Lovrenc Lipej, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: The diet of the invasive ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi in the Gulf of Trieste was examined during its peak occurrence in the summer and early-autumn months (July to October) from 2017 to 2019, through the analysis of stomach contents. Altogether 506 specimens were individually caught for the analysis. A total of 3215 prey items were isolated and identified. Copepods emerged as the primary prey (relative abundance 66.7%), followed by cladocerans (7.7%), and bivalve larvae (6%). Notably, specimens of M. leidyi constituted a significant portion of the diet (5.4.%), providing further evidence of cannibalism within this species. Copepods were also the most commonly occurring prey items in the diet of M. leidyi. Most of them were represented by calanoid and cyclopoid nauplii (48.2%), followed by a harpacticoid M. norvegica (28.3%), and calanoids (26.8%). Other frequently occurring taxa were bivalve larvae (19.3%), M. leidyi (18.7%), and cladoceran Penilia avirostris (16.1%). The rate of cannibalism peaked in July, coinciding with a period of limited food availability. Additionally, the study revealed that fish eggs and larvae were infrequently found in the stomachs of M. leidyi. However, the presence of massive aggregations of M. leidyi may impact microzooplankton populations in late summer or autumn, potentially leading to competition with small pelagic fish. Ključne besede: bioinvasion, cannibalism, comb jelly, competition, diet, Mediterranean Sea Objavljeno v DiRROS: 10.04.2025; Ogledov: 733; Prenosov: 380
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7. New records of rarely reported species in the Mediterranean Sea (March 2025)José Carlos Báez, Okan Akyol, Ernesto Azzurro, Pietro Battaglia, Ángel Belmonte-Gallegos, Georgios Christidis, Lovrenc Lipej, Borut Mavrič, Domen Trkov, Leon Lojze Zamuda, 2025, pregledni znanstveni članek Povzetek: This collective study presents information on fifteen (15) species recorded across five countries (Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Spain, and Türkiye) and four (4) ecoregions, ranging from the Alboran Sea to the Aegean Sea. The recorded species belong to three phyla: Mollusca (3 species), Arthropoda (3 species), and Chordata (9 species). Among mollusks, Martadoris mediterranea is reported for the first time in the Aegean Sea at two different locations, while Opisthoteuthis calypso and Octopoteuthis sicula are newly recorded in the western Mediterranean. Regarding arthropods, Ocypode cursor is reported from the Tyrrhenian coast of Sicily, Pachygrapsus transversus is recorded for the first time in the Tyrrhenian Sea, and Cancer pagurus in the Sea of Marmara. Among chordates, Lobotes surinamensis and Zu cristatus are newly recorded in the Alboran Sea, while Callionymus fasciatus and Sym-phodus doderleini are reported from Slovenian coastal waters. Tripterygion delaisi and Gymnothorax unicolor are documented for the first time in the waters of the Sea of Marmara and Crete, respectively. Additionally, new records of rarely reported fish species include Arctozenus risso, Chromogobius zebratus, and Epinephelus aeneus in Turkish, Spanish, and Italian waters, respectively. Ključne besede: Mediterranean Sea, rare species, fish Objavljeno v DiRROS: 10.04.2025; Ogledov: 6640; Prenosov: 538
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8. New records of introduced species in the Mediterranean Sea (February 2025)Periklis Kleitou, Daryl Agius, Sencer Akalin, Marco Albano, Izdihar Ammar, Coşkun Menderes Aydin, Ernesto Azzurro, Ana Fortič, Valentina Pitacco, Petra Slavinec, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: This Collective Article compiles information on nineteen (19) species recorded in seven (7) Mediterranean countries (Croatia, Cyprus, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Syria, and Türkiye) and across four major sub-basins (Adriatic, Western, Central, and Eastern Mediterranean). The documented taxa represent eight (8) phyla: Annelida (four species), Arthropoda (three), Bryozoa (one), Chordata (two), Cnidaria (two), Mollusca (five), Chlorophyta (one), and Ochrophyta (one). Observations originated from both dedicated scientific surveys (including trawl sampling, van Veen grabs, and harbor-wall scraping) and citizen science initiatives by divers, shell collectors, and recreational fishers. Significant first records include Notomastus aberans (Slovenia), Paraprionospio coora (Italy), Polydora cornuta (Tyrrhenian Sea), Coleusia signata (Cyprus), Penaeus aztecus (Malta), Pleopis schmackeri (Syria), Pteragogus trispilus (Italy), Triacanthus biaculeatus (Türkiye), Oculina patagonica (Syria), and Watersipora subatra (Slovenia). In the Mollusca group, Conomurex persicus extends its known range westward to the Messina Strait (southern Italy), and Sepioteuthis lessoniana is recorded for the first time in Italian waters. Additional first reports for Türkiye include Alveinus miliaceus and Retusa desgenettii in the Turkish Levantine Sea. The species Uroteuthis (Photololigo) arabica represents a first record for the entire Mediterranean basin. Finally, Colpomenia peregrina (Chlorophyta) and Caulerpa taxifolia (Ochrophyta) highlight ephemeral “boom-and-bust” occurrences in Croatia, raising questions about transient invasive dynamics. These collective findings underscore the importance of coordinated monitoring efforts, inclusive of both scientific and citizen-based approaches, to better understand and manage marine biodiversity shifts in the Mediterranean. Ključne besede: invasive species, Mediterranean Sea, climate change Objavljeno v DiRROS: 08.04.2025; Ogledov: 1032; Prenosov: 419
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9. New records of rarely reported species in the Mediterranean Sea (March 2024)Markos Digenis, Okan Akyol, Laure Benoit, Marina Biel-Cabanelas, Öznur Yazılan Çamlik, Konstantinos Charalampous, Archontia Chatzispyrou, Borut Mavrič, Martina Orlando-Bonaca, Leon Lojze Zamuda, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: This Collective Article presents information about 30 species with records in eight countries (Greece, Israel, Italy, Montenegro, Slovenia, Spain, Syria and Türkiye) and six ecoregions extending from the Alboran to the Levantine Seas. The recorded species belong to eight Phyla (4 Chlorophyta, 1 Rhodophyta, 1 Porifera, 3 Cnidaria, 2 Platyhelminthes, 2 Arthropoda, 2 Mollusca and 15 Chordata) as follows: Chlorophyta: Didymosporangium repens, Ochlochaete hystrix and Phaeophila hirsuta are reported for the first time from the Aegean coasts of Türkiye and Penicillus capitatus is firstly recorded in Slovenian coastal waters; Rhodophyta: Ptilophora dentata is recorded for the first time in Turkish coasts, from the entrance of a marine cave; Porifera: Tethya meloni is reported from Montenegrin waters; Cnidaria: Savalia savaglia and Dendrophyllia ramea are firstly observed north of the Almeria-Oran front in the southeastern Iberian Peninsula, while Spinimuricea cf. atlantica is firstly recorded in the Gulf of Lion constituting the easternmost record of the species in the Mediterranean Sea; Platyhelminthes: the polyclad flatworms Thysanozoon brocchii and Planocera graffi are reported for the first time from Greek waters, observed inside marine caves; Mollusca: Ascobulla fragilis is firstly reported from the Eastern Levantine Sea while the blanket octopus Tremoctopus violaceus is recorded in Izmir Bay constituting its fifth sighting in the Aegean Sea after a quarter of a century; Arthropoda: the copepod Ditrychocorycaeus africanus is firstly recorded in the Ionian Sea while the tufted ghost crab Ocypode cursor is detected further north in the Tyrrhenian Sea; Chordata: the bothid flounder Arnoglossus grohmanni is firstly reported in Spain while specimens of the rare bythitid Bellottia apoda are presented for the Adriatic Sea; the chondrichthyans Chimaera monstrosa, Dalatias licha, Heptranchias perlo, Leucoraja circularis, Mustelus mustelus, Oxynotus centrina, Squatina aculeata and Torpedo marmorata are presented as collected within 13 continuous years in the bathyal zone of the Antalya Bay; the speleophilic fish Grammonus ater is firstly recorded in the Alboran Sea, observed in a marine cave; the critically endangered sandy ray Leucoraja circularis is reported from the eastern Ionian Sea; the crested oarfish Lophotus lacepede is reported for the first time from Sardinia, based on evidence dating back 20 years; the white trevally Pseudocaranx dentex is firstly recorded in Tremiti Islands (Adriatic Sea, Italy) while the phaeton dragonet Synchiropus phaeton and the gobid Zebrus pallaoroi are firstly reported from Syrian and Italian waters, respectively. Ključne besede: Mediterranean Sea, rare species, flora, fauna Objavljeno v DiRROS: 12.03.2025; Ogledov: 1660; Prenosov: 1820
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10. Species loss and decline in taxonomic diversity of macroalgae in the Gulf of Trieste (Northern Adriatic sea) over the last six decadesAnnalisa Falace, Giuseppina Alongi, Martina Orlando-Bonaca, Stanislao Bevilacqua, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Ključne besede: β-diversity, global change, marine biodiversity, taxonomic distinctness, Mediterranean Sea Objavljeno v DiRROS: 14.11.2024; Ogledov: 981; Prenosov: 2264
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