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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species in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, a collective effort by 173 marine scientists was made to provide unpublished records and make them open access to the scientific community.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).

The potential effects of anthropic pressures on the coastal marine environment are difficult to predict due to the high spatial and temporal variability of the physical and biological processes occurring in the coastal area. To overcome this issue, an innovative coastal observing and modelling system has been implemented along the Latium coast (Italy). The core of the modelling suite is composed of the unstructured-grid hydrodynamic SHYFEM and wave WW3 models to allow to compute the temperature, salinity, current velocity, water levels and wave parameters, seamlessly from the open sea to the coastal waters. The hydrodynamic and wave results were then used within process-oriented models (such as XBEACH, PTM, Leeway Lagrangian particles models) to analyse morphological changes, sediment dynamics and pollutant dispersion in the coastal, riverine and near-port areas.In this work, the modelling suite was used to investigate the potential effects on the soft-bottom benthic communities due to the realization of the new port of Fiumicino, located in the coastal zone affected by the Tiber river dynamic. The coastal dynamic processes along the study area were simulated using different weather conditions, before and after the realization of the new harbour. Hydrodynamic and wave model performance was evaluated using in-situ and remote sensing observations carried out by high-resolution satellite imageries and traditional and innovative in-situ platforms. Finally, the model results were compared with the abundance and composition of the benthic community that was analysed in 25 stations, between 2 and 30 m depth.

Harbor basins are strategically important and heavily impacted water bodies according to the water framework directive. Due to constant traffic, variety of activities, and low-energy hydrodynamics, these areas can have high degrees of water pollution. This study reports the results of the preliminary investigation of anthropogenic microlitter (AM) pollution in a semi-enclosed basin (Civitavecchia harbor; northern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy) using the tubes built by the polychaete Sabella spallanzanii. The visual inspection showed AM particles within the tube structure as a result of its building process. The total average AM abundance was 20.8 ± 3.7 AM g−1. AM abundances and flushing time as the hydrodynamic parameter of water renewal highlight the homogeneity of the sampling area. The suitability of S. spallanzanii tubes as a potential tool to investigate the AM pollution level in sheltered and polluted environments is highlighted.

A new species belonging to the genus Trophoniella Hartman, 1959 (Polychaeta: Flabelligeridae) was described from the coastal area of Civitavecchia (Northern Tyrrhenian Sea). The species was collected in gravelly coarse sands from Posidonia oceanica beds at around 7 m depth. Trophoniella cucullata sp. nov. clearly differs from all other congeners species primarily by the distribution of the sediment grains on the body and by the starting point of the anchylosed neurohooks. Diagnostic morphological traits for the identification of the species are discussed. The description of Trophoniella cucullata sp. nov. in the same P. oceanica biocenosis where other species have been recently reported in the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea, testifies to the role of this marine phanerogam as a biodiversity hotspot.

Marine litter is composed mainly of plastics and is recognized as a serious threats to marine ecosystems. Ecotoxicological approaches have started elucidating the potential severity of microplastics (MPs) in controlled laboratory studies with pristine materials but no information exist on marine environmental microlitter as a whole. Here, we characterized the litter in the coastal Northern Tyrrhenian sea and in the stomach of two fish species of socio-economic importance, and exposed primary cell cultures of mucosal and lymphoid organs to marine microlitter for evaluating possible cytotoxic effects. An average of 0.30 ± 0.02 microlitter items m-3 was found in water samples. μFT-IR analysis revealed that plastic particles, namely HDPE, polyamide and polypropylene were present in 100% and 83.3% of Merluccius merluccius and Mullus barbatus analyzed, which overall ingested 14.67 ± 4.10 and 5.50 ± 1.97 items/individual, respectively. Moreover, microlitter was confirmed as a vector of microorganisms. Lastly, the apical end-point of viability was found to be significantly reduced in splenic cells exposed in vitro to two microlitter conditions. Considering the role of the spleen in the mounting of adaptive immune responses, our results warrant more in-depth investigations for clarifying the actual susceptibility of these two species to anthropogenic microlitter.Highlights0.30 ± 0.02 microlitter items m-3 were found at the surface of coastal Northern Tyrrhenian sea14.67 ± 4.10 and 5.50 ± 1.97 items/individual were retrieved from the stomach of hakes and mulletsThe ingested microlitter contained plastic itemsMicrolitter was validated as a carrier of bacteria, fungi and flagellatesSplenic cells exposed to two microlitter conditions for 72 hours suffered cytotoxicity

In the Mediterranean Sea, the catch of bottom trawl fisheries is composed of a complex mix of fish and invertebrates with a considerable amount of discards. Seasonal composition of catches and discards of bottom trawls operating at different depths in the central Tyrrhenian Sea were investigated from October 2014 to October 2015. The mean total catch per unit effort (CPUE) ranged between 30.93±8.43 and 27.52±9.88 kg/h in shallow and deep fishing grounds, respectively. The discarded fraction of the catch was 39.9 % in shallow and 43.3% in deep fishing grounds. The mean CPUE of commercial target species were similar in shallow and deep trawling (10.81+5.82 vs 8.92±3.16 kg/h). The commercial bycatch was lower in shallow (6.66±1.25 kg/h) than in deep grounds (8.24±2.91 kg/h), whilst the discards were lower in deep (10.43±5.14 kg/h) than shallow grounds (13.43±5.29 kg/h). Overall, 246 species were caught during fishing operations, out of which 209 were included in discards. The number of species recorded in shallow grounds (199 caught species with 166 discarded) was higher than that recorded in deep grounds (116 caught species with 102 discarded). Fish were the most represented taxa in the shallow discards, followed by echinoderms; crustaceans, and were the main discarded taxa in deep water. Depth was the main factor affecting both commercial catches and discards composition, whereas the season affected the CPUE of main target species only. The results confirmed that discards were higher in shallow than in deep trawling, suggesting that the latter is more efficient than the former in catching fishery resources for human consumption. Understanding the factors that affect discarding is the starting point for adopting management measures to mitigate negative impacts of trawl fisheries on marine resources and benthic communities.

Goniadella bobrezkii (Annenkova, 1929) is a small goniadid worm identifiable by the number of anterior uniramous parapodia and by the position of the posterior spine-like notochetae arising dorsal to dorsal cirri. Although it was already reported in the Mediterranean Sea, it has never been found in the Italian waters. This study represents the first generic and specific record of G. bobrezkii along Italian coasts. A total of 25 specimens were collected in a Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile bed, depth of 7 m, off Civitavecchia (Rome).

Callinectes sapidus is considered one of the worst invasive species in the Mediterranean Sea. After its first observation in 1948, the species has colonized several Mediterranean areas. In this work, we report the first records of the species in Latium and Campania (northern-central and central Tyrrhenian Sea respectively), filling a gap in its distribution along the Italian coasts. We also provide a review of Italian records., Plavi rak, Callinectes sapidus smatra se jednom od najgorih invazivnih vrsta u Sredozemnom moru. Nakon prvog nalaza 1948. godine, vrsta je kolonizirala nekoliko mediteranskih područja. U ovom radu izvještavamo o prvim zapisima o vrsti u pokrajinama Latium i Campania (sjeverno-centralno i središnje Tirensko more), popunjavajući nedostatak nalaza o njihovoj rasprostranjenosti duž talijanskih obala. Prikazan je pregled svih talijanskih nalaza.

Marine litter is included in the eleven descriptors of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) necessary for the assessment of the marine environmental status. In this work, we studied the abundance and typology of microparticles extracted from coastal sediments in the northern Latium area, Tyrrhenian sea, Italy. Particles having different shapes (fragments, microspheres, and filaments), size and color were recognized to belong to two typologies, i.e. microplastics (MPs) and aluminum silicate microspheres (ASMs) interpreted as fly-ash produced by fossil fuel combustion. MPs abundances were comparable with data from the literature related to the same depositional contexts in the Mediterranean Sea and elsewhere, while ASMs contributed 32% to the total average microlitter abundance in this coastal area. MPs and ASMs distribution could reflect the contributions of the land-based sources and the hydrodynamic features of the study area. Marine litter is included in the eleven descriptors of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) necessary for the assessment of the marine environmental status. In this work, we studied the abundance and typology of microparticles extracted from coastal sediments in the northern Latium area, Tyrrhenian sea, Italy. Particles having different shapes (fragments, microspheres, and filaments), size and color were recognized to belong to two typologies, i.e. microplastics (MPs) and aluminum silicate microspheres (ASMs) interpreted as fly-ash produced by fossil fuel combustion. MPs abundances were comparable with data from the literature related to the same depositional contexts in the Mediterranean Sea and elsewhere, while ASMs contributed 32% to the total average microlitter abundance in this coastal area. MPs and ASMs distribution could reflect the contributions of the land-based sources and the hydrodynamic features of the study area.

This work analyzes and quantifies the value of ecosystem services in the P.oceanica meadows of the Italian seas, defining methodological approaches and creating synoptic maps through the use of GIS. Ecosystem Services can be defined as benefits provided to mankind by natural ecosystems. Their contribution is essential for human progress and of fundamental importance in the long run.Posidonia oceanica was chosen as the object of study because its meadows represent one of the Mediterranean "climax community". P. oceanica is, therefore, one of the most important ecosystem in the Mediterranean and has been indicated as "priority habitat" according to the Habitat Directive (Dir. N. 92/43 / EEC), which groups together all the Sites of Community Importance (SCI) that need to be protected.The method of evaluating the ecosystem services for P.oceanica is derived from what reported in Costanza et al. (1997) applying the specific site approach for the definition of benefits and services (Marcelli et al. 2018).The identified benefits for P.oceanica are carbon sequestration, oxygen production, erosion protection, bioremediation and food production.P.oceanica data are organized from the dataset collected by the Italian Institute for the Protection of the Environment and Research (ISPRA) for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and include parameters such as coverage and shoots number (m2), average leaf area, leaf area index, average number of leaves, average height of the rhizomes, average foliar and rhizomes production. The data were used for the calculation of the benefits of P. oceanica which are represented in synoptic maps through GIS with the creation of the Atlas of the values ​​of ecosystem services in the Italian seas.

Today, biological invasions represent a threat to endemic animal and plant communities and a major cause of biodiversity loss worldwide. In the Mediterranean Sea, there are about 100 species of macrophytes, introduced intentionally or accidentally, most of which are highly invasive. Among these, the macroalga Caulerpa cylindracea Sonder, 1845, entered in the Mediterranean basin since 1990 through the Suez Canal and now it is widespread along the Italian coasts. This species is able to colonize a high number of coastal substrates and it can affect the density of some seagrasses, such as Cymodocea nodosa (Ucria) Ascherson, 1870 and Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile, 1813. Its colonization ability is enhanced in environments with a high concentration of nutrients and its growth can modify the redox potential of the substrate making it unsuitable for the establishment of other seagrasses and algae. This work aimed to analyse and describe the potential interaction between the C. racemosa and P. oceanica in the coastal area of Civitavecchia. The potential effects of this interaction were studied inside of two different P. oceanica patches, located at a depth of 3-5 m and characterized by the presence/absence of the invasive alga, through the morphostructural analysis of the two species. In particular, the seagrass growth and primary production were analysed using some direct and indirect techniques (phenology and lepidochronology), while for the alga were analysed the phenological characteristics and the percentage of coverage of the substrate. The sampling campaigns were carried out in two different months of the same year, June and October 2019, in order to observe both the growth phase and the maximum bloom phase of the C. racemosa.

Italy, at the center of the Mediterranean Sea, hosts a high diversity of fishes, but to a certain extent, this richness remains hidden or poorly known because of rare, cryptic or recently introduced species, that are hardly to detect with the traditional sampling approaches. In this study, we gained complementary knowledge, engaging Italian sea users, especially fishers and underwater photographers, to share their observations. Results obtained during 2019 provided 124 new records distributed in 40 species. Most of these records are related to native-rare and native-thermophilic fishes (~95%), while few observations (~5%) concern non-indigenous taxa. Records of thermophilic species were reported from the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Ionian Sea, while alien species were mostly reported from the southernmost coasts of Italy. Our findings highlight the potential of participatory actions and emphasize the value of a close collaboration between researchers and sea-lovers for monitoring marine biodiversity on large spatial scales.

The ectoparasite communities of two juvenile Diplodus species, D. sargus and D. puntazzo, were studied in a rocky coast of the Central Tyrrhenian sea (Mediterranean Sea) where three neighbouring nursery areas showed a differential availability of microhabitats due to a gradual protection gradient capable of influencing local hydrodynamic conditions. Five parasite forms were detected on juvenile hosts: Peniculus fistula, the two larval forms of gnathiids (praniza and zuphea stages), Caligus sp. and Anilocra physodes. Among these species an increasing rates of infestation (up to 57%), from the less protected to the most sheltered site, was detected. The largest infestation rate occurred in the most enclosed site, where P. fistula was the most infective species, also capable of affecting the body condition of juvenile fishes. In addition, to investigate behavioural processes among infected fish, both gut content analyses and in situ HD video sequences were used. Our results demonstrate that ectoparasites cannot be considered as accidental food items, implying an active removal of parasites among conspecifics. The highest frequencies of cleaning interactions were recorded during high ambient light conditions, suggesting the role of visual displays as an important factor in stimulating cleaning interactions.

Marine litter is a serious global environmental threat that has received increasing attention in the last decades from the academic world, intergovernmental organizations and agencies due to its impact on ecosystems, fisheries and, ultimately, human health. The Mediterranean Sea is characterized by one of the highest densities of marine litter in the world: although much research has been conducted on floating litter, little data exist on benthic litter and its associated macrozoobenthic fauna and only one study has investigated the matter in Italian waters. In the present work, marine litter was collected through demersal trawl nets in the coastal sector of Civitavecchia (northern Tyrrhenian sea, GSA 9) at 50–120 m of depth with the aim of (i) describing the marine litter-associated macrozoobenthic community, (ii) identifying the associations between macrozoobenthic species and litter categories and (iii) evaluating the presence of unrecorded and/or non-indigenous species (NIS) associated with marine litter. Marine litter was recovered from all hauls, confirming its ubiquity and global dispersion in coastal areas, with plastic materials being the most frequently retrieved category. The highest and lowest litter items density were 2125 and 312.50 items/km2. A total of 656 litter items weighing 15.8 kg were classified according to the MSFD Technical Group on Marine Litter categories and analyzed. Their associated fauna consisted of 1536 benthic organisms belonging to 62 species. Species abundance-wise, Bryozoans were the dominant taxon followed by Polychaeta, Bivalvia, Ascidiacea and Anthozoa. Six non-indigenous species (NIS) were retrieved on anthropogenic substrates and, among them, two bryozoans species previously unreported in Italian waters were herein recorded. At last, our results highlight the possible selective association between some sessile species and specific marine litter categories, even though further validation is needed.

Ophelia roscoffensis Augener, 1910 is an opheliid worm identifiable by the number of anterior abranchiate chaetigers and the number of the gill pairs. Although it was already reported in the Mediterranean Sea, it has never been found in the Italian waters. This study represents the first record of Ophelia roscoffensis in the Italian waters. A total of 18 specimens were collected along the coast of Civitavecchia (Tyrrhenian Sea) in a Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile bed at a depth of 7 m.

Industrial and commercial, together with touristic and ecological, are two of the main uses of the Civitavecchia coastal area that bring wealth and of course influence this marine ecosystem. The port, one of the most important in the Mediterranean Sea, recorded in the last three decades a major increment of its commercial traffic, becoming also strategic for important Mediterranean cruise routes and for passenger flow. New passenger facilities and enhanced and enlarged wharfs allowed to increment the hosted cruise liners from 50 ships in 1996 to 500 in 2003. The creation of new quays and the extension of the anti-mural dame caused on the ecosystems a direct and indirect impact due to the modification of the currents and the dispersion of the dredged materials. The characterisation and assessment of the coastal marine environment of Civitavecchia and its surroundings constitutes, since its creation in 2001, is one of the main activities of the Laboratory of Experimental Oceanology and Marine Ecology (LOSEM) of Tuscia University, who studied the impact of anthropic activities and the influence of climatic events, investigating the chemical and physical parameters of both water column and sediments. Benthic biocenoses and Posidonia oceanica were used to evaluate benthos geochemical and ecological characteristics and a specific effort was devoted to hypothesize the possible incidence of dredging works on the benthic ecosystem. The results of the research activities are synthetically reviewed in this paper.

This is the accepted manuscript of the paper "Mercury Enrichment in Sediments of the Coastal Area of Northern Latium, Italy", published as final paper in "Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 03/2016; 96(4);DOI:10.1007/s00128-016-1776-9" Scanu S, Piazzolla D, Manfredi Frattarelli F, Mancini E, Tiralongo F, Brundo MV, Tibullo D, Pecoraro R, Copat C, Ferrante M, Marcelli M. “Mercury Enrichment in Sediments of the Coastal Area of Northern Latium, Italy”. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 03/2016; 96(4) DOI 10.1007/s00128-016-1776-9. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent of the Hg geochemical anomaly arising in the Amiata and Tolfa complex to the coastal area of northern Latium and to examine the possible influence on this area by the Mignone River, and by the small coastal basins, which are characterized by both previous mining activities and decades of past industrial impact. The results confirm the extension of the anomaly of concentrations of Hg in the coastal area of northern Latium, with the northern sector influenced by the contributions of the Fiora and Mignone Rivers and the southern sector influenced by the contributions of minor basins. The results show high values of the Adverse Effect Index throughout the considered area and highlight the need for further investigation in order to assess the impact of human activities on the present and past values of Hg in marine sediments.

This is the accepted manuscript of the paper "A Benthic Zonation System as a Fundamental Tool for Natural Capital Assessment in a Marine Environment: A Case Study in the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy", published as final paper in "Sustainability2018,10(10), 3786;https://doi.org/10.3390/su10103786" Coastal marine areas are characterized by the highest values of ecosystem services and by multiple uses that are often in conflict with each other. Natural capital analysis is claimed to be a valid tool to support space planning. In the context of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) of the European Union (EU), the EU Joint Research Centre (JRC) Scientific and Policy Report 2014 defines the monitoring of specific descriptors and their possible use, based on an ecosystem-services approach. Mediterranean marine ecosystems are characterized by high biodiversity and the presence of relevant benthic biocenosis that can be used as a tool to support coastal planning, conservation, and monitoring programs. In this study, we considered the Mediterranean benthic biocenosis, as classified by Pérès and Picard, as a working tool and propose a basic spatial unit for the assessment of marine ecosystem services. Focusing on a high-resolution local-scale analysis, this work presents an accurate identification of the different biocenoses for the coastal area of Civitavecchia in the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy, and ecosystem services, as well as a benefits assessment, of the Posidonia oceanica meadows.

WOS: 000423194500015, Science Citation Index Expanded, The "New Mediterranean Biodiversity Records" series includes new records of marine species found in the Mediterranean basin and/or information on the spatial distribution of already established species of particular interest. The current article presents information on 21 marine taxa classified per country according to their geographic position in the Mediterranean, from west to east. The new records per ecoregion are as follows: Algeria: the first record of the fish Etrumeus golanii is reported along the Algerian coast. Tunisia: the alien jellyfish Phyllorhiza punctata is reported for the first time in the Gulf of Gabes. Italy: the first record of Siganus rivulatus in the Strait of Sicily and a new record of Katsuwonus pelamis from the central Tyrrhenian Sea are reported. The establishment of the isopod of the genus Mesanthura in the northern Tyrrhenian with some notes on its ecology are also included. Croatia: signs of establishment of the Lessepsian Siganus luridus and the occurrence of the alien mollusc Rapana venosa are reported. Albania: the first record of the elasmobranch Alopias superciliosus and a recent sighting of the rare monk seal Monachus monachus in Albanian waters are given. Greece: signs of the establishment of the fish Parupeneus forsskali and of the ascidian Hermania momus in Hellenic Aegean waters are reported. Turkey: a new record of the fish P. forsskali and of the halacarid mites Acaromantis monnioti and Simognathus adriaticus are given, while the first case of Remora australis in association with delphinids and the occurrence of the sea star Coscinasterias tenuispina are reported. Also, the establishment of the two alien species Isognomon legumen and Viriola sp. [cf. corrugata] are presented. Egypt: the fish Bathygobius cyclopterus is reported for the first time in Mediterranean Sea waters. Also, a new record of Pagellus bogaraveo and a first record of Seriola fasciata in Egyptian Mediterranean waters are reported. Lebanon: the first record of Dondice banyulensis is presented., Interreg MED Project Mpa-Adapt Guiding Mediterranean MPAs through the climate change era: building resilience and adaptation; Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ) [IP-2016-06-5251]; Rufford Foundation [19938-1]; Rufford Foundation; Marine Mammals Research Association; Interreg MED Project Mpa-Adapt Guiding Mediterranean MPAs through the climate change era: building resilience and adaptation; Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ) [IP-2016-06-5251]; Rufford Foundation [19938-1]; Rufford Foundation; Marine Mammals Research Association; [R 2000 Eb F 42 / L43], Azzurro E. and Giardina F. are indebted to Giuseppe Maggiore and Peppino Sorrentino for providing all the information regarding the capture of Siganus rivulatus in Lampedusa Island; their study was supported by the Interreg MED Project Mpa-Adapt Guiding Mediterranean MPAs through the climate change era: building resilience and adaptation. Rabaoui L. and El Zrelli R. would like to thank all fishermen who provided information on the recent occurrence of Phyllorhiza punctata in the Gulf of Gabes. Dulcic J. and Dragicevic B. acknowledge the Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ) that partly supported their work under project IP-2016-06-5251. Giovos I. and Cakalli M. would like to warmly thank the fisherman Arsen Jupe for helping and assisting them in taking all the measurements. Bakiu R. and Cakalli M. would like to thank the Rufford Foundation (Project ref. 19938-1) for financially supporting the Mediterranean monk seal monitoring program along the Ionian coast of Albania; furthermore, they wish to warmly thank Eng. Agron Bakiu for the power supply system that he built for the camera traps.. Bas A.A. and Gonulal O. would like to thank Prof. Dr. Ivan Sazima and Isil Danyer for their help on species identification and the Rufford Foundation and Marine Mammals Research Association for their financial support. Durucan F. and Boyaci Y.O. wish to express special thanks to Dr. Matteo Dal Zotto (Universita degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Department of Life Sciences, Modena, Italy) who kindly sent them a copy of Dr. Morselli's article that was lacking from the first author's library. Durucan F. would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their useful comments and also Suleyman Demirel University, Fisheries Faculty, Ecology and Limnology laboratory (Isparta, Turkey) for providing laboratory facilities. Crocetta F. and Bitar G. thank Jean Vacelet (Marseille, France) for the photo of Dondice banyulensis taken during the Franco-Lebanese cooperation program - CEDRE (1999-2002) (R 2000 Eb F 42 / L43). Kassar A. and Hemida F. are deeply grateful to the fisherman Benssada Djamel for providing the specimen of Etrumeus golanii.

Jassa slatteryi is a cosmopolitan amphipod reported as cryptogenic or invasive species throughout the world. Although it had been signaled in the Mediterranean Sea, it was never found on the Italian coasts. This study represents the first record of J. slatteryi in Italy. A total of 87 specimens were collected on artificial hard substrates in the Port of Civitavecchia (Rome). The presence of this species in the Mediterranean Sea was probably underestimated due to the similar morphological features and ecological requirements of different species of Jassa spp.

The presence of Chaetodon auriga Forsskål, 1775 is reported for the first time from the Mediterranean Sea. A specimen was spearfished in 2015 in the central Mediterranean Sea and was in all likelihood an aquarium release. This and similar cases are discussed, with particular emphasis on exotic fishes notoriously known to be commonly kept in aquarium.

This is the accepted manuscript of the paper " Concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb in the echinoid Paracentrotus lividus on the coast of Civitavecchia, northern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy", published as final paper in "Regional Studies in Marine Science 1 (2015) 7–17" Scanu S, Soetebier S, Piazzolla D, Tiralongo F, Mancini E, Romano N, Marcelli M (2015). Concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb in the echinoid Paracentrotus lividus on the coast of Civitavecchia, northern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy. Regional Studies in Marine Science 1 7–17. DOI: 10.1016/j.rsma.2015.02.001. This work assessed the levels of As, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb in soft tissues (gonads and gut) of specimens of Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816) collected from the coast of Civitavecchia, in the northern Tyrrhenian Sea. The average levels, in order of concentration, were 14.64 mg/kg As, 3.58 mg/kg Cr, 1.18 mg/kg Pb, 1.15 mg/kg Ni, and 0.07 mg/kg Cd. Dry weight concentrations described bioaccumulation of As and Cr, and, to a lesser extent, Ni and Pb. A hotspot of As at the station near the delta of Marangone stream reflected the effect of mine waste deposits of galena, pyrite, and marcasite in this basin. The As concentration in the northern part of the study area increased closer to the Mignone delta, and according to the prevailing winds, this could reflect enrichment from the combustion of coal at the Torrevaldaliga power plant. Comparing data with the literature, As in marine sediments show a ratio of 0.7 in the tissues of P. lividus from the Civitavecchia area. These results were also compared to those found in P. lividus in an environmental biomonitoring program currently ongoing to control the emissions from the coal-fired power plant in Torrevaldaliga Nord, highlighting a substantial quantitative correspondence. In view of the presence of various industrial activities in the study area that can influence the enrichment of these elements, this work emphasizes the need for performing further studies aimed at assessing the actual contribution of anthropogenic activities even when the background concentrations in marine sediments and marine organisms are high, because burning coal is considered the major anthropogenic source of many trace elements especially As. &nbsp

Results of the AlienFish project – monitoring and study of rare and non-indigenous fish species in Italian waters – collected through citizen science in 2018 are here reported. Overall, 36 observations of 21 fish species belonging to 17 families were provided from the central and southern sectors of Italian seas. Our findings highlight the effectiveness of involving sea users in the detection of fish species of both indigenous and non-indigenous origin. Professional fishermen were particularly effective in providing information on rare deep-water and open-water fishes.

WOS: 000392316000003, This contribution forms part of a series of collective articles published regularly in Mediterranean Marine Science that report on new biodiversity records from the Mediterranean basin. The current article presents 51 geographically distinct records for 21 taxa belonging to 6 Phyla, extending from the western Mediterranean to the Levantine. The new records, per country, are as follows: Spain: the cryptogenic calcareous sponge Paraleucilla magna is reported from a new location in the Alicante region. Algeria: the rare Atlanto-Mediterranean bivalve Cardium indicum is reported from Annaba. Tunisia: new distribution records for the Indo-Pacific lionfish Pterois miles from Zembra Island and Cape Bon. Italy: the ark clam Anadara transversa is reported from mussel cultures in the Gulf of Naples, while the amphipod Caprella scaura and the isopods Paracerceis sculpta and Paranthura japonica are reported as associated to the -also allochthonous- bryozoan Amathia verticillata in the Adriatic Sea; in the latter region, the cosmopolitan Atlantic tripletail Lobotes surinamensis is also reported, a rare finding for the Mediterranean. Slovenia: a new record of the non-indigenous nudibranch Polycera hedgpethi in the Adriatic. Greece: several new reports of the introduced scleractinian Oculina patagonica, the fangtooth moray Enchelycore anatina, the blunthead puffer Sphoeroides pachygaster (all Atlantic), and the lionfish Pterois miles (Indo-Pacific) suggest their ongoing establishment in the Aegean Sea; the deepest bathymetric record of the invasive alga Caulerpa cylindracea in the Mediterranean Sea is also registered in the Kyklades, at depths exceeding 70 m. Turkey: new distribution records for two non-indigenous crustaceans, the blue crab Callinectes sapidus (Atlantic origin) and the moon crab Matuta victor (Indo-Pacific origin) from the Bay of Izmir and Antalya, respectively; in the latter region, the Red Sea goatfish Parupeneus forsskali, is also reported. Lebanon: an array of records of 5 alien and one native Mediterranean species is reported by citizen-scientists; the Pacific jellyfish Phyllorhiza punctata and the Indo-Pacific teleosteans Tylerius spinosissimus, Ostracion cubicus, and Lutjanus argentimaculatus are reported from the Lebanese coast, the latter notably being the second record for the species in the Mediterranean Sea since 1977; the native sand snake-eel Ophisurus serpens, rare in the eastern Mediterranean, is reported for the first time from Lebanon, this being its easternmost distribution range; finally, a substantial number of sightings of the lionfish Pterois miles further confirm the current establishment of this lessepsian species in the Levantine., COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) Action TD1209 Alien Challenge project; East and South European Network for Invasive Alien Species - a tool to support the management of alien species in Bulgaria (ESENIAS-TOOLS) (EEA) project [33-51/30.06.2015]; EEA GRANTS; Public Investments Programme (PIP) of the Hellenic Republic; Cretaquarium, Nadhera Babali would like to thank Mr Nabil Hadjadji and Mr Mhamed Laid for taking pictures of the specimen of Cardium indicum during collection, which helped with identification of the collection date and site, as well as Mr Samuel Iglesias for valuable guidance. Gianna Servello and Fabio Crocetta acknowledge the study of the alien species recorded in the Italian Seas that was partially funded by the COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) Action TD1209 Alien Challenge (GS) and the East and South European Network for Invasive Alien Species - a tool to support the management of alien species in Bulgaria (ESENIAS-TOOLS) (EEA funded: Contract No. -33-51/30.06.2015) (FC) projects. Francesco Tiralongo is grateful to the fishermen of the vessel "Oreste" (3288) who caught the specimen of Lobotes surinamensis, for providing the information and the picture. The reports of Caulerpa cylindracea, Oculina patagonica, and Enchelycore anatina were conducted along a survey in the Aegean Sea within the framework of the MARISCA project, co-funded (85%) by EEA GRANTS, 2009-2014, and the Public Investments Programme (PIP) of the Hellenic Republic (15%). Thomas Hasiotis and Stelios Katsanevakis thank Kostas Tsiamis for his comments on an earlier draft of their manuscript. Michail Ragkousis and Vasilis Gerovasileiou are thankful to Nina Premezzi and Ioannis Havakis who provided information and photos about the later record of E. anatina. Aspasia Sterioti sincerely thanks Cretaquarium for support and funding, G. Vardanis for the transportation and photo of the species and C.K. Doxa for the photo of the species. Fabio Crocetta and Michel Bariche acknowledge Messrs T. Assal, M. Ali Ibrahim, J. Bacha, J. Bahout, V. Bayrakdarian, D. Captan, K. Greig, M. Hado, M. Hayek, J.-P. Massoud K. Merhabi, W. Nini, H. Rifai, N. Saidi, E. Saliba, I. Sidawi, N. Weber, and several other fishermen and scuba divers who kindly provided records, photographs and videos of the reported animals from Lebanon. Finally, thanks are due to all anonymous reviewers for critical reading and providing helpful and constructive comments on the included articles.

Monthly averaged surface erythemal solar irradiance (UV-Ery) for local noon from 1960 to 2100 has been derived using radiative transfer calculations and projections of ozone, temperature and cloud change from 14 chemistry climate models (CCM), as part of the CCMVal-2 activity of SPARC. Our calculations show the influence of ozone depletion and recovery on erythemal irradiance. In addition, we investigate UV-Ery changes caused by climate change due to increasing greenhouse gas concentrations. The latter include effects of both stratospheric ozone and cloud changes. The derived estimates provide a global picture of the likely changes in erythemal irradiance during the 21st century. Uncertainties arise from the assumed scenarios, different parameterizations – particularly of cloud effects on UV-Ery – and the spread in the CCM projections. The calculations suggest that relative to 1980, annually mean UV-Ery in the 2090s will be on average ~12 % lower at high latitudes in both hemispheres, ~3 % lower at mid latitudes, and marginally higher (~1 %) in the tropics. The largest reduction (~16 %) is projected for Antarctica in October. Cloud effects are responsible for 2–3 % of the reduction in UV-Ery at high latitudes, but they slightly moderate it at mid-latitudes (~1 %). The year of return of erythemal irradiance to values of certain milestones (1965 and 1980) depends largely on the return of column ozone to the corresponding levels and is associated with large uncertainties mainly due to the spread of the model projections. The inclusion of cloud effects in the calculations has only a small effect of the return years. At mid and high latitudes, changes in clouds and stratospheric ozone transport by global circulation changes due to greenhouse gases will sustain the erythemal irradiance at levels below those in 1965, despite the removal of ozone depleting substances. At northern high latitudes (60°–90°), the projected decreases in cloud transmittance towards the end of the 21st century will reduce the yearly average surface erythemal irradiance by ~5 % with respect to the 1960s.

Sabellaria alveolata is a widespread coastal engineer species that builds sandy bioconstructions in coastal marine habitats, which host a rich associated fauna. Some of these associated species are quite common on rocky or sandy substrates, but few taxa are strictly linked to Sabellaria reefs. In this study, we report, for the first time, the phyllodocid worm Eulalia ornata in the Tyrrhenian Sea and highlight its high-fidelity link with S. alveolata bioconstructions. Despite being included in the European Red List of Habitats, little is known about Sabellaria reefs, their associated fauna and their ecological role in the Mediterranean Sea. For these reasons, studies aiming at improving our knowledge of S. alveolata reefs and their associated fauna can be regarded as an important step towards more appropriate management plans for sensitive coastal habitats.

This is the accepted manuscript of the paper " Trace-Metal Enrichment and Pollution in coastal Sediments in the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy", published as final paper in "Archives of Environmental Contamination Toxicology, vol. 68, number 4, may 2015, ISSN 0090-4341, DOI 10.1007/s00244-015-0166-3.https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-015-0166-3" Piazzolla, D., Scanu, S., Frattarelli, F.M.et al.Trace-Metal Enrichment and Pollution in Coastal Sediments in the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy.Arch Environ Contam Toxicol69,470–481 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-015-0166-3 This study evaluated the distribution pattern and pollution of chromium, arsenic (As), manganese (Mn), nickel, lead, and copper in surface sediments along the northern Latium coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea in Italy. The enrichment factor, geoaccumulation index, and potential toxicity response index were used to evaluate the degree of contamination. These results show As and Mn contamination. The high enrichment and contamination levels of As and Mn are located in two hot spots. These elevations are due to naturally high levels of As and Mn in the Mignone River and the Marangone Stream as well as the intense human activity in the area including the largest energy production site in Europe (Torrevaldaliga Nord coal-fired power plant) and of one of the most important ports for cruise traffic in the Mediterranean Sea.