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WOS: 000399341900018, Science Citation Index Expanded, This Collective Article presents information on 22 species belonging to 5 Phyla, arranged geographically from west to east. The new records were found in 8 countries as follows: Spain: first record of the two scarcely known nemerteans Baseodiscus delineatus and Notospermus geniculatus in Formentera; Malta: second record of the alien fish Lagocephalus sceleratus; Italy: the alien polychaete Syllis pectinans and the isopod Paranthura japonica, as well as the cryptogenic opisthobranch Anteaeolidiella lurana, were found in the fouling assemblages along the docks of the port of Livorno. New decapod records are reported from Sicily (the alien Callinectes sapidus and the native Pachygrapsus maurus) and Apulia (Percnon gibbesi and Procambarus clarkii); the lesser amberjack Seriola fasciata extended its geographical range to the Egadi Isands and Siganus luridus was documented for the first time along the Ionian coasts of Apulia and Calabria. Slovenia: the first record of the alien bivalve Brachidontes pharaonis is reported, together with a survey of up to date Adriatic records. Greece: the first record of the gastropod Rhinoclavis kochi is reported from Gavdos island. In addition, two records of endangered and rare cartilaginous fish were reported, namely, the shark Hexanchus griseus and the ray Leucoraja fullonica, as well as additional records of Siganus luridus for Lesvos and Malleus regula and Fulvia fragilis from Astypalaia. Turkey: the black wing flyingfish Hirundichthys rondeletii is reported for the very first time from the Black Sea. Egypt: the Indo-Pacific crab Halimede ochtodes is reported as established in Port Said. In addition, biometric parameters and meristic counts are reported for Anthias anthias in Damietta. Cyprus: the alien opisthobranch gastropod Bursatella leachii is reported for first time., Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS); East and South European Network for Invasive Alien Species [33-51/30.06.2015]; Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competiveness [BES-2013-063551, CTM2014-57949-R]; Duzce University Research Fund [2013.5.1.189]; Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning of Slovenia, The study coauthored by Valentina Pitacco, Lovrenc Lipej and Fabio Crocetta is part of Valentina's PhD study funded by the Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS), and was supported by the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning of Slovenia. The study of alien species from Slovenia involving Fabio Crocetta was partially funded by 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). Fabio Crocetta and Miquel Pontes are grateful to Alper Karabacak (Kyrenia, Cyprus) for sharing data on Bursatella leachii. Authors Gianni Insacco and Bruno Zava are grateful to the professional fisherman Mr Alessandro Bonfissuti, owner of "Erika", for providing the C. sapidus specimen studied. The authors warmly thank Maria Corsini-Foka (Hellenic Centre for Marine Research) for useful comments, which improved a previous draft of their note. Authors Aikaterini Dogrammatzi and Caterina Stamouli would like to thank Dr E. Leukaditou, J. Dokos, G. Christidis, I. Fytilakos and N. Fotiadis, members of the MEDITS scientific team, for their valuable help during samplings and also the captain and the crew of the fishing boat "TAKIS-MIMIS". Fernando Angel Fernandez-Alvarez was supported by a pre-doctoral fellowship of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competiveness (BES-2013-063551). His co-authors, Ivan Acevedo and Paula C. Rodriguez-Flores, were funded under the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competiveness project CTM2014-57949-R. Ch. Mytilineou and A. Anastasopoulou would like to thank the onboard team of the EPILEXIS project (C. J. Smith, E. Lefkaditou, K. Papadopoulou, C. Stamouli, J. Dokos, G. Oikonomidis, E. Kypraiou); C. J. Smith, in particular, for the photographic material, as well as the captain and the crew of F/V 'Takis-Mimis' for supporting the survival of the Bluntnose Sixgill Shark specimen. The study of D. Yaglioglu and C. Turan was financially supported by Duzce University Research Fund, Project Number: 2013.5.1.189 and coordinated by DY. For Malta, Alan Deidun and Murat Celik are grateful to the Maltese angler - David Agius-who caught the L. sceleratus specimen reported in this study.

WOS: 000392316700018 This Collective Article presents information on 26 taxa belonging to 8 Phyla and extending from the western Mediterranean to the Levantine Sea. The new records were found in 9 countries as follows: Spain: first record for the Mediterranean of the crab Cancer bellianus; Algeria: further records of the alien fish Lagocephalus sceleratus in western Algerian waters; Italy: first report on the presence and establishment of the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi in Lessina and Varano Lagoons (W. Adriatic) and of Penaeus aztecus in Corigliano Gulf (Italian Ionian). Moreover, the extension of the distribution range of the polychaete Branchiomma bairdi to W. Sicily as well as that of the crab Ocypode cursor and the bryozoan Catenicella paradoxa to E. Sicily are cited. Slovenia: the record of the rare saccoglossan gastropod Placida cremoniana from Piran (Gulf of Trieste) is the first for the Adriatic; Greece: the native sea slug Eubranchus farrani is the first from the Eastern Mediterranean; many sightings of the bamboo corals Isididae distributed along all the E. Ionian Sea and the establishment of P. aztecus in all Greek waters are also reported for first time; the westernmost extension of the alien urchin Diadema setosum in Cretan waters is cited and new sightings of the alien species Goniobranchus annulatus and Pterois miles are presented. Turkey: the alien fish Champsodon capensis is reported for first time from the Aegean Sea and the native acari Agauopsis microrhyncha from the Levantine Sea; a new observation of the alien crab Atergatis roseus in Gulluk Bay-Aegean is also mentioned; Cyprus: first records of the alien urchin D. setosum and Lobotes surinamensis in Cypriot waters; Lebanon: several sightings of Monachus monachus from Lebanese waters indicate a potential better status for the species in the area; Egypt: first records of the alien crab Dorippe quadridens and the alien gastropods Nerita sanguinolenta and Conomurex persicus from the Mediterranean Egyptian waters; extension of the distribution range of Diodora funiculata and Diodora rueppellii and a second record of the alien Fulvia fragilis in the same area. COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) Action TD1209 Alien Challenge; EEA [33-51/30.06.2015]; Suleyman Demirel UniversitySuleyman Demirel University [SDU-BAP3973-D2-14, 3973-D2-14]; IDRC-Canada through Alexandria research Centre for Adaptation to Climate Change (ARCA); COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) Action TD1209 Alien Challenge; EEA [33-51/30.06.2015]; Suleyman Demirel UniversitySuleyman Demirel University [SDU-BAP3973-D2-14, 3973-D2-14]; IDRC-Canada through Alexandria research Centre for Adaptation to Climate Change (ARCA) The author N. Babali would like to thank his colleague Ms Faiza Alliouche for information gathering. Gianna Servello & P. Balisteri acknowledge the COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) Action TD1209 Alien Challenge (GS) that partially funded the study of alien species recorded in the Italian Seas. P. Balisteri also wishes to thank Bruno Zava (Wilderness Studi Ambientali) for his advice. Fabio Crocetta acknowledges 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) for supporting the study of alien species from central and eastern European countries; F. Amato (Schiavonea) and G. Rigido (Schiavone) kindly provided information, specimens and videos. Ch. Mytilineou would like to thank all the personnel who worked onboard during the surveys of the INTERREG II Greece-Italy & RESHIO projects, E. Kallias for the electronic storage of the photos and I. Maina & J. Dokos for map drawing. Kostas Kapiris and I. Maina are grateful to K. Tenekertzis, Ch. Dictiopoulos, S. Kavadas and the scientific coordinators of DCF Dr. Machias and Tserpes for providing relevant information and photographic material for P. aztecus. Vasilis Gerovasileiou & D. Poursanidis are grateful to Yiannis Iliopoulos and the Athos Scuba diving centre for providing the photographic material. S. Yapici & M. Celik would like to thank the local fisherman for providing samples and the anonymous reviewer for helpful and constructive comments. The study of F. Durucan & Y. O. Boyaci was financially supported by the Suleyman Demirel University, SDU-BAP3973-D2-14 project. Number: 3973-D2-14. P. Kleitou, F. Crocetta are grateful to D. Kletou (Cyprus), A. Antoniades (Cyprus) and S. Georgiou (Cyprus) who shared data and provided evidence. M. Bariche and F. Crocetta would like to acknowledge all colleagues, fishermen, scuba divers and friends who shared their photos and videos. The work of Moussa and A. Zenetos is part of a project entitled "Pattern of diversity and climate change in a Mediterranean transition zone", which was supported by IDRC-Canada through a small research grant provided by the Alexandria research Centre for Adaptation to Climate Change (ARCA) to the National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), Egypt; thanks are also due to Mrs. Marwa Ismaeil and Mrs. Marwa Samir for their assistance. Finally, the authors would also like to thank N.J. Xentidis for drawing the map with the records as well as the anonymous reviewers for their useful and constructive comments.

The blue crab Callinectes sapidus (Rathbun, 1896), a native to western Atlantic coasts, is widely recorded in various Mediterranean regions, including the Gargano lagoons in the Adriatic Sea. This study investigated selected biological traits of Callinectes sapidus females in the Lesina and Varano lagoons during their breeding migration to more saline waters. In total, 19 individuals of Callinectes sapidus, 15 females and four males, were collected in the lagoons near the mouths of the seaward channels. The specimens' Carapace Width ranged from 115 to 230 mm, classifying them as medium to large crabs. In Varano lagoon in April and May 2014, two ovigerous females with egg masses of 63.39 g and 11.65 g respectively were captured. This represents the first record of ovigerous females of C. sapidus in this lagoon. The average Gonado-Somatic Index was 2.91 +/- 1.82 and 1.65 +/- 0.65 for the specimens captured in Varano and Lesina lagoons, respectively. The average Hepato-Somatic Index was 3.88 +/- 0.80 and 4.22 +/- 0.31 for specimens captured in Varano and Lesina, respectively. Egg diameter ranged between 0.23 and 0.35 mm. Histological analysis of gonads showed stages from III to V, with individuals in emission or postissuance stages. This study presents evidence of the establishment of C. sapidus populations in Varano lagoon in the south-west Adriatic Sea and provides additional information on this species in the Lesina and Varano lagoons.

The mud crab Dyspanopeus sayi (Smith, 1869) (Crustacea, Decapoda, Panopeidae), was studied in Varano lagoon at two different sites. 10 adult specimens were caught using traditional traps. An increase in catches was observed over time, as well as an extension of the distribution in the lagoon basin compared with previous observations. The results suggest that the species has found trophic and environmental conditions suitable for its survival.

In recent years, many coastal environments by the Mediterranean Sea (Varano, Etang de thau, Empuriabrava, Bizerte lagoon) were invaded by carnivorous gelatinous organisms like jellyfish and ctenophores. Jellyfish, which are voracious consumers, may cause significant alterations in zooplankton abundance and dynamics. A confined environment like Varano Lagoon represents a suitable habitat for invasion and establishment of the scyphomedusa Aurelia sp., which has successfully resided there since 2000 and represents our case study. The role of this gelatinous top predator was investigated by analyzing spatial and temporal dynamics of the meso- and microzooplankton community and jellyfish abundance. We also studied the composition and abundance of prey in the jellyfish stomach contents. Comparison between 2 years of sampling showed that high jellyfish abundance in the second year (3 ind/m3) exerted a top – down control on zooplankton community. The peaks of phytoplankton, mesozooplankton and gelatinous predator biomass distributions occurred sequentially as a result of prey-predator interaction, visible also spatially in the four areas analyzed. The selectivity index C calculated from medusa diet and prey availability showed null selection toward most prey, suggesting that Aurelia sp. medusae feed on zooplankton prey mostly non-selectively. Ongoing activities on jellyfish trophic ecology (e.g. stable isotopes) will clarify their predatory impact on zooplankton community and the consequences for the fish harvested in the lagoon (sea bass, sea bream, sand smelt, gray mullet), which now must compete with jellyfish as top predators from April to December. Zooplankton depletion due to the gelatinous explosion should be considered as a cause of for possible decreasing fish yields in the lagoon ecosystem.

In recent decades, much attention has focused on the global increase in gelatinous zooplankton biomass, particularly in temperate ecosystems. Jellyfish, which are voracious consumers, may cause significant alterations in zooplankton abundance and dynamics. A confined environment like Varano Lagoon represents a suitable habitat for invasion and establishment by the scyphomedusa Aurelia sp., which has successfully resided there since 2000. The role of this gelatinous top predator was investigated by analyzing spatial and temporal dynamics of the meso- and micro-zooplankton community and jellyfish abundance. This was complemented by investigation of the composition and abundance of prey found in the jellyfish stomach content. Preliminary data showed seasonal variations in diet revealing that medusae ingest most of the mesozooplankton taxa present in the Varano Lagoon. The selectivity index C suggested null selection toward most prey, except positive selection for harpacticoid copepods and fish eggs. These preliminary results led to conclusion that Aurelia sp. medusae feed on zooplankton prey largely non-selectively and may have an unexpected effect on epibenthic prey. In addition, the exponentially population growth which occurred in late spring not only reduced the zooplankton standing stock, but also caused a structuring effect on zooplankton community, suggesting trophic cascades driven by jellyfish. This phenomenon resulted in food limitation for the gelatinous organisms and led to population collapses in the summer. Population monitoring and ongoing activities on jellyfish trophic ecology (e.g. stable isotopes) will clarify their predatory impact and how jellyfish fit into the lagoon food web.

In this work the results of a test breeding of Crassostrea gigas (Thun.) in Varano lagoon, performed from 2006 to 2007, are presented. Minimum average size with trade interest was 6 cm and it was observed for six months. The results obtained suggest good prospects for the oyster culture reintegration into the activities of the aquaculture brackish from reassess.

The purpose of this paper is to assess the present status of a Mediterranean lagoon (Varano lagoon, Italy), basing on nutrient and chlorophyll a data. A water sampling in Varano lagoon was performed at 7 fixed stations from February 2004 to July 2005, collecting surface water samples to analyse ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and soluble reactive silica (SRSi), chlorophyll a (chl a) and total suspended solids (TSS). Spatial and temporal distributions of chemical and biological parameters in Varano lagoon were examined to accomplish the goal of this study. Statistical tests were used to investigate the correlations between analysed variables and to characterize, from a spatial and temporal point of view, the lagoon in relation to each variable. Ammonia and nitrate did not showed good correlation (P

Trophic classification and nutrient fluxes in the Varano Lagoon

Classificazione dela laguna di Varano in base ai criteri LOICZ