Status of the ‘Mangrove tunicate’ Ecteinascidia turbinata (Ascidiacea: Perophoridae) in the Mediterranean Sea
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/10045/66473
Title: | Status of the ‘Mangrove tunicate’ Ecteinascidia turbinata (Ascidiacea: Perophoridae) in the Mediterranean Sea |
---|---|
Authors: | Maciver, Sutherland K. | Evans, Julian | Borg, Joseph A. | Ramos-Esplá, Alfonso A. | Schembri, Patrick J. |
Research Group/s: | Biología Marina |
Center, Department or Service: | Universidad de Alicante. Departamento de Ciencias del Mar y Biología Aplicada |
Keywords: | Non-indigenous species | Cryptogenic species | Marine fouling | Biodiversity | Ascidians | Ecteinascidia | Mediterranean Sea |
Knowledge Area: | Zoología |
Issue Date: | Mar-2017 |
Publisher: | Cambridge University Press |
Citation: | Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 2017, 97(2): 369-376. doi:10.1017/S0025315416000473 |
Abstract: | The ascidian Ecteinascidia turbinata is reported from Maltese waters for the first time. Mature colonies were recorded on artificial substrata at two different sites (and on natural substrata at one of these), 4 km apart, during the summer months. The appearance of this ascidian is expected to be seasonal as the winter temperature in Malta may fall below that required for the maintenance of zooid growth. A second species, E. moorei, which was described in 1890 is here confirmed to be the same as E. turbinata, meaning that the species has existed in the Mediterranean since at least ~1880. The possibility that the Mediterranean population is a relic one from warmer periods cannot yet be excluded, so it is best described as being cryptogenic. The species appears to be spreading slowly, perhaps as a result of the rise in surface sea temperature. The Maltese sites offer an opportunity to monitor the species as they are accessible dive sites. This will allow assessment of whether this species remains restricted to these sites, or if it spreads perhaps to impact other species. |
URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10045/66473 |
ISSN: | 0025-3154 (Print) | 1469-7769 (Online) |
DOI: | 10.1017/S0025315416000473 |
Language: | eng |
Type: | info:eu-repo/semantics/article |
Rights: | © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 2016 |
Peer Review: | si |
Publisher version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0025315416000473 |
Appears in Collections: | INV - BM - Artículos Científicos / Scientific Papers |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2017_Maciver_etal_JMBAUK_final.pdf | Versión final (acceso restringido) | 337,1 kB | Adobe PDF | Open Request a copy |
Items in RUA are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.