ALiens in the Aegean, a Sea under siege - ALAS

12/02/2024

Together with Angel Borja, Heliana Teixeira, Elena Gissi, and Sebastian Ferse, we edit the Research Topic "Understanding the response of ecosystems to increasing human pressures and climate change – management options".
https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/57488/understanding-the-response-of-ecosystems-to-increasing-human-pressures-and-climate-change---management-options/overview

Still time to submit a manuscript (deadline: 29 February).
Seven published articles so far and eight more under review:

Marine invasive alien species in Europe: 9 years after the IAS Regulation: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1271755/full
New tools and recommendations for a better management of harmful algal blooms under the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/focsu.2023.1298800/full
Addressing the cumulative impacts of multiple human pressures in marine systems, for the sustainable use of the seas: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/focsu.2023.1308125/full
The unpredictability of scyphozoan jellyfish blooms: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1349956/full
Framing seascape connectivity modeling to prioritize marine conservation effort in China’s coastal sea: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1322001/full
Towards environmental sustainability: further evidences from decarbonization projects in Kenya’s Blue Economy: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1239862/full
The effects of artificial light at night (ALAN) on the circadian biology of marine animals: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1372889/full

The effects of anthropogenic sources of light on the circadian biology of marine animals are largely unexplored at the molecular and cellular level. Given that light is a major driver of circadian rhythms at the behavioral, physiological, cellular, and even molecular levels, it is important to consi...

30/06/2023

Our latest work “Cumulative Negative Impacts of Invasive Alien Species on Marine Ecosystems of the Aegean Sea” is out!

“The effective management of invasive species requires understanding and assessing their impacts on the native biota. In this study, we mapped and quantified the cumulative impacts of invasive species on the marine habitats of the Aegean Sea, a Mediterranean ecoregion that is heavily affected by biological invasions. Our findings show that coastal habitats were more impacted by invasive species than the open sea. A higher frequency of strong impacts was observed in the South Aegean compared to the North Aegean, primarily due to alien fish and macrophytes. Shallow hard substrates were the most impacted habitat type, followed by shallow soft substrates and seagrass meadows. The worst invasive species varied depending on the habitat type and impact indicator used. Our study aligns with European guidelines for managing invasive species’ impacts on native biodiversity and can serve as an essential tool for managing biological invasions and mitigating their impacts in the Aegean Sea.”

https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/12/7/933

28/06/2023

One of the greatest works produced in the framework of the ALAS project is the Mediterranean review paper "Bioinvasion impacts on biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human health in the Mediterranean Sea".

Check it out if haven't done so already!

"Biological invasions have become a defining feature of marine Mediterranean ecosystems with significant impacts on biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human health. We systematically reviewed the current knowledge on the impacts of marine biological invasions in the Mediterranean Sea. We screened relevant literature and applied a standardized framework that classifies mechanisms and magnitude of impacts and type of evidence."

https://www.reabic.net/aquaticinvasions/2022/AI_2022_Tsirintanis_etal.pdf

26/06/2023

Marine caves are also threatened by aliens! Look at the data we collected in "Introduced species in Mediterranean marine caves: an increasing but neglected threat"

"Marine caves are protected habitats with high biodiversity and low ecological resilience, vulnerable to multiple pressures including biological invasions. Therefore, comprehensive lists of alien species in sea caves and assessments of their impacts are urgently needed. This study aimed to provide an updated and validated list of introduced species in marine caves of the Mediterrane-an Sea based on the latest available checklist (2014)"

https://ejournals.epublishing.ekt.gr/index.php/hcmr-med-mar-sc/article/view/31284/24603

25/06/2023

Did you know underwater rocky reefs can be overgrazed? Find out more in "Invasive Fish and Sea Urchins Drive the Status of Canopy Forming Macroalgae in the Eastern Mediterranean".

"In the warmer South Aegean and Levantine Sea, invasive herbivorous fish seem to drive canopy algae towards shallower waters, while native sea urchins have become rare, indicating population collapses. In the North Aegean, macroalgal forests were observed in intermediate depths, and native sea urchins still thrive and appear to exert grazing pressure on macroalgal forests in shallower waters."

https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/12/6/763?fbclid=IwAR2sVhLgMHZtM1azeb8jXFg-Azwoxq_BTMvJ4UuUhhK9h_VkvQdXohV0juw

24/06/2023

Are you caught up with ALAS's latest publication, "Assessment of macroalgal communities on shallow rocky reefs in the Aegean Sea indicates an impoverished ecological status"?

Due to increased anthropogenic pressure and climate change, Mediterranean rocky reefs are undergoing regime shifts from a structurally complex and diverse state dominated by canopy-forming macroalgae to a degraded one characterized by low-lying turf or encrusting macroalgal species. Using data gathered from 89 sites across the entire Aegean Sea, this study aims to provide the most comprehensive health status assessment of shallow rocky reefs in the area, based on macroalgal community structure.

https://ejournals.epublishing.ekt.gr/index.php/hcmr-med-mar-sc/article/view/31034?fbclid=IwAR0uHfSAlfROfrUl8V-kw-6qBN7rknTq2PfuCmKKE3UY3UU6Wbqlf38D17A

01/03/2023

With the ALAS project nearing its conclusion, our most laborious and lengthy works within its framework take shape. Our new paper “Invading the Greek Seas: Spatiotemporal Patterns of Marine Impactful Alien and Cryptogenic Species” is the fruit of one of these labors.

To investigate the distribution of impactful cryptogenic and alien species in the Greek Seas, we combined all records available until the end of 2020, concerning a total of 60 marine species. A total of 5478 georeferenced records were compiled and analyzed.

Find out more in the link below:
https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/3/353

Stelios Katsanevakis, Michail Ragkousis

30/09/2021

Enjoy an abstract of our 2021 alien surveys in pictures.

09/08/2021

Within the frame of our visual surveys on the East cost of the Peloponnese peninsula, we stumbled upon a fish few have had the privilege of seeing. The enigmatic brown moray Gymnothorax unicolor (Delaroche, 1809), which is considered a rare species and certainly is the rarest moray of the Mediterranean Sea. It is a solitary nocturnal species whose biology is poorly investigated. It usually inhabits the crevices and holes of rocky reefs between 10–80 m of depth. This species is known to preys on crabs, gastropods, and cephalopods. Enjoy!

Our team wishes to thank David Koutsogianopoulos and NaturaGraeca.com for his kind words and the disseminating our work.

Όταν η σοβαρή επιστημονική έρευνα από γνώστες του αντικειμένου φέρνει στο φως τα σπάνια είδη των θαλασσών μας που τόσο περιμένουμε να δούμε. Εδώ μία υπέροχη μουγγροσμέρνα (Gymnothorax unicolor) από τον Σαρωνικό παρακαλώ, φωτογραφημένη από τον Ορέστη Παπαδάκη στα πλαίσια του ερευνητικού προγράμματος ALAS. https://alas.edu.gr/

26/05/2021

New paper published in the frame of ALAS project! Broadscale surveys in numerous marine caves of the eastern Mediterranean Sea, within different expeditions during the last 5 years, brought to light 36 new records of 8 rarely reported cryptobenthic fish species, including new additions to the ichthyofauna of Greece!

Data on the distribution and ecology of cryptobenthic fish of marine caves in the Mediterranean Sea are extremely scarce but necessary for scientists and marine managers alike in order to understand these fish’s ecological role and assess their conservation status. Broadscale surveys by implementi...

26/03/2021

New paper coauthored by ALAS in Mediterranean Marine Science journal! Our contribution reports on the first record of the Indo-Pacific brachyuran Gonioinfradens giardi (Nobili, 1905) from the Ionian Sea!

“New Alien Mediterranean Biodiversity Records” (March 2021)

17/02/2021

New paper published by ALAS in BioInvasions Records journal! Our paper reports on the first records of the Indo-Pacific cleaner-shrimp Urocaridella pulchella in marine caves & crevices of Greece, updating the species distribution in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea! By: Markos Digenis Michail Ragkousis Katerina Vasileiadou Vasilis Gerovasileiou & Stelios Katsanevakis