BioInvasions Records is a new open access peer-reviewed international journal focusing on the rapid publication of applied research on invasive species and biological invasions in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems around the world. BioInvasions Records is a continuation of the former Aquatic Invasions Records, an electronic supplement of the open access international journal Aquatic Invasions. BioInvasions Records is devoted to bridging the gap between scientific research and the use of science in decision-making, regulation, and management as it pertains to the introduction of invasive alien species (IAS) and biodiversity conservation. Thus, this new journal provides a forum for professionals involved in research and management of IAS. BioInvasions Records contributes to rapid information dissemination, risk assessment procedures, and early detection and rapid response on IAS. The incorporation of open access journals into the REABIC information system represents an innovative approach to IAS-related information management and ensures sustainability of REABIC-based information management tools.

Three lineages (G1, G2 and G3) within the toxic invasive ergot fungus Claviceps purpurea (Fries) Tulasne are known; these should be recognized as unique species, or at least as varieties. On 2 November 2011, a very dense, well established population of G3 C. purpurea was found on the common cord-grass Spartina anglica C.E. Hubbard at two localities on the German North Sea coast in the Wadden Sea (Cäciliengroden and Hooksiel). It is most likely that G3 C. purpurea has a North American origin and entered German coastal waters by floating sclerotia from Irish, British, or Benelux waters, where it was previously found. However, introduction via ships’ ballast water coming from their native or introduced ranges is also plausible. Furthermore imports of G3 sclerotia via seed mussels collected from wild subtidal banks in Irish, British and Dutch coastal waters and released into the German Wadden Sea can currently not be excluded. Risks from this highly toxic fungus for human, grazing animals and the marine environment have been identified but not yet quantified in terms of impact. A suitable monitoring programme should be implemented to detect any unwanted impacts caused by G3 C. purpurea in German salt marshes at an early phase.

Biological invasions are a present and growing environmental problem because non-indigenous organisms may affect the structure and functioning of native communities. In the marine environment there are records of invasive species in almost all phyla, including crustaceans, and the portunid crabs of the genus Charybdis are among the most widespread invasive groups. We report the first record of Charybdis variegata (Fabricius, 1798) from the western Atlantic coast. This species was collected on an intertidal rocky shore near Santos Harbor, São Paulo state, Brazil. Of 311 portunid crabs sampled, 309 individuals belonged to the non-indigenous Charybdis hellerii (A. Milne Edwards, 1867), one was a native Cronius ruber (Lamarck, 1818), and one was identified as the non-indigenous Charybdis variegata. This individual was a juvenile female measuring 27.5 mm in carapace width. The taxonomic traits used for species identification, as well as a morphological comparison between C. hellerii and C. variegata are presented. The introduction route and establishment status of this species are also discussed.

American lobsters (Homarus americanus) are native to the east coast of North American and Canada, but have been imported live into Europe for several decades resulting in their escape into the wild. American lobsters have the potential to have a significant impact on the European lobster (Homarus gammarus) fisheries in Europe, but the status of American lobsters is not well understood, especially in Great Britain (GB) where reports have been sporadic. Reports were collated from across GB of American lobsters being caught in coastal waters. Between 1988 and 2011, 26 individuals have been positively identified using standard taxonomic techniques. American lobsters were found predominantly in waters off southern England, with no confirmed reports from Wales and a single report from Scotland. However, there are anecdotal reports of American lobsters being found in much greater numbers from around GB. The potential threat that American lobsters pose to fisheries in GB and the rest of Europe is discussed along with recommendations to better estimate the numbers of animals being released.

The Far Eastern exotic fish species, Perccottus glenii (Odontobutidae, Perciformes), occurred in the Ukrainian part of the Danube River delta for the first time. Two specimens, male and female were caught in a canal in the town of Vilkove. It is the first record of this fish species in southern Ukraine. The fishes from Vilkove are possibly related to the population which occurs in the Romanian part of the Danube delta (Furtuna Lake and Popina pond) where it has been previously found.

A study of the invasive alien freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbii (Lankester, 1880) in the drainage basin of Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee), the Golan Heights was carried out on August 27, 2011. Jellyfish were found in a small permanent pool located in the upper part of the Zavitan River. Chemical parameters and plankton composition were documented.

A live juvenile specimen of the mangeliid gastropod Pseudorhaphitoma cf. iodolabiata was noted off the Mediterranean coast of Israel on April 25, 2010, outside the port of Haifa. The occurrence of this Red Sea endemic raises the number of alien mollusk species recorded off the Israeli coast to 137.

This paper provides the first report of the Pyrenean minnow Phoxinus bigerri in a small coastal river, which flows into the Atlantic coast of Galicia (NW Spain), as well as basic biometric and population data. The high density found in this survey, in addition to the presence of both young-of-the-year and the six brightly coloured males showing clear spawning characteristics, all indicate that this fish species is naturalized in the area.

The Australian spotted jellyfish Phyllorhiza punctata was reported in September 2011, in Sülüngür Lake, Muğla, on the Southern Aegean coast of Turkey. This is the second record from Turkey. The first record was in 2010 in Iskenderun, on the Levantine coast of Turkey.

On July 2010, a single specimen of Pteragogus pelycus was captured by gillnets along the coasts of Alexandria, Egypt (approximate position 31°14′N, 29°55′E) between 15 and 25 m of depth. This observation represents the first confirmed record of this species from the North African coasts.

The Lessepsian migrant fish Lagocephalus sceleratus is being recorded for the first time from the gulf of Gabès (Central Mediterranean, Tunisia). The record is based on a single specimen collected in December 2010. Previous records of the species were confined to the Levantine and Aegean Seas. Recent research reveals that this species is extending its distribution area to the western Mediterranean. The species is toxic, containing tetrodotoxin (TTX) that paralyses the nervous and respiratory systems. Actions of awareness were taken in Tunisia to alert consumers and fishermen on the potential danger of this species.

A second specimen of the Red Sea bannerfish Heniochus intermedius Steindachner, 1893 and a specimen of the Bartail flathead Platycephalus indicus (Linnaeus, 1758) have been recently collected from Lebanon (eastern Mediterranean). The two alien species constitute very rare occurrences in the Mediterranean; the first record of H. intermedius dates back to 2002 and only a few P. indicus individuals were collected between the 1950s and 1970s. Their presence in the Mediterranean is discussed as well as possible future trends in light of recent environmental changes.

Undaria pinnatifida (Harvey) Suringar 1873 is native to Northern Asia and has become well established in the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Europe, New Zealand, Tasmania, Australia, Pacific coasts of United States and Mexico and Patagonia Argentina. On the 13th of September of 2011 sporophytes of U. pinnatifida were found growing from the subtidal-intertidal limit to 4.5 m depth in Mar del Plata. This contribution brings the first Undaria pinnatifida report in Mar del Plata and extends 1300 km the northern distribution limit of this kelp in Argentina.

We report a large bloom of a benthic diatom, Biddulphia biddulphiana, in the Midriff Islands region of the Gulf of California (GOC), Mexico. The bloom is seemingly invasive in nature (abnormal spatial domination of the benthic environment), and no similar blooms have been previously described in the GOC. Quantitative results indicate a non-significant increase in density and reveal an expansion of affected area from “ground zero” on Isla San Esteban during the year after first observance (2009 to 2010). Observational evidence from colleagues suggests that the bloom had completely disappeared from the areas of highest density by June 2011. It is unclear how a seemingly growing bloom can retract so significantly in such a short time.

A non-ovigerous female mitten crab captured in Iraq on the 20th June 2005 was initially identified as Eriocheir sinensis H. Milne Edwards, 1853. More material has now been made available from Iraq and Kuwait and these specimens were compared with the extant type series of E. sinensis and E. hepuensis Dai, 1991. From this morphological study the Persian Gulf material was identified as the Hepu mitten crab, E. hepuensis. This is the first report of this mitten crab species outside its native range of southern China. However, because mitten crab taxonomy and systematics requires further clarification especially with respect to species of Eriocheir De Haan, 1835, the DNA of the Persian Gulf material was compared with a suite of GenBank COI sequences from various mitten crab taxa. The results of this extensive examination indicate that the Iraqi and Kuwaiti specimens are E. hepuensis and the DNA analysis indicates that mitten crabs can be assigned to three genera and six species; although the present study does discuss reports of hybridisation between three Eriocheir species associated with aquaculture. Also reported, and of concern, is that E. hepuensis may have been first collected about thirty years ago in Iraq and has now become well established within that country. As a consequence the Hepu mitten crab could, given its catadromy, disperse widely throughout the extensive riverine systems of the region.