Published in November 2017
Research articles
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Diedrich Visser, Vivienne M. Uys, Roedolf J. Nieuwenhuis and Welma Pieterse
First records of the tomato leaf miner Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in South Africa (pp 301-305) |
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Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is an invasive and extremely damaging leaf-mining moth of South American origin.
It is a serious pest of tomatoes. This species was first recorded outside of its native range in Spain (2006), and has subsequently spread
into Asia and Africa. Here we report the first records of this species for the Republic of South Africa, where moths were first trapped
in August and October 2016. The species was identified using both morphological and molecular approaches. Monitoring of the spread of
tomato leaf miner in South Africa and the implementation of control measures are managed by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries
and Forestry (DAFF), South Africa.
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Piotr Ceryngier and Jerzy Romanowski
Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and its parasite in south-western Bulgaria and northern Greece (pp 307-310) |
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Samples of the invasive harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) were collected in June 2017 in four localities in western Bulgaria
and three localities in northern Greece. Established (reproducing) populations of H. axyridis were found in each of the surveyed
localities and were commonly infected with a fungal ectoparasite, Hesperomyces virescens (Ascomycota: Laboulbeniales). This parasite
was recorded on 33% and 22% of the collected old-generation H. axyridis males and females, respectively. Our findings represent
the first records of established H. axyridis populations for Greece and the first records of H. virescens for Bulgaria.
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Mitchell S. Alix, Robin W. Scribailo and Christopher W. Weliczko
Nitellopsis obtusa (Desv.) J. Groves, 1919 (Charophyta: Characeae): new records from southern Michigan, USA with notes on environmental parameters known to influence its distribution (pp 311-319) |
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Starry stonewort, Nitellopsis obtusa (Desv.) J. Groves, 1919, is deemed an invasive aquatic macroalga in North America where there
is considerable concern about the impact of this species on lake ecology. During floristic inventories to characterize charophyte diversity
in Michigan, we documented the occurrence of N. obtusa from seven inland lakes, confirming the expansion of this species into Cass
and Van Buren Counties in the southwestern region of the state. We provide a description of the species along with morphological characters
that distinguish it from other genera in the Characeae. Detailed voucher specimen information, including aquatic vascular plant associates,
substrate type, pH, total alkalinity, and water depth, is presented for each collection site. Modes of dispersal and habitat parameters known
to influence the distribution of N. obtusa are considered.
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Joanne S. Porter, Julia D. Nunn, John S. Ryland, Dan Minchin and Mary E. Spencer Jones
The status of non-native bryozoans on the north coast of Ireland (pp 321-330) |
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A list of thirty-seven non-indigenous species (NIS) or cryptogens likely to appear on marinas or pontoons were targeted during a ten-day survey in 2012
on the north Irish coast. This included four bryozoan species. The non-targeted cryptogen, Bugulina fulva, was found for the first time
in the Republic of Ireland. The bryozoans Bugula neritina and Watersipora subatra were found within Northern Ireland for the first time.
The survey demonstrated that a rapid approach to sampling marinas and pontoons provides new range records of species likely to occur elsewhere within the region.
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Thomas Seyer, Pedro Morais, Katherine Amorim, Francisco Leitão, Flávio Martins and Maria Alexandra Teodósio
On the presence of the Ponto-Caspian hydrozoan Cordylophora caspia (Pallas, 1771) in an Iberian estuary: highlights on the introduction vectors and invasion routes (pp 331-337) |
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Several non-native invertebrate and vertebrate species have been detected in the Guadiana Estuary (SW-Iberian Peninsula, Europe)
during the 21st century. In June 2015, the non-native hydroid Cordylophora caspia (Pallas, 1771) was detected for the first time
in this estuary, which motivated an assessment of its distribution during late Spring and Summer 2016. The main goals of this paper were to:
i) report the presence of Cordylophora caspia and its distribution in the Guadiana Estuary, ii) record the substrates colonized, salinity,
and water temperatures at locations where the species was detected, iii) evaluate possible introduction vectors and invasion routes; and iv) discuss
the potential impacts and management options. Cordylophora caspia occupied a 25-km stretch of the estuary with salinities between 0.2 and 13.8
and occupied a variety of human-made substrates. Shipping was the most likely introduction vector of C. caspia, which might have originated from
populations in the Atlantic Ocean or the Mediterranean Sea. Currently, the potential ecological impacts are likely low since the population size is small
due to an apparent shortage of suitable habitat. Economic effects are minimal at present because there are no major industries along the basin extracting
water from the estuary. An integrated ecohydrological approach—i.e. freshets released from dams to control the populations of Cnidaria—was proposed
to minimize or mitigate the potential negative effects of this species in the Guadiana Estuary.
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Guillaume Marchessaux, Justine Gadreaud, Bertrand Martin-Garin, Alain Thiéry, Mélanie Ourgaud, Bruno Belloni and Delphine Thibault
First report of the invasive jellyfish Gonionemus vertens A. Agassiz, 1862 in the Berre Lagoon, southeast France (pp 339-344) |
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The hydromedusa Gonionemus vertens A. Agassiz, 1862 was first detected in the Berre Lagoon, south of France, in July 2016. Early June 2017,
following an early rise in temperature, much higher numbers of specimens were reported leading to several beach goers being stung and one going into
anaphylactic shock. Effort to rehabilitate this highly anthropogenically altered lagoon has led to the redevelopment of the Zostera meadows,
which might be favoring the clinging jellyfish. Developmental aberrations of specimens were noted, which could be linked to the remaining presence
of chemicals from the industrial development period. Impact of this predator species on the functioning of the lagoon ecosystem should also be studied.
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Jaakko Johannes Leppänen, Jonne Kotta, Mikhail Daneliya and Eveliina Salo
First record of Chelicorophium curvispinum (G.O. Sars, 1895) from Lake Mälaren, SE Sweden (pp 345-349) |
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The Ponto-Caspian amphipod Chelicorophium curvispinum (G.O. Sars, 1895) was first recorded in the Baltic Sea catchment area in the early 20th century.
Since then the species has considerably extended its distribution. Here, we present the first record of the invasive amphipod in Sweden (Drottingholm,
Lake Mälaren, SE Sweden). It is plausible that C. curvispinum was initially introduced via shipping to the brackish waters of the Stockholm Archipelago.
National ferry traffic may have provided a subsequent means of transport for this species from Stockholm centrum to Lake Mälaren.
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Juan Carlos Azofeifa-Solano, Beatriz Naranjo-Elizondo, Alberth Humberto Rojas-Carranza and Marco Cedeño-Fonseca
Presence of the Australian redclaw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus (von Martens, 1868) (Parastacidae, Astacoidea) in a freshwater system
in the Caribbean drainage of Costa Rica (pp 351-355) |
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Cherax quadricarinatus (von Martens, 1868) was first introduced into Costa Rica during 1985. Currently there are aquaculture holding facilities
for this species in the Costa Rican Pacific drainage. This study is the first to report the presence of C. quadricarinatus in natural freshwater
systems at the Caribbean drainage of Costa Rica. This may has been the result of accidental releases of this non-native crayfish from holding facilities.
Future surveys are needed to assess the effects of this crayfish on the freshwater systems of Costa Rica and its communities.
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Lucian Pârvulescu, Andrei Togor, Sandra-Florina Lele, Sebastian Scheu, Daniel Șinca and Jörn Panteleit
First established population of marbled crayfish Procambarus fallax (Hagen, 1870) f. virginalis (Decapoda, Cambaridae) in Romania (pp 357-362) |
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The marbled crayfish, Procambarus fallax f. virginialis, is an obligate parthenogenetic crayfish species, its spread in the wild
being linked to the aquarium pet-trade. Forty-two adult individuals were found for the first time in Romania in the semi-natural ponds in Băile Felix,
Oradea, Romania. Nine ovigerous females were captured as evidence that the population is breeding in the wild. They probably originated from the pet
trade and were released by hobbyists into the pond. Microsatellite analysis revealed the same allelic patterns as in a previous study, confirming that
these marbled crayfish are parthenogenetic and originate from a single individual. The pathogen, Aphanomyces astaci was not present
in the population. The site inhabited by this established marbled crayfish population is supplied with water by thermal underground streams,
ensuring a constant high temperature. The nearby Peța Natural Reserve protects several endemic species that could be threatened by the further range
extension of marbled crayfish. Special protection measures are therefore urgently needed.
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Jean-Philippe Pezy, Alexandrine Baffreau and Jean-Claude Dauvin
Records of two introduced Penaeidae (Crustacea: Decapoda) species from Le Havre Harbour, France, English Channel (pp 363-367) |
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Two introduced prawn Penaeidae were collected in Le Havre Harbour, Normandy, France, on 14 August 2016: Marsupeanaeus japonicus (Bate, 1888)
and Penaeus semisulcatus De Haan, 1844. M. japonicus is native to the Indo-Pacific and the Red Sea, is already present in the western
English Channel; and this is the first record for the eastern part of the English Channel. The catch of P. semisulcatus represents the first
confirmed European record.
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Maria Corsini-Foka, Alan Deidun, Gianni Insacco and Bruno Zava
First occurrence of Erugosquilla massavensis (Kossmann, 1880) in Italian waters (Ionian Sea) (pp 369-372) |
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The Red Sea stomatopod Erugosquilla massavensis was detected for the first time in Italian waters, along the eastern coast of Sicily,
in the western Ionian Sea. This finding suggests that a further population expansion, from the Tunisian coasts to a wider area within
the central Mediterranean, of one of the most successful Lessepsian migrants is ongoing.
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Alan Deidun, Luca Castriota, Manuela Falautano and Teresa Maggio
Yet another angelfish species for the Mediterranean – the first record of Holacanthus africanus Cadenat, 1951 from Maltese waters, central Mediterranean (pp 373-376) |
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The first documented record of the Guinea angelfish, Holacanthus africanus, for the Mediterranean is hereby reported,
through the capture of two individuals within Maltese coastal waters. The fish were submitted as a contribution to the Spot
the Alien Fish citizen science campaign. Considerations are made on the possible introduction pathway used by the species to reach
these waters, including the aquarium trade or association with a towed oil platform.
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Esmail A. Shakman, Abdalha Ben Abdalha, Fathe Talha, Ali Al-Faturi and Michel Bariche
First records of seven marine organisms of different origins from Libya (Mediterranean Sea) (pp 377-382) |
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Seven first records of species of various origins are reported from the Libyan marine environment. These are the Longfin yellowtail Seriola rivoliana,
Lesser amberjack Seriola fasciata, Blunthead puffer Sphoeroides pachygaster, Golani round herring Etrumeus golanii, Blue swimmer crab
Portunus segnis, Bigfin reef squid Sepioteuthis lessoniana, and the green alga Caulerpa taxifolia. The first three species are widely
distributed fish seemingly expanding their range in the Mediterranean Sea, while the others are alien species, introduced in the Mediterranean through
various pathways. While some were recently captured, others were identified from old collections, with dates of capture ranging between 1993 and 2017.
In addition to updating the list of marine fauna and flora from Libya, the respective dates of these records represent vital information for future studies
aiming at reconstructing range expansion histories and assessing spread rates in the Mediterranean Sea.
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Jeffrey E. Hill
Museum specimens answer question of historic occurrence of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) in Florida (USA) (pp 383-391) |
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Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) is difficult to distinguish from the blue tilapia Oreochromis aureus (Steindachner, 1864),
a species with which it readily hybridizes, and that has a well-documented invasion history from 1961 in Florida (USA). Extracting the differential histories
of these two tilapia species is of particular interest for Florida invasive species regulation, but also is relevant for at least 32 countries where both species
have been introduced. Museum specimens can provide key data to answer historical questions in invasion biology. Therefore I examined preserved specimens
at the Florida Museum of Natural History (UF) (1) for misidentified Nile tilapia or the presence of Nile tilapia traits in blue tilapia specimens,
(2) for misidentified Nile tilapia in other tilapia collections, and (3) to morphologically characterize Florida specimens of blue tilapia, Nile tilapia,
and putative hybrids. The U.S. Geological Survey’s Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (USGS NAS) database was also examined for blue tilapia and Nile tilapia records.
Blue tilapia lots dated to 1970, putative hybrids were present in blue tilapia lots since 1972 (10 counties), and Nile tilapia lots dated to 2007 (5 counties)
in the UF collection. Hybrids were not detectable using the USGS NAS, but the broader range of source data for the two species resulted in earlier dates
and wider occurrence than the UF collection (blue tilapia from 1961; Nile tilapia from 2006 in 18 counties). Meristics of Florida tilapia differed slightly
from published accounts of tilapia in their native range. In Florida, blue tilapia and hybrids did not statistically differ whereas most counts from Nile
tilapia were higher but overlapping. Dorsal fin spine counts of 17 or 18 were nearly diagnostic for Nile tilapia. The best character to distinguish Nile
tilapia was distinct caudal fin barring; hybrids had indistinct or incomplete barring whereas blue tilapia lacked caudal barring. The results show that
Nile tilapia traits have been present in blue tilapia stocks for at least 45 years, suggesting that early introductions likely contained hybrid tilapia.
This study supports the risk-based decision to harmonize blue tilapia and Nile tilapia regulations in Florida.
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Katelyn M. Lawson, Quenton M. Tuckett, Jared L. Ritch, Leo G. Nico, Pam L. Fuller, Richard E. Matheson, Kelly Gestring and Jeffrey E. Hill
Distribution and status of five non-native fish species in the Tampa Bay drainage (USA), a hot spot for fish introductions (pp 393-406) |
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The Tampa Bay region of Florida (USA) is a hot spot for non-native freshwater fishes. However, published information on most non-native fishes
in the basin is not current. Systematic sampling efforts targeting non-native fishes in the region were conducted from 2013–2015
by the University of Florida Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory. Data from these recent surveys were analyzed, along with historic
and new data from published and unpublished sources, to assess current fish distributions and determine status. We focus on five
of the non-native species sampled: pike killifish Belonesox belizanus Kner, 1860, green swordtail Xiphophorus hellerii Heckel, 1848,
southern platyfish Xiphophorus maculatus (Günther, 1866), Mayan cichlid Mayaheros urophthalmus (Günther, 1862), and Jack Dempsey
Rocio octofasciata (Regan, 1903). All five were found to have reproducing populations in the basin, each showing broader distributions than previously
indicated.
Non-native populations of four of the species have persisted in the Tampa Bay region since at least the 1990s. In contrast, the presence of Mayan
cichlid in the basin was not confirmed until 2004. Based on numbers, distributions, and years of persistence, these five species all maintain
established populations. Pike killifish and Mayan cichlid are established and spreading throughout multiple habitat types, while green swordtail,
southern platyfish, and Jack Dempsey are localized and found primarily in more marginal habitats (e.g., small ditches and first order tributary streams).
Factors affecting continued existence and distributions likely include aquaculture, biotic resistance, and thermal and salinity tolerances.
We also clarify non-native species status determination using a multi-agency collaborative approach, and reconcile differences in terminology usage
and interpretation.
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Jake R. Edwards, Jennifer K. Ketterlin, Michael R. Rochford, Rodney Irwin, Kenneth L. Krysko, James G. Duquesnel, Frank J. Mazzotti and Robert N. Reed
The gold tegu, Tupinambis teguixin (Linnaeus, 1758) sensu lato (Squamata: Teiidae): evidence for an established population in Florida (pp 407-410) |
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Gold tegus, Tupinambis teguixin (Linnaeus, 1758), are generalist predators from South America and are ecologically similar to Argentine black
and white tegus (Salvator merianae), a successful invader in Florida. We trapped gold tegus in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, Florida, USA.
In Miami-Dade County, collection occurred from 2008 through 2016. We combined new trapping records with previous literature records. Ten gold tegus
of both sexes and multiple size classes over a nine year period indicate a reproducing population in Miami-Dade County. Tupinambis teguixin
is the sixth established non-native teiid species in Florida. Additionally, we report Tupinambis teguixin from Sarasota and Lee counties,
Florida, USA. Determining population status in those counties requires further study. It is critical to differentiate this species from
Salvator merianae during removal efforts. The possibility of eradicating Tupinambis teguixin exists if proper identification enables
reliable monitoring of the populations.
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