First report of Pararotalia calcariformata from the Hatay coastline (Turkey—north-eastern Mediterranean)

Merıç, Engin; Yokeş, M. Baki; Avsar, Kadiköy Niyazi; Kirki-Elmas, Elmas; Dinçer, Feyza; Karhan, S. Ünsal; Kalkan, Erol; Demir, Volkan

doi:10.1017/s1755267212001108

Cited by 7 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…A comparison of the morphology of the Levantine species with this description confirms that the assignment of the invasive species to Pararotalia spinigera is incorrect, because a keel and deep septal interlocular space are clearly present among the Levantine specimens. Our analysis also confirms that the specimens we examined have similar appearance as those reported by [ 32 ] from Hatay, Turkey. Therefore, we here conclude that morphologically, the invasive species shows most affinity with the concept of P .…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 90%

“…Other studies confirmed the proliferation of the species P . calcariformata after 1994, identifying large populations ranging from the southernmost Israeli coast [ 30 , 31 ] to southern Turkey [ 32 ]. All localities where this species has been reported up to now in the literature as well as through our investigations in the eastern Mediterranean are given in S1 Table .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Considering the large abundance of the species and its distinctive shape, it is unlikely that it has been overlooked in earlier studies or not seen at other localities in the eastern Mediterranean [ 12 , 44 ]. Collectively, the existing evidence implies that the species has established a population in the Levant only recently and began to proliferate and expand its range within the last two decades [ 32 ]. The majority of the invasive species in the eastern Mediterranean represent Lessepsian migrations through the Suez Canal [ 9 ], which migrated through the Canal since its opening in 1869, as it was the first artificial connection between Europe and Asia.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous studies [ 28 , 30 , 31 ] designated recent specimens from the Israeli coast as Pararotalia spinigera Le Calvez 1949, following [ 50 , 51 ]. The study by [ 32 ] first suggested that the specimens may rather represent P . calcariformata , an extant species described from the Indian Ocean by [ 52 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This species has been first reported in the Levant in 1994 [ 28 , 29 ]. It has since then been found to proliferate along the Mediterranean coast from Israel [ 30 , 31 ] to southern Turkey [ 32 ]. The modern foraminiferal fauna of the Mediterranean Sea is mostly of Atlantic origin [ 26 , 33 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Recent Invasion of the Symbiont-Bearing Foraminifera Pararotalia into the Eastern Mediterranean Facilitated by the Ongoing Warming Trend

et al. 2015

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The eastern Mediterranean is a hotspot of biological invasions. Numerous species of Indo-pacific origin have colonized the Mediterranean in recent times, including tropical symbiont-bearing foraminifera. Among these is the species Pararotalia calcariformata. Unlike other invasive foraminifera, this species was discovered only two decades ago and is restricted to the eastern Mediterranean coast. Combining ecological, genetic and physiological observations, we attempt to explain the recent invasion of this species in the Mediterranean Sea. Using morphological and genetic data, we confirm the species attribution to P. calcariformata McCulloch 1977 and identify its symbionts as a consortium of diatom species dominated by Minutocellus polymorphus. We document photosynthetic activity of its endosymbionts using Pulse Amplitude Modulated Fluorometry and test the effects of elevated temperatures on growth rates of asexual offspring. The culturing of asexual offspring for 120 days shows a 30-day period of rapid growth followed by a period of slower growth. A subsequent 48-day temperature sensitivity experiment indicates a similar developmental pathway and high growth rate at 28°C, whereas an almost complete inhibition of growth was observed at 20°C and 35°C. This indicates that the offspring of this species may have lower tolerance to cold temperatures than what would be expected for species native to the Mediterranean. We expand this hypothesis by applying a Species Distribution Model (SDM) based on modern occurrences in the Mediterranean using three environmental variables: irradiance, turbidity and yearly minimum temperature. The model reproduces the observed restricted distribution and indicates that the range of the species will drastically expand westwards under future global change scenarios. We conclude that P. calcariformata established a population in the Levant because of the recent warming in the region. In line with observations from other groups of organisms, our results indicate that continued warming of the eastern Mediterranean will facilitate the invasion of more tropical marine taxa into the Mediterranean, disturbing local biodiversity and ecosystem structure.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Recent Invasion of the Symbiont-Bearing Foraminifera Pararotalia into the Eastern Mediterranean Facilitated by the Ongoing Warming Trend

et al. 2015

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“Hidden invaders” conquer the Sicily Channel and knock on the door of the Western Mediterranean sea

Guastella

Marchini

Caruso

et al. 2019

Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science

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Alien and cryptogenic Foraminifera in the Mediterranean Sea: A revision of taxa as part of the EU 2020 Marine Strategy Framework Directive

2020

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The human-mediated translocation of marine alien species beyond their natural ranges started as early as people began navigating the sea and is of growing concern to nature conservation. The Mediterranean Sea is among the most severely affected areas by biological invasions, a phenomenon that has been fostered by the opening and recent extension of the Suez Canal, the transport and release of ballast water, aquaculture and aquarium trade, ichthyochory and other active or passive dispersal mechanisms. The increase of marine invasions has stimulated considerable research, but for some important groups, in particular microorganisms, data are still limited. In this paper we have reviewed the current status of marine alien foraminifera in the Mediterranean Sea. Our survey includes a comrephensive taxonomic revision of previously recognized alien taxa, and new information obtained from the fossil record and from molecular studies. Our survey and reexamination of alien benthic foraminifera yielded a total of 43 validly recognized species and two species of cryptogenic taxa and reduces the number of previous recordings. The revised list includes both larger symbiont-bearing and smaller benthic foraminifera, including 16 hyaline-perforate, 3 agglutinated and 24 porcelaneous taxa. The vast majority of alien foraminifera recorded so far have become established in the Eastern and Central Mediterranean Sea, indicative for translocation and introduction via the Suez Canal pathway. Only one species, Amphistegina lobifera, causes significant ecological impacts and fulfills the criteria to be considered as an invasive alien. This species is a prolific carbonate producer, and displays extreme forms of ecosystem invasibility with capabilities to reduce native diversity and species richness. The proliferation and rates of recently observed range extensions, track contemporary sea surface temperature increases, provide strong support for previous species distribution models, and corroborate findings that rising water temperatures, global climate change and the extension of climate belts are major drivers fueling the latitudinal range expansion of larger symbiont-bearing and smaller epiphytic foraminifera. Intensified efforts to study alien foraminifera on a molecular level, in dated cores and in ballast water are required to trace their source of origin, to identify vectors of introduction and to verify their status as true aliens.

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First report of Pararotalia calcariformata from the Hatay coastline (Turkey—north-eastern Mediterranean)

Cited by 7 publications

References 6 publications

Recent Invasion of the Symbiont-Bearing Foraminifera Pararotalia into the Eastern Mediterranean Facilitated by the Ongoing Warming Trend

Recent Invasion of the Symbiont-Bearing Foraminifera Pararotalia into the Eastern Mediterranean Facilitated by the Ongoing Warming Trend

“Hidden invaders” conquer the Sicily Channel and knock on the door of the Western Mediterranean sea

Alien and cryptogenic Foraminifera in the Mediterranean Sea: A revision of taxa as part of the EU 2020 Marine Strategy Framework Directive

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