engleski

Spreading of non-indigenous Indo-Pacific copepod Pseudodiaptomus marinus Sato, 1913 in eastern Adriatic coastal and transitional waters

Indo-Pacific calanoid copepod Pseudodiaptomus marinus Sato, 1913 is spreading globally through ballast water release in port areas. In the last 5-year period during regular zooplankton surveys in coastal and transitional waters, this species was recorded in three new Adriatic localities closely connected to port activities: port of Šibenik (Krka estuary), near port of Ploče (Neretva estuary) and near Northern port of Split (Vranjic Bay). Specimens of P. marinus were found in the samples collected with vertically hauled plankton nets (53 and 125 µm mesh size) during night hours when the species is known to migrate into the water column, as opposed to its daytime life strategy which includes a predominantly benthic habitat. The species' identity was confirmed through morphological identification using light and SEM microscopy, and through DNA barcoding. Overall, P. marinus occurred in low abundances (0.1-59 ind. m-3), but the presence of individuals of both sexes as well as juveniles and egg-carrying females indicates a successful population establishment at all investigated sites. So far, we could not detect any adverse influence in the indigenous zooplankton composition and abundances, due to P. marinus colonization. However, in order to evaluate the full extent and possible consequences of P. marinus spreading, it is necessary to continue monitoring of the affected localities as well as to extend targeted surveillance to other major Croatian ports.

Pseudodiaptomus marinus ; Adriatic Sea ; non-indigenous species ; copepods

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