engleski

LESSEPSIAN MIGRANT SIGANUS LURIDUS (PISCES: SIGANIIDAE) IN THE ADRIATIC SEA: ESTABLISHED POPULATION OR NOT?

Since the opening of the Suez canal in 1869, there has been an influx of Red Sea and Indo- Pacific organisms into the Mediterranean Sea, a phenomenon known as lessepsian migration. During the past decades, 14 lessepsian fish species have been recorded in the Adriatic Sea. The first record of the dusky spinefoot in the northern Adriatic Sea occurred in 2010 in the Gulf of Trieste. A second record occurred in the southern Adriatic (Mljet channel) the very same year. Juveniles were observed for the first time in Molunat Bay (southern Adriatic, Croatian coast) on 15 December 2011. Three years later, a specimen of Siganus luridus was caught in 2014 in Bigova (cape Trašte) (southern Adriatic Sea, Montenegrin coast). This was the first record of this species for Montenegrin coast, and fourth for the Adriatic Sea. Last observations in the area of Prevlaka and Molunat bay (southern Adriatic, Croatian coast) showed a presence of large schools of this species clearly indicating an established population in the area. Meanwhile, this species started to appear in the catches of fishermen in the area. The success of the S. luridus in the Adriatic Sea has been attributed also to its large eco-physiological plasticity. The impact of successful colonization by this and other exotic fish species should be evaluated through future research.

lessepsian migrant, Siganus luridus, establishment, Adriatic Sea

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