A NEW RECORD AND RANGE EXTENSION OF AN INVASIVE AMPHIPOD CAPRELLA SCAURA TEMPLETON, 1836 IN TUNISIA, NORTH AFRICA

A new record and range extension of an invasive amphipod Caprella scaura Templeton, 1836 in Tunisia, North Africa

Sahar Chebaane, Moez Shaiek, Rym Zakhama-Sraieb

Association Notre Grand Bleu (NGB, NGO), Diar El Marina, 5000 Monastir, TUNISIA
University of Monastir, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Monastir, Research Laboratory Bioresources, Biology Integrative and Valorization LR14ES06, Monastir, TUNISIA
Association Méditerranée Action-Nature(MAN, NGO), 01 rue d’Istanbul, 7000 Bizerte, TUNISIA
University of Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, Unity of Research of Bio-ecology and Evolutionary Systematics. S11UR11, Tunis, TUNISIA
University of Manouba, High Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet, BiotechPôle, BP-66, 2020 Sidi Thabet, Ariana, TUNISIA

Abstract

We report the presence of the invasive amphipod Caprella scaura Templeton 1836 in the Bizerte Lagoon (North of Tunisia) in November 2017. This lagoon is approximately 100 km north from the Tunis Lagoon where the presence of C. scaura was previously recorded in 2014. This new species record is considered as the most northern in the southern Mediterranean. This invasive species was found attached to Cymodocea nodoa leaves, and the presence of adult male and gravid female specimens provides the evidence of a viable population in the site. This study showed that fouling has a positive impact on the settlement success of invasive species. We hypothesize that C. scaura was probably introduced to the Bizerte Lagoon through the fouling community on shellfish farms. We suggest that Bizerte Channel, used as commercial and fishing navigation, is an interesting area for future monitoring studies.

Keywords: Caprella scaura, invasive species, new record, Bizerte Lagoon, Tunisia

pdf-dl icon

References

Afli, A., Ayari R., Zaabi, S. (2008) Ecological quality of some Tunisian coast and lagoon locations, by using benthic community parameters and biotic indices. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 80: 269-280.

Bakir, K., Katagan, T. (2011) On the occurrence of Caprella scaura Templeton, 1836 (Crustacea: Amphipoda) in Turkish waters. Zool Middle East 52: 125-126.

Béjaouia, B., Harzallaha A., Moussab M., Chapellec A., Solidorod, C. (2008) Analysis of hydrobiological pattern in the Bizerte lagoon (Tunisia). Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 80(1): 121-129.

Ben Amer, I., Jaziri, S., Aissi, M., Ben Haj, S., Ouni, R., Nefla, A., Shaiek, M. (2018) New important site for birds nesting and biodiversity in Bizerte Lagoon (northeast Tunisia) – Proceeding Association Méditerranée Action-Nature (MAN, NGO) / The Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (RAC-SPA). Premier Congrès Nord-Africain d’Ornithologie et Quatrième Colloque International d’Ornithologie Algérienne Université Abderrahmane MIRA, Bejaia, Octobre 2017 (in press).

Ben Souissi, J., Kahri, C., Ben Salem, M, Zaouali, J. (2010) Les espèces non indigènes du macrobenthos des lagunes du sud-est tunisien: point sur la situation. Rapp Comm int Mer Medit 39: 449.

Cunha, A.F., Maruyama, P.K., Jacobucci, G.B. (2018) Epiphytic hydroids (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa) contribute to a higher abundance of Caprellid amphipods (Crustacea, Peracarida) on macroalgae. Hydrobiologia 808(1): 251-264.

Fernandez-Gonzalez, V., Png-Gonzalez, L., Sánchez-Jerez, P. (2011) Amphipods associated with fish farm fouling: an overview on the Mediterranean Sea. In: Monitoring European Biodiversity: the role and importance of amphipod crustaceans, 27-29 September 2011, Palermo, Italy, pp. 55-56.

Grami, B., Niquilb, N., Hlailia, A.S., Gosselinc, M., Hamelc, D., Hadj Mabrouk, H. (2008) The plankton food web of the Bizerte Lagoon (South-western Mediterranean): II. Carbon steady-state modelling using inverse analysis. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 79: 101-113.

Krapp, T., Lang C., Libertini, A., Melzer, R.R. (2006) Caprella scaura Templeton 1836 sensu lato (Amphipoda: Caprellidae) in the Mediterranean. Org Divers Evol 6: 77-81.

Martínez, J., Adarraga, I. (2008) First record of invasive caprellid Caprella scaura Templeton, 1836 sensu lato (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Caprellidae) from the Iberian Peninsula. Aquat Invasions 3: 165-171.

Ounifi-Ben Amor, K., Ben Amor, M.M., Rifi M., Ben Souissi, J. (2017) Diversity of crustacean species from Tunis Southern Lagoon (Central Mediterranean) after an ecological restoration. Cah Biol Mar 58(1): 49-57.

Ros, M., Guerra-García, J.M., Navarro-Barranco, C., Cabezas, M.P., Vázques-Luis, M. (2014) The spreading of the non-native caprellid (Crustacea: Amphipoda) Caprella scaura Templeton, 1836 into southern Europe and northern Africa: a complicated taxonomic history. Med Mar Sci 15: 145-155.

Ros, M., Rivera-Ingraham, G., Guerra-García, J.M., Lignot, J.H. (2017) Ecophysiological performance of coexisting caprellids: new insights into mechanisms underlying invasive success. Biodiversity Journal 8(2): 435-436.

Sconfietti, R., Danesi, P. (1996) Structural variations in Peracarids communities at the opposite extremes of the Malamocco basin (Lagoon of Venice). Atti Soc Ital Ecologia 17: 407-410.

Shaiek, M., Ben Amer I., El Mokni R., Jaziri S., Aissi M., Ben Haj, S. (2017) Genesis of Islets in Bizerte Lagoon: Settlement of Pioneer Species. Proceeding Association Méditerranée Action-Nature (MAN, NGO)/ The Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (RAC-SPA). 2nd Mediterranean Conference Biodiv 2017 October 2017, Monastir (Tunisia).

Strayer, D. L., Dudgeon, D. (2010) Freshwater biodiversity conservation: recent progress and future challenges. J N Am Benthol Soc 29: 344-358.

Streftaris, N., Zenetos A., Papathanassiou, E. (2005) Globalisation in marine ecosystems: the story of non-indigenous marine species across European seas. Oceanography and Marine BiologyAn Annual Review 43: 419-453.

Templeton, R. (1836) Descriptions of some undescribed exotic Crustacea. Transactions of the Entomological Society of London 1: 185-198.

Zakhama-Sraieb, R., Mnasser I., Zribi I., Charfi-Cheikhrouha, F. (2017) Update of checklist of marine Amphipoda in Tunisia from 2009 to April 2017. Biodiversity Journal 8(2): 493-496.