Marine Ecology and Invasive Species

Chronic warming, not heatwaves, predicts tropical fish colonization in the Mediterranean

The paper shows that chronic warming, not heatwaves, drives the colonization of tropical fish in the Mediterranean following the Suez Canal's opening.

Beyond establishment: incorporating physiological performance into predictions of invasion risk

This study improves invasion risk predictions by integrating physiological performance data with species distribution models, showing that cold survival, not growth, limits the northern range of the invasive alga Rugulopteryx okamurae.

Range expansion of the invasive barnacle Balanus glandula into the Wadden Sea, its habitat and parasite fauna compared to established barnacle species

This study examines the parasite infection patterns of invasive and native barnacles in the Wadden Sea, finding lower parasite prevalence in the invasive Balanus glandula, supporting the parasite release hypothesis.

Where and why alongshore variation in larval transport enables the establishment of introduced species

The paper examines how spatial variation in alongshore larval transport affects the persistence of introduced marine species and provides software to estimate their likelihood of flourishing.

Decline in Kappaphycus alvarezii invasion in the Gulf of Mannar, India

The paper investigates the decline in invasion of Kappaphycus alvarezii in the Gulf of Mannar, India, and discusses potential causes such as climate change and habitat loss.

Invasiveness Screening Kit (ISK) v3: an integrated multilingual decision-support platform for non-native species risk identification

ISK v3 integrates three non-native species risk assessment toolkits into a single multilingual platform with improved database workflows and reporting features.

Northward expansion of Rugulopteryx okamurae (Dictyotales, Ochrophyta) in the southeastern Iberian Peninsula: first record in Calpe (Comunitat Valenciana)

This paper reports the first record of Rugulopteryx okamurae in Calpe, Spain, suggesting recent colonization or undetected local spread, with implications for coastal management.

Multi-locus metabarcoding and intensive sampling reveal extraordinary diversity carried in the ballast water of a single vessel

The paper uses multi-locus metabarcoding and intensive sampling to reveal high biodiversity in a single vessel's ballast water, showing that typical sampling underestimates diversity.

Tracing the intruders: a global appraisal of marine invasive species detection through DNA-based approaches

This paper synthesizes global DNA-based methods for detecting marine invasive species, finding that metabarcoding and single-species PCR are most common, with COI as the most widely used marker.

Non-native crustacean predators conditionally trigger inducible defense behaviors in blue mussel

This study shows blue mussels respond differently to chemical cues from native and non-native crabs, with greater defensive behaviors against the native green crab.

Ecology of the exotic macroalga Batophora occidentalis in Posidonia oceanica meadows and other native benthic habitats

This study tracks the spread and impact of the invasive macroalga B. occidentalis in marine habitats, showing its dominance in native benthic meadows and potential for further expansion.

Environmental DNA reveals biotic homogenization alongside elevated native and non-native species richness in marinas, supporting an ecological portuarization syndrome

This study uses eDNA metabarcoding to show that marinas have higher species richness and more homogeneous animal assemblages than natural habitats, supporting the ecological dimension of the biological portuarization syndrome.

First record of the invasive red lionfish (Pterois volitans) in the Parcel de Manuel Luis Marine State Park, Brazilian Equatorial Margin

The paper reports the first confirmed occurrence of the invasive red lionfish in a Brazilian marine protected area and highlights the need for monitoring and management strategies.

Ports of Entry: Tracking Marine Invaders in Portuguese Mari-nas with DNA Metabarcoding from Coast to Archipelagos

This study uses DNA metabarcoding to assess marine non-indigenous species in Portuguese marinas, finding significant geographic variation and new NIS records in the Azores.

First record of a second invasive soft coral species, Latissimia ningalooensis, in southern Puerto Rico

The paper reports the first record of the invasive soft coral species Latissimia ningalooensis in southern Puerto Rico, following the introduction of Xenia umbellata.

Revealing Hidden Threats: Marine Invertebrate Invasions in the Banc d'Arguin National Park (PNBA), Mauritania, Explored Through DNA Barcoding

This study uses DNA barcoding to identify non-native marine invertebrates in the PNBA, revealing potential invasions from Brazil and the Indo-Pacific.

Massive presence of the invasive Polydora websteri (Polychaeta: Spionidae) in the North Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean Sea)

This study reports the widespread presence of the invasive Polydora websteri in the North Adriatic Sea and provides diagnostic features for its identification.