Invasions by non-indigenous species (NIS) are rapidly changing the Mediterranean marine ecosystems, with the number of established species exceeding the 600, since 2017. Some NIS become invasive when they cause negative ecological effects. Invasive NIS have also become a major social issue impacting human health and interacting with recreational activities and aesthetic values. A number […]
The Indo-Pacific origin lionfish Pterois miles has invaded the Mediterranean Sea in 2012 through the Suez Canal. The limited natural predators of lionfish in its newly introduced habitats, naïve prey, generalist predation and adaptability, and rapid growth rates, have led to a rapid population spread and expansion of its distribution to the entire eastern basin. […]
The first reports from Cyprus in 2012-2013 marked the beginning of the uncontrolled invasion that we have been witnessing ever since. A ferocious invader with venomous spines that protect it from predators, rapid reproduction, early maturity, rapid growth, huge appetite and generalist behaviour, the lionfish is becoming alarmingly abundant in the eastern Mediterranean; threatening […]