Marine Ecology-An Evolutionary Perspective最新文献

{"title":"Predation Strategies of the Portuguese Man-of-War Physalia physalis","authors":"Jorge L. S. Nunes,&nbsp;Diego S. Campos,&nbsp;Héllida Negrão Dias,&nbsp;Luiz P. N. e Silva,&nbsp;Denise M. R. F. Bastos,&nbsp;Tommaso Giarrizzo,&nbsp;Allan Jamesson Silva de Jesus,&nbsp;Jamerson Aguiar-Santos,&nbsp;Ana Catarina Miranda","doi":"10.1111/maec.70065","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/maec.70065","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The Portuguese man-of-war <i>Physalia physalis</i> is widely known for causing poisoning on human beings. <i>Physalia physalis</i> is mostly described as a predator of fish eggs and larvae. Here, we report for the first time that large fish can also be preyed by <i>P. physalis</i>. We present two hypotheses for the hunting strategies used, that we denominate fishing and scanning. In both strategies, <i>P. physalis</i> makes use of the tentacles to either to attract or to hunt fishes in the water column and in the bottom. We suggest that these could be common and efficient foraging strategies of <i>P. physalis</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":49883,"journal":{"name":"Marine Ecology-An Evolutionary Perspective","volume":"46 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/maec.70065","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145848256","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Relative Growth and Morphological Sexual Maturity in Four Ghost Shrimp Species (Decapoda, Axiidea)","authors":"Wyllyane Gonçalves da Silva,&nbsp;Renata Akemi Shinozaki-Mendes,&nbsp;Nidia Cristiane Melo Marinho,&nbsp;Larissa Bacelar Costa,&nbsp;Marcos Antonio Lima Matoso,&nbsp;Mônica Lúcia Botter-Carvalho","doi":"10.1111/maec.70068","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/maec.70068","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study presents a comparative analysis of relative growth and morphological maturity in four species of ghost shrimps (Decapoda: Axiidea) from the tropical coast of Pernambuco, Brazil: <i>Lepidophthalmus siriboia</i>, <i>Neocallichirus maryae</i>, <i>Fragillianassa fragilis</i> and <i>Callichirus corruptus</i>. A total of 4696 individuals were sampled across four beaches. The relative growth was analysed based on certain morphometric relationships between independent (cephalothorax length, CL; dorsal oval, DO) and dependent variables (total length, TL; propodus length of the major cheliped, PL; propodus height, PH; propodus width, PW). Relative growth was evaluated separately for juveniles and adults of both sexes, using allometric modelling. In general, males and females reached adulthood at similar sizes, although females tended to be slightly smaller than males. At the two sampling sites where populations of <i>C. corruptus</i> were analysed, sizes at maturity were 5.31 and 6.53 mm DO for males and 4.82 and 7.0 mm DO for females. In <i>L. siriboia</i>, <i>N. maryae</i> and <i>F. fragilis</i>, sizes at maturity for males and females were 6.33 and 6.0 mm CL, 9.36 and 9.37 mm CL and 3.13 and 2.9 mm CL, respectively. Although females were significantly larger in overall body size (TL), they possessed smaller chelipeds. Cheliped growth (PL) was more pronounced during the juvenile stage in females, whereas in males, growth was evident in both juvenile and adult stages. Body growth of males increased more slowly during adulthood in <i>L. siriboia</i>, <i>N. maryae</i> and <i>F. fragilis</i>, while females showed the opposite trend. These variations in growth patterns and reproductive traits likely reflect environmental adaptations and biological trade-offs that enhance fitness within each species' ecological niche. These findings highlight the importance of comparative morphometric approaches in assessing population structure and ecological responses.</p>","PeriodicalId":49883,"journal":{"name":"Marine Ecology-An Evolutionary Perspective","volume":"46 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/maec.70068","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145848281","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Habitat Use and Foraging Ecology of Three Sea Turtle Species Nesting in Northwest Costa Rica","authors":"Alison J. Meeth,&nbsp;Chelsea E. Durr,&nbsp;Frank V. Paladino,&nbsp;Gabriela S. Blanco,&nbsp;Javier López Navas,&nbsp;Jordan M. Marshall,&nbsp;Pilar Santidrián Tomillo,&nbsp;Micaela Stange,&nbsp;Nathan J. Robinson","doi":"10.1111/maec.70067","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/maec.70067","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Sea turtle species, even when sharing nesting beaches, exhibit distinct at-sea movements and foraging behavior. At Playa Cabuyal, a sea turtle nesting beach in northwest Costa Rica, we utilized satellite telemetry to reveal the post-nesting movement of green turtles (<i>Chelonia mydas</i>, <i>n</i> = 9) alongside carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis of skin samples of green (<i>n</i> = 28), olive ridley (<i>Lepidochelys olivacea, n</i> = 20), and leatherback (<i>Dermochelys coriacea, n</i> = 4) turtles. Green turtles (2012–2015) undertook three migratory strategies: moving northward to Nicaragua and the Gulf of Fonseca (<i>n</i> = 6), remaining resident near Cabuyal in the Gulf of Papagayo (<i>n</i> = 2), or migrating south to the Gulf of Guayaquil in Ecuador (<i>n</i> = 1). There was no significant difference in the <i>δ</i>¹³C values of green turtles (mean: −14.7‰, range: −16.8‰ to −12.8‰) and olive ridley turtles (mean: −15.1‰, <i>δ</i>¹³C: −16.6‰ to −14.2‰) suggesting that both species forage across a range of coastal and offshore habitats, while <i>δ</i>¹³C values for leatherback turtles (mean: −15.5‰, range: −15.9‰ to −15.0‰) suggest exclusively offshore habitat use. In contrast, <i>δ</i>¹⁵N values of green turtles (mean: 16.0‰, range: 13.7 to 17.4‰) were significantly higher than those for olive ridley turtles (mean: 14.2‰, range: 12.3‰ to 15.7‰) suggesting that green turtles may be predominately carnivorous. The notably wide range of <i>δ</i>¹⁵N values in leatherback turtles (mean: 14.9‰, range: 12.2‰ to 16.8‰) also suggests that this species feeds across many different trophic levels of gelatinous prey. Evidence that the sea turtles nesting on Playa Cabuyal utilize a broad range of foraging areas in the East Tropical Pacific underscores the need for coordinated, multinational conservation efforts for these species.</p>","PeriodicalId":49883,"journal":{"name":"Marine Ecology-An Evolutionary Perspective","volume":"46 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/maec.70067","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145848205","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Predation by the Native Nudibranch Austraeolis ornata on the Introduced Jellyfish Aurelia coerulea","authors":"Lucas H. Gimenez,&nbsp;Anthony R. Carroll,&nbsp;Kylie A. Pitt","doi":"10.1111/maec.70066","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/maec.70066","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Understanding how non-native scyphozoan jellyfish interact with native communities provides insights into the ecological processes structuring their populations. <i>Aurelia coerulea</i> is a problematic invasive species, with no known predators of the polyp stage outside its native range. <i>Austraeolis ornata</i> is a potential predator of <i>A. coerulea</i> polyps, but little is known about its biology and ecology. Both species inhabit shallow coastal waters across southern Australia, suggesting that interactions between them are likely and could influence population dynamics. Here, we tested the hypothesis that <i>A. ornata</i> recognizes <i>A. coerulea</i> as prey and exhibits high predation potential on introduced polyp populations. We conducted four experiments to: (1) determine whether nudibranchs can detect and locate jellyfish polyps as prey, (2) test whether nudibranchs show any preference between non-native jellyfish polyps and a confirmed native prey, (3) assess the relationship between nudibranch size and the number of jellyfish polyps consumed, and (4) evaluate whether nudibranchs can survive and grow on an exclusive diet of jellyfish polyps. Nudibranchs located their prey and began feeding within 14 ± 6 min, showing clear predatory behavior, and consumed up to 197 jellyfish polyps predator⁻¹ day⁻¹, with feeding rate strongly correlated with body size. Furthermore, nudibranchs grew an average of 9.8 ± 5.2 mm in length and 334.7 ± 184.8 mg in weight over 3 weeks, confirming their ability to survive and sustain growth on an exclusive diet of jellyfish polyps. These findings suggest that <i>A. ornata</i> recognizes <i>A. coerulea</i> polyps as prey and could likely play an important ecological role in regulating introduced <i>A. coerulea</i> polyp populations in southern Australia.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49883,"journal":{"name":"Marine Ecology-An Evolutionary Perspective","volume":"46 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145848122","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microhabitat Selection and Agonistic Interactions Determine Habitat Partitioning in Sympatric Territorial Damselfish","authors":"Tania González-Mendoza,&nbsp;Omar Valencia-Méndez,&nbsp;Luis E. Calderon-Aguilera,&nbsp;Francisco Medellín-Maldonado,&nbsp;Andrés López-Pérez,&nbsp;Rosalía Aguilar-Medrano","doi":"10.1111/maec.70058","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/maec.70058","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Habitat partitioning reduces competition among ecologically similar species and promotes their coexistence within the same environment. In this study, we evaluated the abundance, microhabitat use, reef occupancy, spatial overlap, and agonistic interactions of the sympatric territorial damselfishes <i>Stegastes acapulcoensis</i> and <i>Stegastes flavilatus</i> at La Entrega reef, Oaxaca, Mexico. Using visual censuses, habitat characterizations, in situ observations, and non-invasive video recordings, we found that <i>S. acapulcoensis</i> exhibited higher abundance than <i>S. flavilatus</i> across all reef zones. Both species exhibited clear habitat partitioning along the reef zones, with <i>S. acapulcoensis</i> occupying sites with high percentages of live coral and algae, as well as large shelters, while <i>S. flavilatus</i> used sites characterized by high rugosity and the presence of rock, sand, and rubble. Although <i>S. flavilatus</i> defended larger territories than <i>S. acapulcoensis</i> (6.6 ± 4.9 m² vs. 4.5 ± 1.5 m², respectively), <i>S. acapulcoensis</i> occupied a greater proportion of the reef area (58% vs. 18%). Spatial overlap between species was limited (10%–25%) but increased up to 40% among individuals of size class III in the deep zone, where the availability of preferred microhabitats for both species was substantially lower. Both species displayed a higher frequency of agonistic interactions toward conspecifics; however, interspecific interactions increased in the deep zone. Our results suggest that the spatial partitioning of <i>S. acapulcoensis</i> and <i>S. flavilatus</i> is driven by differences in microhabitat selection, resulting in relatively low spatial overlap and predominantly intraspecific aggression. Our findings show that the fine-scale selection of species-specific microhabitats and interspecific agonistic interactions drive spatial segregation and maintain ecological differentiation between <i>S. acapulcoensis</i> and <i>S. flavilatus</i>, thereby promoting their coexistence even in overlapping reef zones within structurally complex systems.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49883,"journal":{"name":"Marine Ecology-An Evolutionary Perspective","volume":"46 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145686152","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Moon Phases Influence Posthatch Resting Behavior in Loggerhead Sea Turtle Hatchlings","authors":"Avery I. Clabough,&nbsp;Haobo Ma,&nbsp;Erin B. D. Clabough","doi":"10.1111/maec.70063","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/maec.70063","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Sea turtles face numerous threats during their lifetimes, particularly at nesting sites, where egg development and hatchling emergence are critical periods for conservation. This study investigates the influence of moon phases on loggerhead sea turtle (<i>Caretta caretta</i>) hatchling behavior, specifically examining the patterns of emergence and the lengths of hatching and posthatch periods. Utilizing remote monitoring data from 39 nests along the Hatteras National Seashore collected over multiple nesting seasons, we analyzed the relationship between moon phases and hatchling emergence dynamics. Our findings indicate that moon phase does not significantly affect the total number of hatchlings emerging in a single night or the duration of the hatching period. However, we observed a significant effect of moon phase on the length of the posthatch resting phase, with hatchlings emerging more quickly during waning moon phases compared to waxing phases, suggesting that lunar phase may influence the timing of hatchling emergence. These results describe a novel environmental influence in coordinating emergence and contribute to our understanding of the behavioral ecology of sea turtle hatchlings. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms by which hatchlings perceive lunar cues and how these might interact with other environmental factors.</p>","PeriodicalId":49883,"journal":{"name":"Marine Ecology-An Evolutionary Perspective","volume":"46 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/maec.70063","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145686493","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing the Diversity of Decapods (Crustacea: Malacostraca) With Environmental DNA (eDNA) in Coastal Water of Matang, Perak, Malaysia","authors":"Chuan-Hui Lim,&nbsp;Sze-Looi Song,&nbsp;Zulqarnain Bin Mohamed,&nbsp;Muhammad Fadhli Mat Sobri,&nbsp;Azmi Marzuki Muda,&nbsp;Saifullah Arifin Jaaman","doi":"10.1111/maec.70060","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/maec.70060","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Decapods play vital ecological and economic roles, yet their diversity and distribution in the coastal waters of Matang remain poorly understood. Increasing anthropogenic pressures have further impacted their habitats, underscoring the need for improved biodiversity assessments. Conventional monitoring methods are often limited by inconsistencies, invasiveness, low taxonomic resolution, and inefficiency in complex habitats. This study evaluated the effectiveness of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding to assess decapod diversity in Matang waters. A total of 136 seawater samples were collected from predefined zones between October 2021 and October 2022. DNA was extracted using the CTAB method, and a partial mitochondrial cytochrome <i>c</i> oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene region was amplified. The amplicons were sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq platform. This approach identified 12 decapod species from six families: Penaeidae (3 species), Lucideridae (1 species), Sergestidae (3 species), Dotillidae (1 species), Pilumnidae (1 species), and Diogenidae (3 species). Dominant species included <i>Acetes japonicus</i> (46%), <i>Acetes indicus</i> (27%), and <i>Diogenes fasciatus</i> (10.9%). Notably, eight species matched records from previous conventional surveys, while four additional taxa: 2 <i>Diogenes</i> spp. (<i>Diogenes fasciatus</i>, <i>Diogenes rectimanus</i>), a Dotillidae crab (<i>Ilyoplax serrata</i>), and a Pilumnidae crab (<i>Aniptumnus</i> sp.) were newly detected in the area. These findings indicate that decapod richness in Matang is likely underestimated. In summary, eDNA metabarcoding offers a promising, non-invasive alternative for biodiversity monitoring in dynamic environments and complements traditional methods. This study establishes a foundation for long-term decapod monitoring and supports conservation efforts in the Matang region.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49883,"journal":{"name":"Marine Ecology-An Evolutionary Perspective","volume":"46 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145626400","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Habitat Disconnectivity and Oceanographic Regimes Drive the Complicated Genetic Structure of the Mudflats Crab Leptochryseus kuwaitense Along the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman","authors":"Sedigh Azizi,&nbsp;Adnan Shahdadi,&nbsp;Benny K. K. Chan,&nbsp;Mohammad Sharif Ranjbar,&nbsp;Reza Naderloo","doi":"10.1111/maec.70061","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/maec.70061","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Intertidal mudflats are highly productive ecosystems and contribute significantly to the coastal dynamics in the northwestern Indian Ocean. The endemic to the northwestern Indian Ocean crab, <i>Leptochryseus kuwaitense</i>, is the predominant species in this ecosystem and is responsible for most bioturbation through burrow construction. The present study aims to investigate the phylogeography of <i>L. kuwaitense</i> by collecting samples from five localities along the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, using COX1 sequences and geometric-morphometric analyses. Phylogeographic analyses revealed some degrees of genetic differentiation among the five localities, but did not detect any obvious geographic pattern, and no isolation was recovered between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Morphometric analysis also revealed no notable differences in shape between the two gulfs. This pattern of population structure is likely due to the disconnection between the sheltered mudflats, the typical habitat of <i>L</i>. <i>kuwaitense</i>, along the studied localities. The lack of geographic pattern in the genetic structure is probably imposed by the complex surface currents in this area. Demographic results indicate a recent population expansion for <i>L</i>. <i>kuwaitense</i> along the northwestern Indian Ocean. The Bayesian Skyline Plot revealed that the increase in effective population size happened during the last glacial maximum, through which a large proportion of mudflats in the northwestern Indian Ocean were unsuitable for this crab.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49883,"journal":{"name":"Marine Ecology-An Evolutionary Perspective","volume":"46 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145619173","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Not All Aliens Come to Harm (Maybe): Pinctada radiata (Leach, 1814) Population and Habitat From a Coastal Lagoon (Central Mediterranean Sea)","authors":"Claudio D'Iglio,&nbsp;Gioele Capillo,&nbsp;Dario Di Fresco,&nbsp;Sergio Famulari,&nbsp;Marco Albano,&nbsp;Damir Valić,&nbsp;Nunziacarla Spanò,&nbsp;Serena Savoca","doi":"10.1111/maec.70062","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/maec.70062","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Pinctada radiata,</i> Leach, 1814, is considered the first Indo-Pacific bivalve introduced in the Mediterranean Sea after the Suez Canal opening and it is now reckoned among the 100 most invasive species within the basin. It is important to assess and describe its established populations in Mediterranean coastal ecosystems to understand the dynamics of this successful invasion and its adaptability. Present research aims to describe the population of <i>P. radiata</i> inhabiting the Capo Peloro Coastal Lagoon (Central Mediterranean Sea, Italy) also analyzing morphometric relationships and growth dynamics. Visual monitoring was carried out along the infralittoral fringe of the Faro Lake and the Faro Canal. Three representative sites have been chosen to investigate their distribution, abundance and associated habitats using the visual census technique, and performing seven strip transects, parallel to the coastline and with constant depth. All the <i>P. radiata</i> specimens present have been counted and 115 individuals have been randomly sampled during the entire study period. Several morphometric measurements have been recorded for morphometric relationships and growth dynamic analyses, assessing the growth indexes, natural mortality parameters and recruitment patterns. Results showed the presence of a mature <i>P. radiata</i> population, organized in banks and patches, confirming the ability of this species to widely colonize the host environments. The information on morphometric relations and growth dynamics showed that the studied area can promote the growth and the well-being of this species. Future studies are needed to fully understand the negative or positive effects of the spreading of this species.</p>","PeriodicalId":49883,"journal":{"name":"Marine Ecology-An Evolutionary Perspective","volume":"46 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/maec.70062","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145572280","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Presence of the Non-Indigenous Copepod Pseudodiaptomus marinus Sato, 1913 in the Stomach Content of Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum, 1792)","authors":"Martha Syrri,&nbsp;Polyxeni Kourkoutmani,&nbsp;Paraskevi K. Karachle,&nbsp;Evangelia Michaloudi","doi":"10.1111/maec.70057","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/maec.70057","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The increasing presence of non-indigenous species (NIS) in marine ecosystems, particularly copepods, poses significant ecological questions concerning their integration into local food webs. This study presents the first record of the NIS <i>Pseudodiaptomus marinus</i> in the diet of <i>Sardina pilchardus</i> (European sardine) in the Mediterranean Sea, based on stomach content analysis of individuals collected from Thermaikos Gulf. Out of the 174 sardines examined, <i>P. marinus</i> was found in five of the stomachs, all during spring. All fish individuals that were found to have consumed <i>P. marinus</i> were males, at a 2–3 sexual maturity stage and their stomachs were full according to the Lebedev index. The findings suggest that this NIS copepod may already be contributing to the diet of native pelagic fish, highlighting potential ecological implications including trophic integration and shifts in prey dynamics. The selective absence of <i>P. marinus</i> in anchovy (<i>Engraulis encrasicolus</i>) diets, despite overlapping ecological niches, raises further questions about prey selection mechanisms and diel feeding behavior. These findings underscore the importance of monitoring NIS within zooplankton communities to assess their long-term impact on food web dynamics and fisheries in the Mediterranean Sea.</p>","PeriodicalId":49883,"journal":{"name":"Marine Ecology-An Evolutionary Perspective","volume":"46 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/maec.70057","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145521787","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}