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North Aegean Sea, Greece) with Emphasis on New Species for Hellenic Waters

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North Aegean Sea, Greece) with Emphasis on New Species for Hellenic Waters Journal of Biological Research-Thessaloniki 14: 161 – 179, 2010 J. Biol. Res.-Thessalon. is available online at http://www.jbr.gr Indexed in: WoS (Web of Science, ISI Thomson), SCOPUS, CAS (Chemical Abstracts Service) and DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals) The Bivalvia Mollusca of Thessaloniki & Thermaikos Gulfs (North Aegean Sea, Greece) with emphasis on new species for Hellenic waters Thanasis MANOUSIS1, George MPARDAKIS2, Constantinos PARASKEVOPOULOS2 and Sofia GALINOU-MITSOUDI2* 1 P.O. Box 48K, Epanomi 575 00, Greece 2 Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Department of Fisheries & Aquaculture Technology, 632 00 Nea Moudania, Chalkidiki, Greece Received: 9 July 2009 Accepted after revision: 31 March 2010 The marine molluscan bivalve fauna of Thessaloniki Gulf (Thessaloniki Bay included) and Ther- maikos Gulf was investigated and collected by diving and trawling during the period from March 2005 to October 2008, after three decades from the completion of the previous relevant study. 188 species belonging to 48 families were identified and their biodiversity was compared with the current checklists of marine molluscs for Northern Aegean Sea and Hellenic seas based on pre- vious surveys. In this bivalve collection nine species are new for the Greek fauna, 18 are new for N Aegean Sea and six of them represent lessepsian migrants from the Red Sea (all of them new for the Hellenic waters). The occurrence of new species for the study area and Hellenic seas is discussed. Key words: molluscs, marine bivalves, invasive species, Thermaikos Gulf, North Aegean Sea. INTRODUCTION Thessaloniki Gulf (Thessaloniki Bay included) and Thermaikos Gulf (NW Aegean Sea) are referred The Mediterranean Sea comprises less than 1% in generally as Thermaikos Gulf by numerous papers surface area and volume as compared with the world oceans but yet includes a total of around 8500 species and comprise one of the most complicated and mul- of macroscopic organisms, which indicates a rich bio- ti-used ecosystems of the E Mediterranean Sea since diversity (Bianchi & Morri, 2000). This could be ex- i) it receives an input of nutrient-rich freshwater from plained by its geological history (Maldonado, 1985; five rivers and some protected wetlands (Ramsar Ruffel, 1997) and the conspicuous ecological and hy- convention and Natura 2000 network) resulting in drological differences in various localities (Sará, very high productivity and biodiversity of its coastal 1985). Moreover, biodiversity, mainly in ∂ Mediter- waters, ii) it is a main navigation line leading to the ranean Sea –close to the Suez Canal– and the Strait city of Thessaloniki and iii) it is affected by human of Gibraltar, has undergone modifications during re- activities in all its coastal zone (i.e. urbanization, agri- cent decades, following the introduction of non-in- culture, fisheries, mussel farming and recreation). digenous species, attributed to the expansion of ship- Currently, Thermaikos and Thessaloniki Gulfs are ping traffic, aquaculture activities and migration (Por, considered as a sensitive ecosystem (and rather is), 1978, 1990; Galil & Zenetos, 2002; Streftaris et al., according to the term “sensitive” that has been preci- 2005). sely defined by Hiscock & Tyler-Walters (2006) and Tyler-Walters et al. (2009). For such an ecosystem, al- * Corresponding author: tel.: +30 23730 26457, fax: +30 though there are numerous environmental investiga- 23730 26450, e-mail: [email protected] tions, only a few are referred to its fauna and even to 161 162 Thanasis Manousis et al. — The Bivalvia Mollusca of Thessaloniki & Thermaikos Gulfs its bivalve molluscs exclusively, i.e. Sakellariou (1957), MATERIALS AND METHODS Zenetos (1996) and Zenetos et al. (2005). Research Sampling of live, mainly, specimens was conducted in over the last 50 years on the benthic fauna of Ther- the coastal areas of Thessaloniki Bay, Thessaloniki maikos gulf has revealed the presence of several bi- Gulf and Thermaikos Gulf (NW Aegean sea, Gree- valve species (Zarkanellas, 1980; Antoniadou et al., ce) (Fig. 1) during the period from 2005 to 2008. The 2004). samples were collected by a) a van Veen type grab of The main goals of this study are: a) to contribute a 1000 cm2 sampled surface (all stations), b) a profes- to the knowledge of bivalve biodiversity with an up- sional (traditional) shell fisheries dredge (130 cm wi- dated catalogue of bivalve species of Thermaikos de, nylon drag net of 2.2 cm mesh) (stations C, D, E, Gulf, b) to compare the present biological diversity of H, I), c) a professional trawl (station area S) and d) the area with that recorded in publications of the past snorkeling (stations K, L, M, N). Species were colle- and c) to improve our knowledge on the distribution cted by sieving the soft substrate through a 5 mm, a 2 and expansion of invasive bivalve species. This pur- mm and a 0.5 mm mesh sieve. After rinsing with fresh pose was facilitated by the use of i) several books, at- water, shells were treated with 25% glycerin in etha- lases and on-line services, such as Oliver (1992), Pop- nol and stored at room temperature. All species col- pe & Goto (1993), Giannuzzi-Savelli et al. (2001), Ca- lected were accompanied by data regarding synonyms, chia et al. (2004), Doneddu & Trainito (2005), Repet- shell sizes, habitat characters and collection depths and to et al. (2005), Delamotte & Vardala-Theodorou dates. The nomenclature followed in this study was (2008), ELNAIS (https://services.ath.hcmr.gr/spec) and that of European Register of Marine Species (ERMS) Natuurhistorisch Museum Rotterdam (www.nmr-pics.nl), (www.marbef.org) and the species recognition was based ii) faunistic and review articles (i.e. Salas, 1996; De- on systematic guides and atlases listed in References. mir, 2003; Gofas & Salas, 2008) and iii) relevant stud- For the species nomenclature update (30 November ies of the Mollusca fauna in Hellenic areas (i.e. Zene- 2009) beside the ERMS, the CLEMAM on-line Da- tos et al., 2005, 2007, 2009a; Ovalis & Zenetos, 2007). tabase was used. The specimens are deposited in the FIG. 1. Map of the study area: 1. Thessa- loniki Bay (stations F and G); 2. Thessa- loniki Gulf (stations D, E, H and I); 3. Thermaikos Gulf (stations A-C, J-R and S). Collection stations: A. Scala Litocho- rou; B. Kitros; C. Axios River Estuaries; D. Chalastra; E. Naziki; F. Paliomana; G. Micro Emvolo; H. MACEDONIA Airport; I. Ajia Triada; J. Aggelohori; K. Palioura; L. Paralia; M. Cape of Epanomi; N. Pota- mos; O. Nea Kallikratia; P. Nea Mouda- nia; Q. Sani; R. Poseidi; S. Trawled area. w. Wetlands. TABLE 1. Bivalvia species in a taxonomic order and their occurrence in the collection stations: A. Scala Litochorou; B. Kitros; C. Axios River Estuaries; D. Chalastra; E. Naziki; F. Paliomana; G. Micro Emvolo; H. MACEDONIA Airport; I. Ajia Triada; J. Aggelohori; K. Palioura; L. Paralia; M. Cape of Epanomi; N. Potamos; O. Nea Kallikratia; P. Nea Mouda- nia; Q. Sani; R. Poseidi; S. Trawled area. The substrate type is indicated by (M): Muddy; (S): Sandy; (SM): sandy and muddy. *indicates new species for N Aegean Sea and **new species for Hellenic waters. Thessaloniki Bay: stations F and G; Thessaloniki Gulf: stations D, E, H and I; Thermaikos Gulf: stations A-C, J-R and S A. (S)B. (SM) 6-12 8-15 C. (SM) 5-10 D. (SM) 5-12 E. (M) 4-8 F. (M) 8-10 G. (M) 3-10 H. (M) 5-13 I. (SM) 5-10 J. (SM) 8-12 K. (SM) 3-10 L. (SM) 3-8 M. (SM) 2-10 N. (S) 2-20 O. (SM) 6-11 P. (SM) 4-10 Q. (SM) 5-10 R. (S) 4-10 S. (M) 30-40 STATION Thanasis Manousisetal. —TheBivalviaMolluscaofThessaloniki&ThermaikosGulfs (SUBSTRATE TYPE) Depth (m) FAMILY Species SOLEMYIDAE Solemya togata (Poli 1795) +++ NUCULIDAE Nucula nitidosa Winckworth 1930 +++++ + Nucula nucleus (Linné 1758) ++++ Nucula sulcata Bronn 1831 ++++ NUCULANIDAE **Nuculana pella (Linné 1767) +++ Nuculana illirica Carrozza 1987 + ARCIDAE Anadara polii (Mayer 1868) + Anadara transversa (Say 1822) +++ ++ + Arca noae Linné 1758 +++ + ++ + + Arca tetragona Poli 1795 + Asperarca nodulosa (Müler 1776) ++ + Barbatia barbata (Linné 1758) ++ + + + Barbatia clathrata (Defrance 1816) + NOETIIDAE Striarca lactea (Linné 1758) +++ + + ++ GLYCYMERIDIDAE Glycymeris bimaculata (Poli 1795) + Glycymeris glycymeris (Linné 1758) ++ + Glycymeris violacescens (Lamarck 1819) ++ + MYTILIDAE Gregariella petagnae (Scacchi 1832) ++++ Gregariella semigranata (Reeve 1858) + Lithophaga lithophaga (Linné 1758) ++ Modiolarca subpicta (Cartaine 1835) + Modiolula phaseolina (Philippi 1844) ++ + 163 Modiolus adriaticus (Lamarck 1819) + 164 TABLE 1. Continued A. (S)B. (SM) 6-12 8-15 C. (SM) 5-10 D. (SM) 5-12 E. (M) 4-8 F. (M) 8-10 G. (M) 3-10 H. (M) 5-13 I. (SM) 5-10 J. (SM) 8-12 K. (SM) 3-10 L. (SM) 3-8 M. (SM) 2-10 N. (S) 2-20 O. (SM) 6-11 P. (SM) 4-10 Q. (SM) 5-10 R. (S) 4-10 S. (M) 30-40 STATION (SUBSTRATE TYPE) Thanasis Manousisetal. —TheBivalviaMolluscaofThessaloniki&ThermaikosGulfs Depth (m) FAMILY Species Modiolus barbatus (Linné 1758) ++++++++++ + Musculus discors (Linné 1767) + Musculus costulatus (Risso 1826) ++++ ++ + *Mytilaster lineatus (Gmelin 1791) + *Mytilaster marioni (Locard 1889) + Mytilaster minimus (Poli 1795) + Mytilus edulis Linné 1758 + Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck 1819 ++ +++++++++++ + + PINNIDAE Atrina pectinata (Linné 1767) + Pinna nobilis Linné 1758 ++ ++++ + PTERIIDAE Pinctada radiata (Leach 1814) ++ Pteria hirundo (Linné 1758) ++ + PECTINIDAE Aequipecten opercularis (Linné 1758) +++ Chlamys flexuosa (Poli 1795) + Chlamys glabra (Linné 1758) ++++++++++ + Chlamys pesfelis (Linné 1758) ++ Chlamys proteus (Dillwyn 1817) ++ Chlamys varia (Linné 1758) ++ +++++ + +++ Crassadoma multistriata (Poli 1795) ++ + Delectopecten vitreus (Gmelin 1791) + Lissopecten hyalinus (Poli 1795) ++ Palliolum incomparabile (Risso 1826) + Pecten jacobeus (Linné 1758) ++ + + Pseudamussium clavatum (Poli 1795) + Similipecten similis (Laskey 1811) + TABLE 1. Continued A. (S)B. (SM) 6-12 8-15 C. (SM) 5-10 D. (SM) 5-12 E. (M) 4-8 F. (M) 8-10 G. (M) 3-10 H. (M) 5-13 I.
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