EXOTIC SPECIES IN THE AEGEAN, MARMARA, BLACK, AZOV AND CASPIAN SEAS Edited by Yuvenaly ZAITSEV and Bayram OZTURK EXOTIC SPECIES IN THE AEGEAN, MARMARA, BLACK, AZOV AND CASPIAN SEAS All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior permission from the Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TUDAV) Copyright :T0rk Deniz Arastirmalan Vakfi (Turkish Marine Research Foundation) ISBN :975-97132-2-5 This publication should be cited as follows: Zaitsev Yu. and Oztiirk B.(Eds) Exotic Species in the Aegean, Marmara, Black, Azov and Caspian Seas. Published by Turkish Marine Research Foundation, Istanbul, TURKEY, 2001, 267 pp. Tiirk Deniz Arastirmalan Vakfi (TUDAV) P.K 10 Beykoz-iSTANBUL-TURKEY Tel:0216 424 07 72 Fax:0216 424 07 71 E-mail :[email protected] http://www.tudav.org Printed by Otis Gratlk Matbaa A.$. / Istanbul -Tel: 0212 266 54 56 Contributors Prof. Abdul Guseinali Kasymov, Caspian Biological Station, Institute of Zoology, Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences. Baku, Azerbaijan Dr. Ahmet Kideys, Middle East Technical University, Erdemli.icel, Turkey Dr. Ahmet. N. Tarkan, University of Istanbul, Faculty of Fisheries. Istanbul, Turkey. Prof. Bayram Ozturk, University of Istanbul, Faculty of Fisheries and Turkish Marine Research Foundation, Istanbul, Turkey. Dr. Boris Alexandrov, Odessa Branch, Institute of Biology of Southern Seas, National Academy of Ukraine. Odessa, Ukraine. Dr. Firdauz Shakirova, National Institute of Deserts, Flora and Fauna, Ministry of Nature Use and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Dr. Galina Minicheva, Odessa Branch, Institute of Biology of Southern Seas, National Academy of Ukraine. Odessa, Ukraine. Mrs. Ludmila Terenko, Odessa Branch, Institute of Biology of Southern Seas, National Academy of Ukraine. Odessa, Ukraine. Dr. Ludmila Vorobyova, Odessa Branch, Institute of Biology of Southern Seas, National Academy of Ukraine. Odessa, Ukraine. Dr. Nuri Basusta, Mustafa Kemal University, Faculty of Fisheries . Hatay, Turkey. Dr. Veysel Aysel, Aegean University, Science Faculty. Izmir, Turkey. Prof. Yuvenaly Zaitsev, Odessa Branch, Institute of Biology of Southern Seas, National Academy of Ukraine. Odessa, Ukraine. Acknowledgments We are very grateful to all our colleagues and friends, marine biologists, whose materials have been used in this book. We are grateful to Dr. Ayaka Amaha Oztiirk for her valuable comments and to Ann Alexandrova for the coloured cover page. CONTENTS Page Executive Summary 6 Introduction and General Remarks 9 Chapter 1. The Aegean Sea Physical Geography, Biology, Ecology Ю Exotic species 'J Plants Achanthophora muscoides 'J Caulerpa racemosa С odium fragile 16 Gunonemafarinosum Laurencia intermedia '9 Invertebrates Callinectes sapidus 20 Mnemiopsis leidyi Rapana ihomasiana 23 Fishes Alepes djeddaba A therinamorus lacunosus • • • 26 Gambusia qffinis holhrooki Hemiramphus far 29 Lagocephalus spadiceus J0 Leiognathus klunzingeri 32 Liza carinata -3-3 Mugil soiuy J5 Parexocoetus mentu 36 Pempheris vanicolensis J° Sargocentron rubrum J9 Saurida undosquamis Scomberomorus commerson 42 Siganus luridus Siganus rivulatus 46 Sphyraena chrysotaenia 47 Siephanolepis diaspros 49 Upeneus moluccensis 50 Additional Information to Chapter 1 53 Chapter 2. The Sea of Marmara Physical Geography, Biology, Ecology 57 Exotic species 60 2 Page Plants Rhizosolenia calcar-avis 60 Invertebrates Anadara inaequivalvis 61 My a ar anuria 62 Marsupenaeusjaponicus 63 Mnemiopsis leidyi 64 Rapana thomasiana 66 Sir pus zaric/ieyi 67 Teredo navalis 67 Fishes Gambusia affinis holbrooki 69 Mugil soiuy 70 Additional Information to Chapter 2 72 Chapter 3. The Black Sea Physical Geography, Biology, Ecology 73 79 Exotic species Plants Alexandrium monilatum 79 Desntarestia viridis 81 Gymnodinium uberrinnim 82 Mantoniella squaniata 84 Phaeocystis poucheltii 86 Rhizosolenia calcar-avis 88 Invertebrates Acartia tonsa 89 Anadara inaequivalvis 92 Balanus eburneus Balanus improvisus 95 Beroe cucumis 98 Blackfordia virginica 101 Callinectes sapidus 103 Crassostrea gigas 104 Doridella obscura 106 Eriocheir sinensis 108 Hesionides arenarius 109 Mercierella enigmalica Ill Mnemiopsis leidyi 113 My a arenaria 117 Perigonimus megas 119 3 Page Potamopyrgus jenkinsi 121 Rapana thomasiana 122 Rithropanopaeus harrisii tridentata 125 Teredo navalis 126 Urnatella gracilis 128 Fishes Gambusia affinis holbrooki 130 Hypophthalmichthys molytrix 131 Lepomis gibbosus 132 Mugil soiuy 134 Additional Information to Chapter 3 136 Chapter 4. The Sea of Azov Physical Geography, Biology, Ecology 139 Exotic species '43 Plants Rhizosolenia calcar-avis 143 Invertebrates Anadara inaequivalvis 145 Balanus improvisus 146 Beroe cucumis '48 Callinectes sapidus 149 Doridella obscura 150 Mercierella enigmalica 152 Mnemiopsis leidyi 153 My a ar en aria 155 Perigonimus megas 156 Rapana thomasiana 158 Rithropanopaeus harrisii tridentatus 159 Teredo navalis 161 Urnatella gracilis 162 Fishes Mugil soiuy '63 Additional Information to Chapter 4 165 Chapter 5. The Caspian Sea 167 Physical Geography, Biology, Ecology 167 Exotic species 171 Plants Rhizosolenia calcar-avis 171 Invertebrates Acartia clausi Balanus eburneus 173 4 Page Balanus improvisus '^5 l in Barenlsia benedeni 1,1 Blackfordia virginica Conopeum seurati '80 Corrophium volutator loz Hypanis colorata 1OJ Mercierella enigmalica '85 Moerizia maeotica ' ^6 Mytillaster lineatits Nereis diversicolor Palaemon adspersus Palaemon elegans Pentacoelum caspicum ' ^ 1Q7 Perigonimus megas 171 Pleopis polyphemoides Rithropanopaeus harrisii tridentatus 201 Tenellia adspersa 203 Fishes Liza aurata Liza saliens 206 Additional Information to Chapter 5 208 910 Discussion Glossary Index References 5 Executive Summary The geographic chain of intercontinental Eurasian seas, namely the Aegean Sea, the Sea of Marmara, the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov, and the Caspian Sea (the abbreviation AMBACS for this system of seas is proposed), bordering on one side the South-Eastern Europe, on the other side the Asia Minor and the Middle Asia, was investigated in the aspect of man-induced exotic (non-native) species. Some part of these species (the most of them) were introduced accidentally by ships or other kinds of human activities, and others were purposely released commercially important species. The majority of the Aegean Sea exotics are originated from the Indo- Pacific-and penetrated into the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and the Aegean Sea through the Suez Canal. Since it is an artificial canal, the species migrating by this way are considered as accidentally man-induced organisms. The Sea of Marmara is under a strong influence of water current from the Black Sea and its exotics are basically of Black Sea origin. The Black and Azov Seas are populated by exotics of different origins, but the main donor area is the Boreal Atlantic Ocean. For the Caspian Sea, which was connected to the Sea of Azov by the Volga-Don Canal opened in 1952, practically the only source of accidental introduction of exotic species, the origins of its exotic species are the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. By the year 2000, the total number of exotic organisms, accidentally and intentionally introduced into the considered system of seas and its coastal wetlands is 18 species of plants, 79 species of invertebrates, 43 species of fish, and 6 species of marine mammals. As to phyletic diversity, out of 22 divisions (phyla) of plants, representatives of 8 divisions are in the list of exotic species in the AMBACS system, and out of 35 marine animal phyla, representatives of 9 phyla were introduced in to the same seas. Behavioral changes of exotics in new habitats are discussed. It is underlined that the food chains of introduced species in new habitats are, as a rule, shorter and simpler than in original areas. It especially concerns the last links- secondary and tertiary consumers, which are lacking in new habitats. Therefore newly introduced species are commonly free for unlimited growth of population as long as an antagonistic species does appear. So, a priori, the impact of a potential settler on native species is unknown and unpredictable, because its behavior in a new habitat can change for worse. On account of this, a concept like " not to allow the penetration of exotic harmful species" is, in essence, scientifically incorrect with the exception of pathogenies, there are no harmful plant or animal species a priori. The only thing to do is to put an end to the introduction of all non- native species. The entry mechanisms of exotic species, connected with human activities, are diverse. Among them there are shipping activities concerned with ballast waters, sediments, and hull's fouling, construction of shipping canals, introduction of non- target species with deliberately released commercial invertebrates and fish, and escaping from aquaria. As to the chronology of introductions, it is noted, that the oldest settler can be to be considered the shipworm Teredo navalis, which was introduced anciently by navigators, but the peak of the introduction of exotics was the 20th century, and especially in the second half. The analysis of existing data shows that the sensitivity of different seas to exotics' invasions is functions of its biological diversity. A high biological diversity corresponds to a low share (percent) of introduced exotic species and vice versa, an area with low biological diversity, inhabited by many relic and endemic