ISSN: 0001-5113 ACTA ADRIAT., ORIGINAL SCIENTIFIC PAPER AADRAY 58(2): 347 - 358, 2017 Progress in Mediterranean bioinvasions two years after the Suez Canal enlargement Argyro ZENETOS Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, 19003 Anavissos, Greece Corresponding author, e-mail:
[email protected] The possibility that the recent expansion of the Suez Canal could trigger an entirely new twenty first century wave of invasions was investigated. Results showed that only 19 new alien species were detected after August 2015 (date of the last Suez Canal enlargement). Five of the newcomers have already established viable populations. Between August 2015 and August 2017 approximately 9,5 new species (mostly fish) entered the Mediterranean annually, 7 of them via the Suez Canal unaided. The next most important pathway is Transport - Stowaway: Shipping, while intentional releases from aquaria appear to play an impor- tant role. Our results confirm previous findings on the decreasing rate of introductions, which is not affected by the recent expansion of the Suez Canal. Conclusively, the rate of bio invasions via the Suez Canal has not “doubled” as anticipated but rather decreased in relation to previous years. Key words: Alien species, Suez Canal, Internet screening INTRODUCTION However, a recent study revealed that from 2011 to 2016, the annual rate of MAS introductions It has been well documented that the Suez in the Mediterranean has decreased regardless Canal is the main pathway of Marine Alien of the pathway (ZENETOS et al., 2017). GALIL et al. species (MAS) introductions into the Mediterra- (2015) claimed that the recent expansion of the nean Sea (POR, 1978; GALIL, 2006; RILOV & GALIL, Suez Canal could trigger an entirely new twenty 2009; ZENETOS et al., 2012; KATSANEVAKIS et al., first century wave of invasions through a next- 2013; NUNES et al., 2013).