Petra LUČIĆ, NEJAŠMIĆ J., CVJETAN S., DESPALATOVIĆ M., CVITKOVIĆ I.,
ŽULJEVIĆ A.
Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Split, Croatia.
E-mail: lucic@izor.hr
FIRST RECORD OF THE NON-INDIGENOUS BROWN ALGA
STYPOPODIUM SCHIMPERI IN THE ADRIATIC SEA
Abstract
The Indo-Pacific brown alga Stypopodium schimperi (Kützing) Verlaque & Boudouresque 1991, was
introduced into the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal. Initially mistaken for other species, it is
uncertain which is the first record for the Mediterranean Sea, probably in 1973 in Israel as Spatoglossum
asperum. Today, S. schimperi is widely distributed in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, where
it is considered an invasive species. In this study, we report the first record of Stypopodium schimperi in
the Adriatic Sea, and the northernmost record for the Mediterranean Sea to date. Morphological
analysis and DNA barcoding based on chloroplast regions rbcL, psbA, and psaA confirmed species
identification. Our finding indicates exceptional spreading dynamics and high invasive character of S.
schimperi in the environment of the central Adriatic Sea. With high annual increase in coverage, high
biomass, total substrate overgrowth and large dimensions of the thalli, this species has the potential to
become one of the most invasive benthic non-indigenous species in the Adriatic Sea but also in the
western part of the Mediterranean Sea, once it arrives in this region.
Key-words: Adriatic Sea, Stypopodium schimperi, invasive species, marine macrophytes
Introduction
Stypopodium schimperi (Kützing) Verlaque & Boudouresque, 1991 is a brown alga of
Indo-Pacific origin. It is a Lessepsian migrant species and was most likely detected
initially in Israel in 1973 as Spatoglossum asperum (Verlaque et al., 2015). To date, S.
schimperi has been commonly recorded in the eastern and central Mediterranean,
including the Aegean and Ionian Seas of Greece (Verlaque & Boudouresque, 1991;
Verlaque et al., 2015). The species has become abundant along the Levantine coasts and
occurs from the surface to a depth of 45 m. Moreover, based on expert opinions and visual
observations, it is considered an invasive species (Boudouresque & Verlaque, 2002; Bitar
et al., 2017). Here, we present the first record of S. schimperi in the Adriatic Sea
(September 2020, Vis Island) and provide evidence of its high invasiveness.
Materials and methods
Ten transects were conducted in Komiža Bay (Vis Island, Adriatic Sea) via SCUBA diving
to define the abundance and spatial and bathymetric distribution of S. schimperi from the time
of its initial observation until May 2022. Specimens were collected for morphological and
molecular analysis. To analyze the algal coverage, a total of 33 photoquadrat images of the
rocky bottom (area of 50 x 50 cm) between 8 m and 12 m were collected (three photos taken
every 10 m) along a 100 m long and 10 m deep transect. The average percent cover (25%,
50%, 75% and 100%) per species was estimated for each of the six sub-quadrats (digitally
divided for each photograph) (Bianchi et al., 2004). Three plastid genes, psbA, psaA and
rbcL, were used for DNA barcoding. The obtained sequences were compared with the S.
schimperi sequences recovered from GenBank.
2nd Mediterranean Symposium on the Non-Indigenous Species (Genoa, Italy, 22-23 September 2022)
103
ŽULJEVIĆ A.
Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Split, Croatia.
E-mail: lucic@izor.hr
FIRST RECORD OF THE NON-INDIGENOUS BROWN ALGA
STYPOPODIUM SCHIMPERI IN THE ADRIATIC SEA
Abstract
The Indo-Pacific brown alga Stypopodium schimperi (Kützing) Verlaque & Boudouresque 1991, was
introduced into the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal. Initially mistaken for other species, it is
uncertain which is the first record for the Mediterranean Sea, probably in 1973 in Israel as Spatoglossum
asperum. Today, S. schimperi is widely distributed in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, where
it is considered an invasive species. In this study, we report the first record of Stypopodium schimperi in
the Adriatic Sea, and the northernmost record for the Mediterranean Sea to date. Morphological
analysis and DNA barcoding based on chloroplast regions rbcL, psbA, and psaA confirmed species
identification. Our finding indicates exceptional spreading dynamics and high invasive character of S.
schimperi in the environment of the central Adriatic Sea. With high annual increase in coverage, high
biomass, total substrate overgrowth and large dimensions of the thalli, this species has the potential to
become one of the most invasive benthic non-indigenous species in the Adriatic Sea but also in the
western part of the Mediterranean Sea, once it arrives in this region.
Key-words: Adriatic Sea, Stypopodium schimperi, invasive species, marine macrophytes
Introduction
Stypopodium schimperi (Kützing) Verlaque & Boudouresque, 1991 is a brown alga of
Indo-Pacific origin. It is a Lessepsian migrant species and was most likely detected
initially in Israel in 1973 as Spatoglossum asperum (Verlaque et al., 2015). To date, S.
schimperi has been commonly recorded in the eastern and central Mediterranean,
including the Aegean and Ionian Seas of Greece (Verlaque & Boudouresque, 1991;
Verlaque et al., 2015). The species has become abundant along the Levantine coasts and
occurs from the surface to a depth of 45 m. Moreover, based on expert opinions and visual
observations, it is considered an invasive species (Boudouresque & Verlaque, 2002; Bitar
et al., 2017). Here, we present the first record of S. schimperi in the Adriatic Sea
(September 2020, Vis Island) and provide evidence of its high invasiveness.
Materials and methods
Ten transects were conducted in Komiža Bay (Vis Island, Adriatic Sea) via SCUBA diving
to define the abundance and spatial and bathymetric distribution of S. schimperi from the time
of its initial observation until May 2022. Specimens were collected for morphological and
molecular analysis. To analyze the algal coverage, a total of 33 photoquadrat images of the
rocky bottom (area of 50 x 50 cm) between 8 m and 12 m were collected (three photos taken
every 10 m) along a 100 m long and 10 m deep transect. The average percent cover (25%,
50%, 75% and 100%) per species was estimated for each of the six sub-quadrats (digitally
divided for each photograph) (Bianchi et al., 2004). Three plastid genes, psbA, psaA and
rbcL, were used for DNA barcoding. The obtained sequences were compared with the S.
schimperi sequences recovered from GenBank.
2nd Mediterranean Symposium on the Non-Indigenous Species (Genoa, Italy, 22-23 September 2022)
103