Exploring Synergistic Inter Linkages Among Three Ecological …
269
et al. 2015). On the other hand, overwintering waterfowl in Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland has been negatively affected due to the introduction the Cyprinid roach
(Rutilus rutilus) (Winfield et al. 2011).
3.1.3 Marine Invasion
Introduction of alien species is considered as major a threat to marine biodiversity
(Bax et al. 2003). In fact, marine invasive species have caused widespread local
population extinctions all over the world and have been identified as the second
biggest reason of biodiversity loss after habitat destruction (Breithaupt 2003). Zaiko
et al. (2007) conducted a comparative vulnerability analysis of 16 selected benthic
habitat types in the SE Baltic Sea waters and the Curonian lagoon and found that
species richness of alien species was higher in lagoon habitats than the sea. They also
found that salinity, depth range and availability of a hard substrate were the most
important physical factors that determined the distribution of native and invasive
species.
An important example in this context is the Mediterranean, which has suffered
severe biodiversity loss due to marine aliens (Galil 2007). The Asian date mussel
Arcuatula (Musculista) senhousia is global invader that has affected the estuaries in
the Mediterranean (Munari 2008). Another instance is the Caribbean, where invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish has given rise to several negative impacts on the coral
reef food-webs (Arias-González et al. 2011). In fact, the exponential population
growth of this predatory species in the western Atlantic, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of
Mexico has drastically reduced the abundance of small native on some coral reefs
(Côté et al. 2013).
Invasive species such as the Comb Jelly Mnemiopsis leidyi, Asian clam Potamocorbula amurensis and the crab Carcinus maenas have resulted in severe losses in
fisheries in the Black Sea, San Francisco Bay and North American east coast respectively (Shiganova 1998; Grosholz et al. 2000). In Kas-Kekova Marine Protected
Area, Turkey, the grazing pressure by two fish populations (Siganus luridus and S.
rivulatus) from the Red Sea shifted the original habitat to one dominated only by
low-lying and turf-forming algae (Sala et al. 2011). Invaders like the American oyster
Crassostrea gigas and the Japanese carpet shell Ruditapes philippinarum invaded
lagoon environments such as the Thau lagoon in south-western France and modified
the ecosystem up to an extent that these species have become an important part of
the biomass and diversity of the lagoon flora and fauna (Boudouresque et al. 2011).
On the other hand, invasive crabs (Carcinus maenas and Hemigrapsus sanguineus)
have been reported from the intertidal zones of several coastal states of the US such
as New Jersey to Maine (Delaney et al. 2008). Marine invasive species have also been
reported from Pearl Harbor in Hawaiian Islands (Coles et al. 1999), Port Phillip Bay
(Hewitt et al. 1999), New Zealand (Cranfield et al. 1998), Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Sea
of Azov and Caspian Sea (Paavola et al. 2005) and Italian coasts (highest number
has been observed in the northern Adriatic Sea) (Occhipinti-Ambrogi et al. 2011).
269
et al. 2015). On the other hand, overwintering waterfowl in Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland has been negatively affected due to the introduction the Cyprinid roach
(Rutilus rutilus) (Winfield et al. 2011).
3.1.3 Marine Invasion
Introduction of alien species is considered as major a threat to marine biodiversity
(Bax et al. 2003). In fact, marine invasive species have caused widespread local
population extinctions all over the world and have been identified as the second
biggest reason of biodiversity loss after habitat destruction (Breithaupt 2003). Zaiko
et al. (2007) conducted a comparative vulnerability analysis of 16 selected benthic
habitat types in the SE Baltic Sea waters and the Curonian lagoon and found that
species richness of alien species was higher in lagoon habitats than the sea. They also
found that salinity, depth range and availability of a hard substrate were the most
important physical factors that determined the distribution of native and invasive
species.
An important example in this context is the Mediterranean, which has suffered
severe biodiversity loss due to marine aliens (Galil 2007). The Asian date mussel
Arcuatula (Musculista) senhousia is global invader that has affected the estuaries in
the Mediterranean (Munari 2008). Another instance is the Caribbean, where invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish has given rise to several negative impacts on the coral
reef food-webs (Arias-González et al. 2011). In fact, the exponential population
growth of this predatory species in the western Atlantic, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of
Mexico has drastically reduced the abundance of small native on some coral reefs
(Côté et al. 2013).
Invasive species such as the Comb Jelly Mnemiopsis leidyi, Asian clam Potamocorbula amurensis and the crab Carcinus maenas have resulted in severe losses in
fisheries in the Black Sea, San Francisco Bay and North American east coast respectively (Shiganova 1998; Grosholz et al. 2000). In Kas-Kekova Marine Protected
Area, Turkey, the grazing pressure by two fish populations (Siganus luridus and S.
rivulatus) from the Red Sea shifted the original habitat to one dominated only by
low-lying and turf-forming algae (Sala et al. 2011). Invaders like the American oyster
Crassostrea gigas and the Japanese carpet shell Ruditapes philippinarum invaded
lagoon environments such as the Thau lagoon in south-western France and modified
the ecosystem up to an extent that these species have become an important part of
the biomass and diversity of the lagoon flora and fauna (Boudouresque et al. 2011).
On the other hand, invasive crabs (Carcinus maenas and Hemigrapsus sanguineus)
have been reported from the intertidal zones of several coastal states of the US such
as New Jersey to Maine (Delaney et al. 2008). Marine invasive species have also been
reported from Pearl Harbor in Hawaiian Islands (Coles et al. 1999), Port Phillip Bay
(Hewitt et al. 1999), New Zealand (Cranfield et al. 1998), Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Sea
of Azov and Caspian Sea (Paavola et al. 2005) and Italian coasts (highest number
has been observed in the northern Adriatic Sea) (Occhipinti-Ambrogi et al. 2011).