Evaluating the long term effectiveness of a Mediterranean marine protected area to tackle the effects of invasive and range expanding herbivorous fish on rocky reefs

Here we provide evidence, along an 8-year period time-series based on multifaceted data from a Mediterranean marine protected area (MPA), whether protection can tackle invasive and range expanding herbivore fishes, and their effects on the algal resource availability, taking into account the population trends of predatory fishes, fisheries catches of herbivore fishes and sea surface temperature (SST) through time. Our findings pointed out that an ineffective in restoring top-down control process MPA may facilitate, rather than alleviate, the sudden and enduring population burst of invasive and range-expanding herbivorous fishes at tipping points of abrupt change. This subsequently results in the deterioration of rocky reef habitats and the depletion of algal resources, with the tipping points of abrupt change for algal and herbivore fish species not overlapping chronologically. As sea temperature increases, ineffective or recently established MPAs may inadvertently facilitate the proliferation of invasive and range-expanding species, posing a significant challenge to management effectiveness and conservation objectives.

Revision of the genus Setosella (Bryozoa: Cheilostomata) with description of new species from deep-waters and submarine caves of the Mediterranean Sea

The genus Setosella included to date six species. After revision, only four of these species were retained, i.e. S. vulnerata, S. cavernicola, S. folini and S. spiralis. The remaining two species were tentatively placed in Woodipora, W.? antilleana n. comb., and Andreella,  A.? fragilis n. comb. On the other hand, scanning electron microscopy examination of Mediterranean material, revealed the presence of three new species previously included in species complexes: S. cyclopensis n. sp. from the open-shelf, S. rossanae n. sp. from submarine caves, and S. alfioi n. sp. from deep-waters. The diagnosis of the genus was amended to include the occurrence of kenozooids in S. cyclopensis n. sp. and S. cavernicola, and of free-living ring-shaped and scorpioid colonies in S. folini and S. alfioi n. sp. All the seven species now in Setosella have present-day representatives; the geographic distribution of the genus is restricted to the NE Atlantic and adjacent seas; its stratigrafic distribution is rejuvenated to the late Tortonian-early Messinian of southern Italy and insular Greece, with only three species occasionally and discontinuously reported. All species are able to produce numerous, subsequent intramural buds and morphological differences seem to be consistently associated with exploitation of particular habitats and substrata.