A biological and ecological study of the invasive pufferfish Torquigener hypselogeneion (Bleeker 1852) [conspecific Torquigener flavimaculosus Hardy & Randall, 1983] in the Eastern Mediterranean
Aylin Ulman, H. D. Akbora, Ozgur Çanak, Elaine Chu, Burak A. Çiçek, Hasan Ersönmez, Sinan Mavruk, C. E. Özyurt, T. Yıldız, Amy Liu, N. Demirel, D. Pauly
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引用次数: 1
Abstract
The highly toxic orange-spotted toadfish Torquigener hypselogeneion (Bleeker 1852) [conspecific Torquigener flavimaculosus Hardy & Randall, 1983] is now a very common invasive fish in the Eastern Mediterranean. Its small size, well under 20 cm, may have concealed the danger it represents, and little is known about its biology or ecology. Here, the spawning seasons, gonado- and hepato-somatic index and condition factors of T. hypselogeneion from 3 locations of the Eastern Mediterranean are presented, based on a total of 1360 individuals sampled, i.e., 216 from Finike, 817 from Fethiye (both Turkey), and 327 from Cyprus. Our results show that T. hypselogeneion is a carnivorous species that forages on sandy bottoms, with a preference for small invertebrates, especially the small invasive gastropod Cerithium scabridum, crustaceans (hermit crabs, other crabs and barnacles), and sea urchins; however, at least in some localities, they appear to forgo eating during their peak reproductive period. The parameters of the von Bertalanffy Growth Function for T. hypselogeneion in the Eastern Mediterranean were: asymptotic length = 17.4 cm (total length; TL) and K = 0.96 year-1, implying a longevity of about 4 years, while the mean length at first maturity was about 10 cm (TL) for both sexes. An average-sized adult female (13 cm TL, 45.7 g live weight) was found to contain 1,250 eggs per gram body weight. Based on its high invasiveness and negative impacts to ecology of the Eastern Mediterranean and the human health, we suggest that T. hypselogeneion should be listed as a priority invasive species and that its population closely monitored within the Mediterranean Sea.
期刊介绍:
Aquatic Invasions is an open access, peer-reviewed international journal focusing on academic research of biological invasions in both inland and coastal water ecosystems from around the world.
It was established in 2006 as initiative of the International Society of Limnology (SIL) Working Group on Aquatic Invasive Species (WGAIS) with start-up funding from the European Commission Sixth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development Integrated Project ALARM.
Aquatic Invasions is an official journal of International Association for Open Knowledge on Invasive Alien Species (INVASIVESNET).
Aquatic Invasions provides a forum for professionals involved in research of aquatic non-native species, including a focus on the following:
• Patterns of non-native species dispersal, including range extensions with global change
• Trends in new introductions and establishment of non-native species
• Population dynamics of non-native species
• Ecological and evolutionary impacts of non-native species
• Behaviour of invasive and associated native species in invaded areas
• Prediction of new invasions
• Advances in non-native species identification and taxonomy