@article{ERMS:SourceID:197902, abstract = {1. Spread of alien species (AS) is a serious threat to marine habitats and analysis of principal descriptors of their occurrence is pivotal to set reliable conservation strategies.

2. In order to assess the susceptibility of marine habitats to biological invasions, a dataset was gathered of the occurrence of 3899 species from 29 phyla, taken from 93 marine sites located along the Italian coast in the period 2000–2012.

3. In total, 61 AS belonging to 11 phyla have been recorded. Invertebrates were the most represented (63%). Alien species were found in all the habitats examined (EUNIS, level 2), although they showed highest abundance in benthic habitats. Most of the AS were associated with a single EUNIS habitat, while some of them were present in more than one habitat. Trans-habitat occurrence suggests the potential invasiveness of AS.

4. According to statistical analysis, AS recorded could have been more numerous, since some of the marine habitats seemed to be still unsaturated. The model that best describes the spread of AS takes account of both native species richness (Rn) and EUNIS habitat type as explanatory variables. The number of observed AS was directly related to Rn and it was highest in rocky circalittoral and infralittoral habitats.

5. The results of this macro-ecological study focus on the importance of performing large-scale studies, since adopting ecosystem approaches to marine invasion management seems especially fruitful.

6. The results, moreover, highlight the importance of AS monitoring of different habitats, from those subjected to anthropogenic pressure, historically considered to be hubs of introduction of AS, to the most biologically rich and diverse marine habitats. Indeed, it is necessary to set monitoring strategies to detect the introduction, the distribution and persistence of AS over time. These recommendations are especially significant in the light of the strategic plans currently under formulation in Mediterranean countries with regard to AS monitoring.}, author = {Corriero, G. and Pierri, C. and Accoroni, S. and Alabiso, G. and Bavestrello, G. and Barbone, E. and Bastianini, M. and Bazzoni, A. M. and Bernardi Aubry, F. and Boero, F. and Buia, M. C. and Cabrini, M. and Camatti, E. and Cardone, F. and Cataletto, B. and Cattaneo Vietti, R. and Cecere, E. and Cibic, T. and Colangelo, P. and De Olazabal, A. and D'onghia, G. and Finotto, S. and Fiore, N. and Fornasaro, D. and Fraschetti, S. and Gambi, M. C. and Giangrande, A. and Gravili, C. and Guglielmo, R. and Longo, C. and Lorenti, M. and Lugliè, A. and Maiorano, P. and Mazzocchi, M. G. and Mercurio, M. and Mastrototaro, F. and Mistri, M. and Monti, M. and Munari, C. and Musco, L. and Nonnis-Marzano, C. and Padedda, B. M. and Patti, F. P. and Petrocelli, A. and Piraino, S. and Portacci, G. and Pugnetti, A. and Pulina, S. and Romagnoli, T. and Rosati, I. and Sarno, D. and Satta, C. T. and Sechi, N. and Schiaparelli, S. and Scipione, B. and Sion, L. and Terlizzi, A. and Tirelli, V. and Totti, C. and Tursi, A. and Ungaro, N. and Zingone, A. and Zupo, V. and Basset, A.}, doi = {10.1002/aqc.2550}, journal = {Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems}, title = {Ecosystem vulnerability to alien and invasive species: a case study on marine habitats along the Italian coast}, url = {https://www.marbef.org/data./aphia.php?p=sourcedetails&id=197902}, year = {2015} }