Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-fscjk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T07:03:35.921Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The invasive crab Percnon gibbesi (Crustacea: Decapoda: Plagusiidae) is spreading in the Aegean and Ionian Seas

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 May 2010

Stelios Katsanevakis ,
Dimitris Poursanidis ,
Yiannis Issaris ,
Kostas Tsiamis ,
Maria Salomidi ,
Michalis Maroulakis ,
Eleni Kytinou ,
Maria Thessalou-Legaki  and
Argyro Zenetos
Stelios Katsanevakis*
Affiliation:
Institute of Marine Biological Resources, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Anavyssos 19013, Greece
Dimitris Poursanidis
Affiliation:
WWF Hellas, Glaukou 13, Knossos, Heraklion, Crete, Greece Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, Mytilene, 81100, Greece
Yiannis Issaris
Affiliation:
Institute of Marine Biological Resources, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Anavyssos 19013, Greece Department of Zoology–Marine Biology, School of Biology, University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15784 Athens, Greece
Kostas Tsiamis
Affiliation:
Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Anavyssos 19013, Greece Department of Ecology and Taxonomy, School of Biology, University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15784 Athens, Greece
Maria Salomidi
Affiliation:
Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Anavyssos 19013, Greece
Michalis Maroulakis
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology–Marine Biology, School of Biology, University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15784 Athens, Greece
Eleni Kytinou
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology–Marine Biology, School of Biology, University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15784 Athens, Greece
Maria Thessalou-Legaki
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology–Marine Biology, School of Biology, University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15784 Athens, Greece
Argyro Zenetos
Affiliation:
Institute of Marine Biological Resources, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Anavyssos 19013, Greece
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: S. Katsanevakis, Institute of Marine Biological Resources, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Anavyssos 19013, Greece email: skatsan@ath.hcmr.gr
Get access

Abstract

Percnon gibbesi is an opportunistic feeder, feeding primarily on algae, of the shallow infra-littoral rocky shores. It was first observed in 1999 in the Mediterranean Sea and has rapidly spread since then. The range expansion of the species in the Aegean and Ionian Seas was recorded and evidence of its further establishment in Greek waters was provided. Established populations were observed in areas where it had not been previously reported: the Saronikos Gulf (central Aegean Sea), Chios Island (central Aegean Sea), Milos Island (central Aegean Sea), Zakynthos Island (central Ionian Sea) and Syvota (north-eastern coast of the Ionian Sea). The species was also observed in new sites in the Messiniakos Gulf, Crete and Rhodes Island, where it had been previously reported. The species keeps spreading in the Mediterranean Sea with a high rate of expansion.

Keywords

aliendecapodaPercnon gibbesiGreeceMediterranean Sea
Type
Research Article
Information
Marine Biodiversity Records , Volume 3 , June 2010 , e53
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Abelló, P., Visauta, E., Buci, A. and Demestre, M. (2003) Noves dades sobre l'expansió del crank Percnon gibbesi (Brachyura: Grapsidae: Plagusiinae) a la Mediterrània occidental. Bolleti de la Societat d'Historia Natural de les Balears 46, 73–77.Google Scholar
Bellantoni, N. and Corazza, C. (2002) Segnalazione del granchio Percnon gibbesi (H. Milne-Edwards, 1853) (Decapoda, Grapsidae) nello Stretto di Messina, versante calabrese. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Ferrara 5, 129–130.Google Scholar
Bianchi, C.N. (2007) Biodiversity issues for the forthcoming tropical Mediterranean Sea. Hydrobiologia 580, 7–21.Google Scholar
Borg, J.J. and Attard-Montalto, J. (2002) The grapsid crab Percnon gibbesi (Milne-Edwards, 1853) (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura), a new addition to the marine fauna of Malta. Central Mediterranean Naturalist 3, 159–160.Google Scholar
Cannicci, S., Badalamenti, F., Milazzo, M., Gomei, M., Baccarella, A. and Vannini, M. (2004) Unveiling the secrets of a successful invader: preliminary data on the biology and the ecology of the crab Percnon gibbesi (H. Milne-Edwards, 1853). Rapport et Procès-Verbaux des Réunions. Commission Internationale pour l'Exploration Scientifique de la Mer Méditerranée, 37, 326.Google Scholar
Cannicci, S., Garcia, L. and Galil, B.S. (2006) Racing across the Mediterranean—first record of Percnon gibbesi (Crustacea: Decapoda: Grapsidae) in Greece. Journal of the Marine Biological Association 2—Biodiversity Records, published online, http://www.mba.ac.uk/jmba/pdf/5300.pdfGoogle Scholar
Catalano, D. (2004) Osservazioni su Percnon gibbesi (H. Milne-Edwards, 1853) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachiura), nuova specie aliena nel litorale di Augusta (Sicilia Orientale). Bollettino dell'Accademia Gioenia di Scienze Naturali di Catania 37, 191–196.Google Scholar
Çinar, M.E., Bilecenoglu, M., Öztürk, B., Katagan, T. and Aysel, V. (2006) Alien species on the coasts of Turkey. Mediterranean Marine Science 6, 119–146 [2005].Google Scholar
Crocetta, F. and Colamonaco, G. (2008) Percnon gibbesi (Crustacea: Decapoda) and Aplysia dactylomela (Mollusca: Gastropoda) in the Taranto Gulf (Italy, Ionian Sea): new populations incoming. Journal of the Marine Biological Association 2—Biodiversity Records, published online, http://www.mba.ac.uk/jmba/pdf/6465.pdf.Google Scholar
Deudero, S., Frau, A., Cedra, M. and Hampel, H. (2005) Distribution and densities of the decapod crab Percnon gibbesi, an invasive Grapsidae, in western Mediterranean waters. Marine Ecology Progress Series 285, 151–156.Google Scholar
Edwards, M.H. (1853) Mémoire sur la Famille des Ocypodiens. Annales des Sciences Naturelles, Zoologie 20, 163–228.Google Scholar
Elkrwe, H.M., Elkawaj, H.M., Galil, B.S. and ben Abdallah, A. (2008) The first record of Percnon gibbesi (H. Milne-Edwards, 1853) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Plagusiidae) from the southern rim of the Mediterranean. Aquatic Invasions 3, 235–237.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
ELNAIS (2009) Hellenic Network on Aquatic Invasive Species. Available on line: http://elnais.ath.hcmr.gr. Accessed 16 October 2009.Google Scholar
Fabricius, J.C. (1787) Mantissa insectorvm sistens species nvper detectas adiectis characteribvs, genericis, differentiis, specificis, emendationibvs, observationibvs. Tome II. Hafniae [=Copenhagen]. 382 pp.Google Scholar
Faccia, I. and Bianchi, C.N. (2007) Prima segnalazione del granchio Percnon gibbesi (Milne H.-Edwards, 1853) nella Calabria Ionica. Thalassia Salentina 30, 39–43.Google Scholar
Galil, B.S. (2009) Taking stock: inventory of alien species in the Mediterranean Sea. Biological Invasions 11, 359–372.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Galil, B., Froglia, C. and Noel, P.Y. (2002) CIESM Atlas of exotic species in the Mediterranean. Volume 2 Crustaceans: decapods and stomatopods. Monaco: CIESM Publishers, 192 pp.Google Scholar
Garcia, L. and Reviriego, B. (2000) Presència del cranc subtropical Percnon gibbesi (H. Milne-Edwards, 1853) (Crustacea, Decapoda, Grapsidae) a les Illes Balears. Primera cita a la Mediterrania occidental. Bolletí de la Societat d'Història Natural de les Balears 43, 81–89.Google Scholar
Hartnoll, R.G. (1992) Megalopae and early postlarval stages of East African Percnon (Decapoda: Brachyura: Grapsidae). Journal of Zoology, London 228, 51–67.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kirinčić, M. and Stevčić, Z. (2008) Fauna of the Adriatic decapod crustaceans (Crustacea: Decapoda)—status and outlook. Natura Croatica 17, 131–139.Google Scholar
Manning, R.B. and Holthuis, L.B. (1981) West African brachyuran crabs (Crustacea, Decapoda). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 306, 1–379.Google Scholar
MedMPA (2004) Elaboration du plan de gestion de la partie marine du parc national de Zembra et Zembretta. Projet Régional pour le développement d'aires protégées marines et côtières dans la région Méditerranéenne (Projet MedMPA), Rapport global des travaux de prospection marine.Google Scholar
Mori, M. and Vacchi, M. (2002) On a new occurrence of the alien flat crab Percnon gibbesi (H. Milne-Edwards), in the southern Sicily (Central Mediterranean Sea). Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale ‘Giacomo Doria’ 94, 295–301.Google Scholar
Müller, C. (2001) Erstnachweis der Flachkrabbe Percnon gibbesi (Crustacea: Decapoda: Grapsidae) für die Balearischen Inseln. Senckenbergiana Maritima 31, 83–89.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Occhipinti-Ambrogi, A. (2007) Global change and marine communities: alien species and climate change. Marine Pollution Bulletin 55, 342–352.Google Scholar
Pancucci-Papadopoulou, M.A., Kevrekidis, K., Corsini-Foka, M. and Simboura, N. (2005) Changes in species: invasion of exotic species. In Papathanassiou, E. and Zenetos, A. (eds) State of the Hellenic marine environment. Athens: HCMR Publications, pp. 336–342.Google Scholar
Pancucci-Papadopoulou, M.A., Zenetos, A., Corsini-Foka, M. and Politou, C.Y. (2006) Update of marine alien species in Hellenic waters. Mediterranean Marine Science 6, 147–158. [2005]Google Scholar
Paula, J. and Hartnoll, R.G. (1989) The larval and postlarval development of Percnon gibbesi (Crustacea, Brachyura, Grapsidae) and the identity of the larval genus Pluteocaris. Journal of Zoology, London 218, 17–37.Google Scholar
Pipitone, C., Badalamenti, F. and Sparrow, A. (2001) Contribution to the knowledge of Percnon gibbesi (Decapoda, Grapsidae), an exotic species spreading rapidly in Sicilian waters. Crustaceana 74, 1009–1017.Google Scholar
Puccio, V., Relini, M., Azzuro, E. and Relini, L.O. (2006) Feeding habits of Percnon gibbesi (H. Milne-Edwards, 1853) in the Sicily Strait. Hydrobiologia 557, 79–84.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Relini, M., Orsi, L., Puccio, V. and Azzuro, E. (2000) The exotic crab Percnon gibbesi (H. Milne-Edwards, 1853) (Decapoda, Grapsidae) in the Central Mediterranean. Scientia Marina 64, 337–340.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Russo, G.F. and Villani, G. (2005) Spreading of the allochthonous species Percnon gibbesi in the central Tyrrhenian Sea. Biologia Marina Mediterranea 12, 329–330.Google Scholar
Sciberras, M. and Schembri, P.J. (2007) Observations on the alien crab Percnon gibbesi (Decapoda, Brachyoura, Grapsidae) from the Maltese Islands. Rapport et Procès-Verbaux des Réunions. Commission Internationale pour l'Exploration Scientifique de la Mer Méditerranée 38, 594.Google Scholar
Sciberras, M. and Schembri, P.J. (2008) Biology and interspecific interactions of the alien crab Percnon gibbesi in the Maltese Islands. Marine Biology Research 4, 321–332.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Streftaris, N. and Zenetos, A. (2006) Alien marine species in the Mediterranean—the 100 ‘worst invasives’ and their impact. Mediterranean Marine Science 7, 87–118.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Streftaris, N., Zenetos, A. and Papathanassiou, E. (2005) Globalisation in marine ecosystems—the story of non-indigenous marine species across European Seas. Oceanography and Marine Biology: an Annual Review 43, 419–453.Google Scholar
Thessalou-Legaki, M., Zenetos, A., Kambouroglou, V., Corsini-Foka, M., Kouraklis, P., Dounas, C. and Nicolaidou, A. (2006) The establishment of the invasive crab Percnon gibbesi (H. Milne-Edwards, 1853) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Grapsidae) in Greek waters. Aquatic Invasions 1, 133–136.Google Scholar
Yokes, B. and Galil, B.S. (2006) Touchdown—first record of Percnon gibbesi (H. Milne-Edwards, 1853) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Grapsidae) from the Levantine coast. Aquatic Invasions 1, 130–132.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zenetos, A., Streftaris, N., Micu, D., Todorova, V., Gollasch, S., Joseffson, M., Zaiko, A. and Olenin, S. (2009a) Harmonisation of European Alien species databases—A 2009 update of Marine Alien Species (MAS) towards the forthcoming SEBI2010 Report. Poster presented at BIOLIEF Conference, Porto 27–30 October, 2009.Google Scholar
Zenetos, A., Pancucci-Papadopoulou, M.A., Zogaris, S., Papastergiadou, E., Vardakas, A.L., Aligizaki, K. and Economou, A.N. (2009b) Aquatic alien species in Greece (2009): tracking sources, patterns and effects on the ecosystem. Journal of Biological Research—Thessaloniki 12, 135–172.Google Scholar