Int. J. Aquat. Biol. (2019) 7(4): 180-194 ISSN: 2322-5270; P-ISSN: 2383-0956 Journal homepage: www.ij-aquaticbiology.com © 2019 Iranian Society of Ichthyology Original Article Updated list of alien macrozoobenthic species along the Syrian coast Izdihar Ammar*1 Department of Marine Biology, High Institute of Marine Research, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria. s Article history: Received 5 February 2019 Accepted 27 July 2019 Available online 2 5 August 2019 Keywords: Marine biodiversity Macrozoobenthos Invasive alien species Eastern Mediterranean Sea Abstract: Marine biodiversity along the Syrian coast is affected by climate change-related temperature increase leading to the migration and entrance of alien species, especially from the Suez Canal (biological invasion). The Syrian coast is chracterized by many different types of habitats, including marine caves, midilittoral bioconstructions (Lithophyllum byssoides rim and vermetid tarraces), coraligenous communities, sandy dunes, rocky coast and seagrass meadows. The present study summarizes early and most recent results on the presence, distribution, abundance and conservation status of marine alien species along the Syrian coast and provides an updated list of alien macrozoobenthic species. A total of 79 alien species belonging to Mollusca, Crustacea, Tunicata, Polychaeta, Spongia, Echinodermata and Chaetognatha are reported; among them Gastropoda is being the most abundant and successful taxon. In the light of these results, some recommendations on future research directions are provided. In particular, more effort is needed to monitor and record the entrance of alien species by adopting a comprehensive national plan to study marine biodiversity and to protect local resources in the Syrian marine environment. Introduction Marine biodiversity in the Mediterranean Sea is undertaking major changes due to climate change- related increase in water temperature. Local species from temperate waters disperse throughout the Mediterranean Sea, while phyto- and zoobenthic species from the warmer Red Sea enter the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal. The introduction of alien species (biological invasions) is considered to be a major threat to marine biodiversity along with overfishing, pollution and habitat destruction, causing serious environmental and economic consequences (Ruiz et al., 1997; Carlton, 2000; Bax et al., 2003). There are many examples of disastrous invasions by these species that caused the loss of native species, changes in community structure and their functions, besides damages to local fishery and aquaculture. The alien species found in the Mediterranean Sea is approaching 1,000 (Zenetos et al., 2012; Katsanevakin et al., 2016), with an introduction rate of one species *Correspondence: Izdihar Ammar DOI: https://doi.org/10.22034/ijab.v7i4.556 E-mail: izdiammar@gmail.com every 1.5 week (Zenetos, 2010; Zenetos et al., 2012). In the Mediterranean Sea, the distribution and spread of alien species varies from country to another. They are more preponderant in the eastern basin (775 alien species) than in the western part, most of them being Lessepsian species that have entered the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal. These species include 13 taxonomic groups dominated by Mollusca (215 species), followed by crustacea (159 species) and polychaeta (132 species). Among these alien species, over 600 species are well-established in the Mediterranean Sea (Zenetos et al., 2017). Some alien invertebrates have also become dominant components of the region and greatly altered the benthic community structures (Çinar et al., 2011). These species can drastically alter the food web in the area, compete with native species for food and space, and transmit new diseases to native species (Por, 1978; Çinar et al., 2005). The Syrian coast (183 km in length) is located in the middle part of the eastern Mediterranean Sea, extending geographically from 181 Int. J. Aquat. Biol. (2019) 7(4): 180-194 Al-Hamedia in the south to Ras Al-Bassit in the north. The Mediterranean coast forms an integrated unit in terms of geological structure and topography. It is exposed to several environmental problems as a result of anthropological activities, which dispose untreated wastes directly into the marine environment. Hence, water pollution causes deterioration of coastal ecosystems, which influences the public health, fishing and tourism. Furthermore, the Suez Canal which is 650 km away from the Syrian coast represents a critical passage for Indian and Pacific species migrating through the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, some of which settle and become highly invasive. For these reasons, the geographical distribution, dispersion and reproduction of those species along the Syrian coast has to be considered a fundamental issue to study. Benthic habitats along the coast of Syria have been densely colonized by Lessepsian species. In addition, Tartous in the south and Lattakia in the north have large international harbours and jetties for crude oil and coal transfers. Therefore, the region is also a recipient area for ship-transferred species into the Mediterranean Sea. Over the last several years zoobenthic communities and their distributional patterns in Syria have been studied within scientific projects and various studies at littoral, sublittoral and deep sea areas. Some papers reported quantitative and qualitative attributes of zoobenthic communities (Saker and Ammar, 1996; Kucheruk et al., 1998; Saker et al., 1999, 2000) in the north sector of the Syrian coast, such as Lattakia and Al-Bassit (Torchia et al., 2004; Ammar, 2004, 2010; Ammar et al., 2008, 2011). The objective of the present study was to review, update and present a unique and updated list of alien macrozooobenthic species and taxa which have been recorded until 2018 along the Syrian coast. Materials and Methods We conducted a review of the alien species found between 1994 and 2018 at various depths and sites of the Syrian coast (Fig. 1). Available information was gathered from both published and unpublished works. Samples were collected either by hand or using benthic sampling devices (e.g. trawl, trammel net and grab). In addition, new soft bottom benthic samples were collected in 2015 and 2016 in the marine protected area of Ibn-Hani, north of Lattakia, at depths ranging between 15-40 m. More recent samples were collected from different areas of the Syrian coast during the year of 2018. Nomenclature follows the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS, 2018). Results and Discussion Alien species along the Syrian coast: The rise of water temperatures due to climate change in the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea overlaps with the entry and settlement of new species in the region in several ways. These include a direct impact on individuals and populations due to changes in the local physical and chemical conditions and an indirect impact related to changes in species distribution and reproduction, and competition between local and alien species often resulting in an expansion of former. During previous researches, which were conducted along the Syrian coast, more than 600 species belonging to 16 macro-taxa, including Porifera, Cnidaria, Bryozoa, Sipunculida, Polychaeta, Gastropoda, Bivalvia, Cephalopoda, Scaphopoda, Figure 1. Map of Syrian coast. 182 Ammar / Alien macrozoobenthic species along the Syrian coast Crustacea, Echinodermata, Brachiopoda, Ascidiacea and other minor taxa, were recorded at a depth up to 600 m in both hard and soft bottom (Ammar et al., 2013; Ammar, 2016). Most of these species are Atlantic and Mediterranean fauna, 79 of them being alien. The largest number of alien species in Syria belongs to Mollusca (Bitar et al., 2003; Ammar, 2004; the present study). This phylum also contributes the most of alien species in the eastern Mediterranean and European Seas (Katsanevakis et al., 2013; Nunes et al., 2014). An updated list of alien zoobenthic species found along the Syrian coast, including the time of first record, the type of habitat and depth was explained in the Table 1. Early studies on Lessepsian migration took place along the coast of Lattakia and Banias, where 16 gastropod species, 9 bivalve species and 11 crustaceans were found (Saker and Ammar, 1994a, b; Saker and Farah, 1994). Subsequent research recorded new species belonging to several benthic taxa, including Mollusca, Crustacea, Polychaeta, Spongia and Chaetognata (Hassan et al., 2008; Arabia, 2011; Ammar et al., 2013; Ammar, 2016a, b). Currently, alien species of zoobenthos represent almost 11.55% of the total number of zoobenthos in the Syrian coast. The great majority of the alien species belong to 3 taxa, including Gastropoda (33 species, 13.41% of the total), Bivalvia (12 species, 9.02%) and Crustacea (24, species 23.76%), followed by Tunicata (3 species 3.79%) and Annelida (2 species, 2.27%) and 5 species other minor taxa (Table 2). Figure 3 shows the percentage of alien species for each main taxonomic group represented by Mollusca (57%) followed by Crustacea (30%), Tunicata (4%) and the rest form (9%). A total of 53 alien zoobenthic species were already described along the Syrian coast in previous local studies (Ammar, 1995, 2002, 2010, 2014, 2016a, b). Of these, 22 species belong to Mollusca (Acteocina mucronata, Brachidontes pharaonis, Cerithium (Thericium) scabridum, Chama pacifica, Pyrgulina Figure 2. Number of native, alien and cryptogenic species for each taxonomic group. Figure 3. Percentage of alien species for each taxonomic group. 183 Int. J. Aquat. Biol. (2019) 7(4): 180-194 Table 1. Updated list of the 79 alien and cryptogenic species zoobenthic found along the Syrian coast. Species First record Habitat Depth Abundance Status Reference GASTROPODA Diodora ruppellii (Sowerby, 1835) Lattakia, 1994 Hard bottom, littoral Littoral - 10 m common Established Ammar (1995) Smaragdia souverbiana (Montrouzier in Souverbie & Montrouzier, 1863) Al-Bassit, 2003 Mud-Gravel 5 -35 m Few Established Katsanevakis et al. (2014) Trochus erithreus Brocchi, 1821 Lattakia, 1992 Hard bottom, Littoral Littoral Available Established Ammar (1995), Bitar et al. (2003) Pseudominolia nedyma (Melvill, 1897) Lattakia Al- Bassit, 2005 Mud-gravel 5-140 m 8-912 ind./m2 Established Ibrahim et al. (2005), Arabia (2011), Ammar et al. (2013) Cerithium scabridum (Philippi,1848) Lattakia, 1938, 1994 Hard bottom, Littoral, Sand- gravel < 25 m Dominant Established Pallary (1938) Rhinoclavis kochi (Philippi, 1848) Lattakia, 1994 Sandy < 17 m Dominant Established Ammar (1995) Finella pupoides Adams A., 1860 Al-Bassit, 2007 Mixed bottom 25-40, 120- 140 m 8-432 ind./m2 Established Arabia (2011), Ammar et al. (2013) Clathrofenella ferruginea (Adams, 1860) Al-Bassit, 2007 Mixed bottom 40 m 12-24 ind./m2 Established Arabia (2011), Ammar et al. (2013) Cerithiopsis pulvis (Issel, 1869) Al-Bassit, Al- Hamedeia, 2007 Mixed bottom 25-40 m 24-40 ind./m2 Established Arabia (2011) Cerithiopsis tenthrenois (Melvill, 1896) Al-Hamedeia, 2007 Mixed bottom 17-25 m 24-56 ind./m2 Established Arabia (2011) Rissoina bertholleti Issel, 1869 Lattakia, 1994 Sand - Gravel 5-12 m Few Established Ammar (1995) Alvania dorbignyi (Audouin, 1826) Al-Bassit, Banias and Al- Hamedeia, 2007 Mixed bottom 17-40, 120- 160 m 8-368 ind/m2 Cryptogenic Arabia (2011), Ammar et al. (2013) Conomurex persicus (Swainson, 1821) Lattakia, 1985, 1994 Hard bottom; Soft bottom Littoral - 70 m Dominant Established Gosselck et al. (1986), Ammar (1995, 2002) Erosaria turdus (Lamarck, 1810) Al-Bassit, 2007 Mixed bottom 25, 160 m 8 ind/m2 Established Arabia (2011), Ammar et al. (2013) Sticteulima cf. lentiginosa (Adams A., 1861) Al-Hamedeia, 2007 Detritus 17-25 m 16 ind./m2 Established Arabia (2011) Ergalatax junionae (Houart, 2008) Al-Bassit, 2004 Hard bottom, littoral Littoral Dominant Established Ammar (1995, 2002, 2010), Ibrahim et al. (2005) Indothais lacera (Born, 1778) Lattakia, 1994 Hard bottom, littoral Littoral Few Established Ammar (1995) Murex forskoehlii (Röding, 1798) Lattakia, 2005 Mud-Sand >30 m Few Established Katsanevakis et al. (2014) Fusinus verrucosus (Gmelin, 1791) Lattakia, 2004 Mud 70 m Available Established Katsanevakis et al. (2014) Zafra selasphora (Melvill and Standen, 1901) Al-Bassit and Al-Hamedeia, 2007 Mixed bottom 15-40 m 8-78 ind./m2 Established Arabia (2011) Conus fumigatus Hwass in Bruguière, 1792 Al-Bassit and Tartous, 2007 Mixed bottom 17-40, 120- 140 m 32- 64 ind./m2 Established Arabia (2011), Ammar et al. (2013) Pyrgulina maiae Hornung & Mermod, 1924 Lattakia, 1992 Muddy-detritus 5-140 m 8-72 Established Arabia (2011), Ammar et al. (2013, 2015) Styloptygma beatrix Melvill, 1910 Ibn-Hani, 2015 Mixed bottom 15-40 Few Established Present study (new records) Syrnola cinctella A. Adams, 1860 Ibn-Hani, 2015 Mixed bottom 15-40 m Few Established Present study (new records) Syrnola fasciata (Jickeli, 1882) Al-Bassit, 2007 Mixed bottom 30, 120-140 m 8-232 ind./m2 Established Arabia (2011), Ammar et al. (2013) Odostomia lorioli (Hornung Mermod, 1924) Al-Bassit, 2007 Mixed bottom 30-40, 110- 160 m 8-72 ind./m2 Established Arabia (2011), Ammar et al. (2013) 184 Ammar / Alien macrozoobenthic species along the Syrian coast Table 1. Continued. Species First record Habitat Depth Abundance Status Reference Acteocina mucronata (Philippi, 1849) Al-Bassit and Al-Hadmedia, 2003 Mixed bottom 5, 20-40 m 16-24m Established Ibrahim et al. (2005), Arabia (2011) Ventomnestia girardi (Audouin, 1826) Ibn-Hani, 2015 Mixed bottom 15-40 Few Established Present study (new records) Pyrunculus fourierii (Audouin, 1826) Al-Bassit and Banias 2007 Mixed bottom 30-40, 120- 140 m 8-168 ind./m2 Established Arabia (2011), Ammar et al. (2013) Bulla ampulla Linnaeus, 1758 Al-Bassit, 2007 Mixed bottom 40 m 8-16 ind./m2 Established Arabia (2011) Thecacera pennigera (Montagu, 1813) Lattakia, 2013 Muddy 100 m 1 ind. Cryptogeni Present study (new records) Aplysia dactylomela (Rang, 1828) Lattakia, 2013 Rocky Littoral 2 Specimens Established Katsanevakis et al. (2014) Goniobranchus annulatus (Eliot, 1904) Tartous, 2018 Rocky 10 m 1 ind. Established Ammar and Solaiman (unpublished) BIVALVIA Brachidontes pharaonis (Krauss, 1962) Lattakia, 1931, 1994 Hard bottom Littoral - 5 m Dominant Established Gruvel and Moazzo (1931), Ammar (1995) Septifer cumingii Récluz, 1848 Lattakia, 2015 Sandy 15 m Dominant Established Present study (new records) Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg, 1793) Lattakia, 1993 Rocky Littoral Dominant Established Ammar (1995, 2002, 2010), Ibrahim et al.(2005) Saccostrea cucullata (Born, 1778) Lattakia, 1993 Hard bottom Littoral- Sublittoral – 100 m Dominant Established Ammar (1995, 2002, 2010), Ibrahim et al. (2005) Pinctada imbricata radiata (Leach, 1814) Lattakia, 1994 (since 1975) Hard bottom Littoral-8 m Dominant Established Kinzelbach (1985) Malleus regula (Forsskål in Niebuhr, 1775) 1931 (collecting place not given) Hard bottom 5 m Dominant Established Gruvel and Moazzo (1931) Spondylus spinosus (Schreibers, 1793) Banias, 1999 Hard bottom 3-15 m Dominant Established Bitar et al. (2003) Chama pacifica Broderip, 1834 Lattakia, 1993 Hard bottom Littoral-8 m Dominant Established Bitar et al. (2003) Afrocardium richardi (Audouin, 1826) Lattakia, 2009 Soft bottom 15-120 m 8 ind/m2 Established Ammar et al. (2013), pressent study Gafrarium savignyi (Jonas, 1846) Lattakia, 1993 Rocky and Sand Littoral -50 m Dominant Established Ammar (1995, 2002), Ammar (2010) Circenita callipyga (Born, 1778) Lattakia and Tartous, 2005 Mud 25 m Rare Established Ibrahim et al. (2005) Paratapes textilis (Gmelin, 1791) Lattakia, 1992- 1993 Shelf bottoms Offshore Common Established Kucheruk and Basin (1999) CEPHALOPODA Ommastrephase bartramii (Lesueur, 1821) Ras Al-basset and Jableh, 2016 mud 40-130 m Common Established Ammar and Maaroof (2016c) CRUSTACEA Penaeus pulchricaudatus Stebbing, 1914 Lattakia, 1928 Soft bottom > 70 m Dominant Established Gruvel (1928) Metapenaeopsis mogiensis consobrina (Nobili, 1904) Lattakia, 2012 Muddy 64-100 Single specimen Established Ammar et al. (2013) Metapenaeus Monoceros (Fabricius, 1798) 1980 (collecting place not given) Soft bottom >60 m Abundant Established Holthuis (1980), Ammar, (2016b) Metapenaeus stebbingi Nobili, 1904 Lattakia, 1996 Muddy sand 50-90 m Rare Established Saker and Farah (1994) Penaeus semisulcatus De Haan, 1844 (in De Haan, 1833-1850) Lattakia, 1928 Soft bottom 500-600 m Abundant Established Gruvel (1928) Trachypenaeus curvirostris malaiana Balss, 1933 Banias, 1999 Soft bottom > 70 m Rare Established Saker and Farah (1994), Hasan et al. (2008) 185 Int. J. Aquat. Biol. (2019) 7(4): 180-194 Table 1. Continued. Species First record Habitat Depth Abundance Status Reference Leptochela (Leptochela) aculeocaudata Paul'son, 1875 Banias, 1999 Hard bottom and Soft bottom 10, 14 m Few Established Saker and Farah (1994), Ammar (2002) Leptochela (Leptochela) pugnax de Man, 1916 Lattakia, 1994 Muddy 110- 160 m 8 ind./m2 Established Saker and Farah (1994), Hasan et al. (2008), Ammar et al. (2013) Alpheus inopinatus Holthuis & Gottlieb, 1958 Lattakia, 2006 In Cystoseira 1 m Single specimen Established Hassan et al. (2008) Alpheus migrans Lewinsohn & Holthuis, 1978 Lattakia, 2009 Rocky 64-100 m Single specimen Established Ammar et al. (2013) Saron marmoratus (Olivier, 1811) Latakia, 2018 Rocky 8-10m 4 individuals Established Ammar and Raea (2019) Ixa monodi Holthuis & Gottlieb, 1956 Lattakia, 1995 Among Macroalgae 2 m 2 Specimens Established Hassan et al. (2008) Coleusia signata (Paul'son, 1875) Lattakia, 1994 Sand, Mud Up to 100 m Rare Established Saker (2002), Hasan et al. (2008) Myra subgranulata Kossman, 1877 Lattakia, 1996 Sand, Mud 14 m, 500 - 600 Dominant Established Saker and Farah (1994), Hassan et al. (2008), Ammar et al. (2013), Ammar (2016b) Micippa thalia (Herbst, 1803) Lattakia, 1993 Hard bottom 2 m One specimen Established Hassan et al. (2008) Ashtoret lunaris (Forskål, 1775) Latakia, 2017 sand littoral 2 specimen Established Ammar and Arabia (2018) Charybdis (Charybdis) hellerii (A. Milne-Edwards, 1867) Lattakia, 1992 Soft bottom 5 - >70 m Abundant Established Kuznetsov et al. (1993), Saker and Farah (1994, 1997), Saker (2002), Ibrahim et al. (2005), Hassan et al. (2008), Ammar (2010) Charybdis (Goniohellenus) longicollis Leene, 1938 Lattakia, 2003 Soft Bottom 69-100, 500-600 m Dominant Established Ibrahim et al. (2005), Ammar et al. (2013), Ammar (2016b) Portunus (Portunus) segnis (Forskål, 1775) Lattakia, 1930 Soft bottom 5-70 m Dominant Established Gruvel, 1928), Monod 1931), Saker and Farah (1994), Ammar (2002), Ibrahim et al. (2005) Hassan et al. (2008) Ammar et al. (2013), Ammar (2016b) Thalamita poissonii (Audouin, 1826) Lattakia, 2005 Soft bottom 50 - 60 m Rare Established Ibrahim et al. (2005), Hasan et al. (2008) Glabropilumnus laevis (Dana, 1852) Banias, 1996, 2002 Hard bottom and Soft bottom 10, 14 m Few Established Ammar (2002), Hassan et al. (2008) Atergatis roseus (Rüppell, 1830) Lattakia, 2002 Rocky - sandy Infralittoral Abundant Established Saker (2002), Ammar (2010) Macrophthalmus (Macrophthalmus) indicus Davie, 2012 Lattakia, 2003 Hard bottom 13-120 m 24 ind./m2 Established Bitar et al. (2003), Brahim, et al. (2005), Ammar et al. (2013) Erugosquilla massavensis (Kossmann, 1880) Banias, 2002 Mud > 70 m Abundant Established Ammar (1995), Hassan et al. (2008) TUNICATA Phallusia nigra Savigny, 1816 Banias, 1999 Hard bottom Littoral Dominant Established Bitar et al. (2003) Herdmania momus (Savigny, 1816) Ibn Hani, 2002 Rocky 26-31 m Dominant Established Bitar et al. (2003) Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) HIMR, 1993 Rocky littoral Dominant Established Present study (new records) ANNELIDA Spirobranchus tetraceros (Schmarda, 1861) Al Bassit, 2007 sandy-muddy 40-50 m 8-16 ind./m2 Established Bitar et al. (2003), Ammar et al. (2011) Spirorbis (Spirorbis) marioni Caullery, Mesnil, 1897 Lattakia, 1995 Rocky Littoral Dominant Established Ammar, 1995), Zibrowius and Bitar (2003) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guillaume-Antoine_Olivier https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Forssk%C3%A5l 186 Ammar / Alien macrozoobenthic species along the Syrian coast maiae, Diodora ruppellii, Ergalatax junionae, Fusinus verrucosus, Gafrarium savignyi , Malleus (Malvufundus) regulus, Paratapes textilis, Pinctada imbricate radiata, Pseudominolia nedyma, Rhinoclavis kochi, Rissoina bertholleti, Saccostrea cucullata, Smaragdia souverbiana, Spondylus spinosus, Conomurex persicus, Indothais lacera and Trochus erithreus) and 24 species belong to crustacean (Alpheus inopinatus, A. migrans, Atergatis roseus, Balanus trigonus, Charybdis (Charybdis) hellerii, C. (Goniohellenus) longicollis, Erugosquilla massavensis, Heteropanope laevis, Ixa monodi, Leptochela aculeocaudata, L. pugnax, Coleusia signata , Macrophthalmus graffei, Penaeus pulchricaudatus, P. semisulcatus, Metapenaeopsis mogiensis consobrina, Metapenaeus monoceros, M. stebbingi, Micippa thalia var. caledonica, Myra subgranulata, Portunus (Portunus) segnis, Thalamita indistincta, T. poissonii and Trachysalambria palaestinensis. Other species already reported include two species of Echinodermata (Ophiactis parva and Synaptula reciprocans), two species of Annelida (Spirobranchus tetraceros and Spirorbis marioni), one species of cnidaria (Macrorhynchia philippina) and two species of chordate (Herdmania momus and Phallusia nigra). Other species known as aliens in the Mediterranean were already described in local studies on the Syrian coast, but not reported in the international database as present in Syria. These include 13 species of gastropoda collected during the period 2007-2014 from different sites, including Alvania dorbignyi, Bulla ampulla, Cerithiopsis pulvis, C. tenthrenois, Clathrofenella ferruginea, Conus fumigatus, Erosaria turdus, Finella pupoides, Odostomia lorioli, Pyrunculus fourierii, Sticteulima cf. lentiginosa, Syrnola fasciata and Zafra selasphora (Arabia, 2011; Ammar, 2016a). Furthermore, 2 species of bivalvia viz. Afrocardium richardi and Circenita callipyga were reported (Ammar, 2002; Ibrahim et al., 2005; Ammar et al., 2013). As research continued, one species of cephalopods i.e. the flying squids, Ommastrephase bartramii (Lesueur, 1821) has recorded for the first time locally, three individuals Table 1. Continued. Species First record Habitat Depth Abundance Status Reference ECHINODERMATA Ophiactis macrolepidota Marktanner-Turneretscher, 1887 Lattakia, 2003 Rocky 7-11 m Few Established Zibrowius and Bitar (2003) Synaptula reciprocans (Forsskål, 1775) Ras Samra, Ibn- Hani, 2003 Cymodocea nodosa meadow 12-32 m Few Established Bitar et al. (2003) CNIDARIA Macrorhynchia philippina Kirchenpauer, 1872 North of Lattakia, 1999, Rocky 7m Few Established Zibrowius and Bitar (2003) SPONGIA Agelas linnaei (de Voogd et al. 2008) Latakia, 2014 Rocky 15-30 m One specimen Established Ammar and Fadel (2017) Table 2. Number and percentage composition of native and alien species along the Syrian coast. Total number of species Native species Alien and cryptogenic species Percentage of alien species on the total Gastropoda 246 213 33 13.41 Bivalvia 133 121 12 9.02 Polychaeta 88 86 2 2.27 Crustacea 101 77 24 23.76 Spongia 29 28 1 3.45 Others 87 82 7 8.04 Total 684 607 79 11.55 187 Int. J. Aquat. Biol. (2019) 7(4): 180-194 Figure 4. New recorded alien species of the Syrian coastal water. 188 Ammar / Alien macrozoobenthic species along the Syrian coast were collected in March and April 2016, two individuals from the Ras Al-basset coast and one from the Jableh coast, at depths ranging from 40-130 m (Ammar and Maaroof, 2016). In addition, one species of sea slugs, Goniobranchus annulatus (Eliot, 1904) has recently collected (in October 2018) from Tartous in the south of Syria. This Lessepsian migrant was invaded the Mediterranean Sea, and recorded since 2007 (Daskos and Zenetos, 2007). New recorded alien crustaceans are four individuals of Saron marmoratus (Olivier, 1811) collected from the rocky bottom near Lattakia Port in 2018, (Ammar and Raya, 2019) and two individuals of Ashtoret lunaris (Forskål, 1775) from the sandy beach in south of Latakia in 2017 (Ammar and Arabia, 2018), seven individuals of Metapenaeopsis aegyptia (Galil and Golani, 1990) from the depth of 60 m in 2012 from the Latakia coast (Ammar, 2016). Furthermore, new record of exotic species of demospongia Agelas linnaei (de Voogd et al., 2008) was reported for the first time in the Syrian coast from sublittoral area at 15-30 m of Ibn Hani region in April- May 2014. This species is Indo-pacific origin (Ammar and Fadel, 2017). The present study also reports new records of alien species in the marine protected area of Ibn Hani, north of Lattakia, at depths ranging between 1-40 m, collected during 2015-2016. These include two species of gastropoda, including S. cinctella and Ventomnestia girardi, and one species of bivalvia, Septifer cumingii (Table 1). These species are Indo- Pacific origin, introduced to the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal (Zenetos et al., 2004). Trends and distribution: The increase in the number of alien species in the Syrian waters is due to the continuing introduction of new species from the Red Sea and neighboring areas as well as the increase in research effort which is conducted in new areas and depths. Regarding Mollusca, 31% of the total number of individuals are found in the soft bottom at depth 90- 160 m (Ammar et al., 2013). In the littoral region, the invasive species of B. pharaonis, E. junionae, T. erithareus and C. scabridum are dominate in the coastal region, where they have been found for more than twenty years, similar to B. pharaonis (Saker and Ammar, 1994b) and C. scabridum and E. junionae (Saker and Ammar, 1994a). On the hard bottom of the sublittoral zone, the most important alien species in terms of distribution and abundance are P. nedyma, C. scabridum, F. pupoides, S. fasciata, R. kochi, C. persicus (gastropoda), and B. pharaonis, G. savignyi (Jonas, 1846), P. imbricata radiata, M. regula, C. pacifica and S. spinosus (bivalves). In the soft bottom, Septifer forskali is dominant at depth 15-40 m and S. cucullata attached to S. tetraceros at depth of 60 m. All new alien species are of Indo- Pacific and/or Red Sea origin, introduced to the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal. The majority of new alien gastropods are still spreading in few numbers, which did not exceed 56 individual/m2 in the benthic habitats at the littoral and sublittoral zone, lower than a depth of 160 m. Many other species known as invasive are dominant or common in the littoral and/or sublittoral habitats such as C. scabridum, and R. kochi. Conomurex persicus, E. junionae, D. ruipplli and T. erithraeus. Rhinoclavis kochi, C. scabridum, and Murex forskoehli were found at deep Syrian water, although both R. kochi and C. scabridum are the most important invasive species in the shallow area. Abundance of G. savignyi is increasing and Ruditapes decussatus appears at deeper sites. Concerning crustacean, 90 species known from different areas and found between 1992 and 2016 (Saker and Farah, 1994, 1997; Ammar, 2002; Arabia, 2011; Hassan et al., 2008; Ammar, et al., 2013). 24 species are Indo-Pacific origin (23.76%). Most of these species are brawns, lobsters and crabs that economically important. Lessepsian migrant shrimps, P. pulchricaudatus and P. semisulcatus are commercially important and more abundant at the depth (50-100 m) on the muddy and sandy bottoms As well as presence of M. monoceros in the same medium. Portunus segnis is common at depths of 50- 70 m. Erugsquilla massawenses (migrant lobster) is found at a depth over 50 m. Two crab species viz. M. subgranulatais and C. helleri are dominant on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_Sea https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guillaume-Antoine_Olivier 189 Int. J. Aquat. Biol. (2019) 7(4): 180-194 muddy bottom at depth of >50 m. Leptochela aculeocaudata and Glabropilumnus laevis are found on the rocky bottom in sea grass habitats. Recent studies showed occurrence of two species of crabs, M. subgranulata and C. longicollis in the muddy bottom at depth of 500-600 m (Ammar, 2016). The number of alien crabs on the Syrian coast, which is 14, does not seem to be significant in comparison to total number of exotic crabs recorded in the Mediterranean Sea that reported to be 39 until 2013 (Zaouali et al., 2012; Karhan et al., 2013). Two cryptogenic alien species viz. Thecacera pennigera and A. d’orbigny are found in 2013 from a muddy bottom at depth of 100 m and in 2011 at depths ranged 17-160 m in the mixed bottom, respectively. Concerning Annelida, the total number is 89 species (Ammar 1995, 2002; Ammar et al., 2011) that two alien species reported in previous studies (Ammar, 1995; Bitar, 2003), S. (Spirorbis) marioni being dominant on the rocky substrate in the littoral zone and S. tetraceros is found in the soft bottoms in the sublittoral zone. In conclusion, the expansion of alien species in the Syrian coast could be explained in the different behaviour or dynamic of these species with time (van Aartsen, 2006) and their ability to tolerate the disturbances in the marine environment (Çinar et al.,2006; Occhipinti-Ambrogi and Savini, 2003), especially regarding the increase in water temperature in deep sea associated with climate changes, with a sharp change in the hydrological characteristics of the Eastern basin (Lejeusne et al., 2010; Raitsos et al., 2010; Lelieveld et al., 2012). Many alien species were found at depth >100 m, few were dominant, this observations refer to expand some of alien species from the shallow water to the deep sea some of them dominating since more than 20 years. Establishment success of invasive species: Most of 79 reported alien species found along the Syrian coast are established, none of them is questionable, casual or cryptogenic (Table 1). Some of them are dominant in the marine habitats and compete with native species for food and habitat. These include C. scabridum, P. maiae, F. pupoides, R. kochi, C. persicus, P. textilis. Eleven species are listed in the black list of marine invasive species and some of these species are harmful since they affect local species or biodiversity, especially F. pupoides, R. kochi, C. persicus, C. pacifica, S. tetraceros, L. pugnax and C. longicollis. In addition, species such as P. imbricata radiata, Crassostrea gigas and S. cucullata have a negative impact on the fish resources and environmental health as well as on underwater constructions in sublittoral zone. Chama pacifica and S. spinosus replaced the two native species C. phoides and S. gaederopus. The pharaonic mussel B. pharaonis displaced the native mytilid, Mytilaster minimus completely, with a great impact on the local benthic populations. Cerithium scabridum has replaced C. vulgatum, and C. rupestra. C. persicus, A. drobigni and C. kochi are present in high density and biomass. The economic impact of the most of invasive species in Syria is little explored. Some of them, such as C. pacifica and S. spinosus, are valuable species for seashell collectors or embellishment with a small trading market. Pinctada imbricate radiata is sold for food in the markets and restaurants P. pulchricaudatus, P. semesolcatus and M. monocerus are also commercially important and valuable in the market. The number of invasive species increases with the number of species entering the eastern Mediterranean. According to Zenetos (2010, 2012), presently, more than 30 species of zoobenthos have been described as invasive species in the Syrian coast. It is also noticeable the spread of some invasive species into deeper areas. Many species of crustacean viz. P. pulchricaudatus and P. semisulcatus are abundant along the Syrian coast in the sublittoral area down to depth 100 m. In addition, M. monoceros, M. stebbingi, P. segnis and E. massavensis are also abundant. The negative impact of alien species in the Mediterranean Sea is documented in many works (Occhipinti- Ambrogi, 2000; Streftaris and Zenetos, 2006; EEA, 2012). Success of the most established alien zoobenthic species in Syrian coast can be explained with the hydrological characteristics of Syrian marine waters, showing an increase in salinity higher than 39 PSU, and a temperature ranging 13-32°C. Taking in 190 Ammar / Alien macrozoobenthic species along the Syrian coast consideration that all of alien species are thermophilic species, the Syrian marine environment confirm to be a favorite environment to establish these alien species. Comparison with neighbouring countries: A comparison of the total number of alien species of zoobenthos in Syria with those of some neighbouring countries of the Eastern Mediterranean revealed a relatively low number of the recorded species. A total of 239 marine NIS and cryptogenic species are reported from Greece (Zenetos et al., 2015b), most of them i.e. 214 species are aliens and 62 cryptogenic (Zenetos et al., 2018). Out of these, 146 are zoobenthos as follows: one Porifera, two Ctenophora, one Platyhelminthes, five Cnidaria, 44 Mollusca, 35 Annelida, eight Bryozoa, 42 Crustacea, and three Echinodermata and seven Tunicata (see http://elnais.hcmr.gr/elnaisdatabase-2), while the rest are plants, Foraminifera and fishes, etc.. In Italy, 35 alien molluscan species recorded (Crocetta et al., 2013a). In Turkey, a total of 111 molluscan species (Öztürk et al., 2014), including six Echinodermata (Öztoprak et al., 2014) from the Levantine coast, 50 crustacean (Suat Ate et al., 2013), and 57 Polychaeta have been reported (Çinar et al., 2014). A recent study revealed that the contribution of alien Mollusca account for approximately 30% of the molluscan fauna i.e. 32 out of 106 (Guarnieri et al., 2017). In Cyprus 42 species of Mollusca, 19 Polychaeta, 12 crustacean, and 10 species from other taxa have been reported up to July 2009 (Katsanevakis et al., 2009). The updated checklist of Mollusca of Lebanon is 32 species, including 13 opisthobranches (12 alien and one cryptogenic) (Crocetta et al., 2013b) and 18 Bivalvia (Crocetta et al., 2013c). Conclusion The present study indicate that the benthic fauna along the Syrian coast has suffered from an increase in the number of alien species, with the record of new species, their extension in the northern part of the Syrian coast and disappearance of many native species. Alien species consist 11.55% of the total number of species of zoobenthos, with dominance of Mollusca and Crustacea. Many of the established species have become an invader and dominant in the marine environment of Syria. Their proliferation is accelerating and also their negative impact on the native species on the socio-economic activities seems to be clear. What is required today of the concerned scientific community is increasing the effort to monitor the environmental situation in the Syrian coast and help to predict future changes and find ways to address them or managed. Rapid assessment surveys are one approach to quickly characterize the native, non- native and cryptogenic species present in the Syrian marine environment. The study of the relation between native and alien species will be the aims of our future research based on the knowledge gathered in the present study. Acknowledgements I would like to thank everyone who helped get the samples and I am grateful to S. Eagderi the managing editor of IJAB who comments substantially improved the quality of the manuscript. Sincere thanks to A. Zenetos and P. Magni for commenting on the article. References Ammar I. (1995). Quantitative and qualitative study of zoobenthos in Lattakia coast. Master thesis, Tishreen University Lattakia, Syria. 173 p. (In Arabic) Ammar I. (2002). 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