Sayyadoghly, Fariborz; Mirzajani, Alireza; Shabanipour, Nadir; Ten Hove, Harry A. (2024). Resurgence of massive occurrence of the invasive polychaete Ficopomatus enigmaticus (Fauvel, 1923) in the Caspian Sea. Zoology in the Middle East. 70(3): 267-274.

492279

10.1080/09397140.2024.2378519 [view]

Sayyadoghly, Fariborz; Mirzajani, Alireza; Shabanipour, Nadir; Ten Hove, Harry A.

2024

70(3): 267-274

Publication

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09397140.2024.2378519

Annelidabase

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This report highlights the first substantial occurrence of the polychaete Ficopomatus enigmaticus in the Caspian Sea after nearly six decades. This taxon was observed on the southern coasts in the harbour zones of Bandar-e-Anzali and Anzali Trade Industrial Free Zone. Most recently, the densities of F. enigmaticus have gradually increased in the marina of Caspian port in the Anzali Trade Industrial Free Zone, covering the canal walls from April 2022 to August 2023. However, successful settlement in Bandar- e-Anzali was not observed, probably due to the discharge of fresh water, which decreased salinity. The average dry mass of reefs and worms was reported as 840 and 4.4 g/m2, respectively, with the maximum total dry mass of the reef reaching 1.75 kg/m2 in August 2023. These reefs created habitats for other macrofouling organisms, including partly exotic polychaetes, bivalves and crustaceans. They also provided shelter for mobile representatives of Amphipoda, Mysida and Decapoda. This study suggests that environmental change in the Caspian Sea ecosystem may contribute to an increase in the presence of F. enigmaticus.

Caspian Sea, Black Sea, Ponto-Caspian

Systematics, Taxonomy

Annelida
Polychaeta

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