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Effect of Biological Invasion on Aquatic Ecosystems

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Biodiversity and Functionality of Aquatic Ecosystems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 August 2026 | Viewed by 770

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Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
Interests: endangered fishes; freshwater fish behavior; impact of introduced fishes; systematics and zoogeography of freshwater fishes
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The homogenization of the Earth's biota by the introduction and spread of non-native species is one of the most damaging anthropogenic impacts on biodiversity today. Certainly, invasive species are among the greatest threats to aquatic biodiversity worldwide, causing negative ecological, economic, and health impacts. Invasive species have been linked to habitat alteration, including (1) vegetation removal, (2) changes in water quality, (3) introduction of parasites and diseases, (4) trophic alterations, (5) competition for food, (6) hybridization, (7) spatial alterations and competition for space, and (8) extirpation of native species. Ross (1991) found that the majority of studies (77%) examining effects of non-native species documented a decline of native fishes following the introductions.

This Special Issue seeks to understand (1) the impacts of invasive species on aquatic ecosystems and (2) management measures that can be implemented to control invasive species once they have become established. We welcome original papers addressing research papers on all aquatic species (e.g., fishes, amphibians, reptiles, algae, protozoans, insects, etc.).

Prof. Dr. Jay Stauffer
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • aquatic biodiversity
  • invasive species
  • biological invasions
  • ecosystem functioning
  • anthropogenic impacts
  • marine environment

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

20 pages, 6273 KB  
Article
Exploring the Structure of Seaweed Assemblages Under the Pressure of Non-Indigenous Species (NIS) in the Transitional Water System Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Mediterranean Sea, Southern Italy)
by Giuseppe Denti, Antonella Petrocelli, Ester Cecere, Fernando Rubino, Francesca P. De Luca and Pasquale Ricci
Water 2026, 18(12), 1443; https://doi.org/10.3390/w18121443 - 11 Jun 2026
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Abstract
This study portrays macroalgal assemblage structure in the transitional water system Mar Piccolo of Taranto (eLTER site) from 2012 to 2023, assessing the impact of the establishment of non-indigenous species (NIS). Seasonal sampling at three sites evaluated diversity and biomass variation through PERMANOVA, [...] Read more.
This study portrays macroalgal assemblage structure in the transitional water system Mar Piccolo of Taranto (eLTER site) from 2012 to 2023, assessing the impact of the establishment of non-indigenous species (NIS). Seasonal sampling at three sites evaluated diversity and biomass variation through PERMANOVA, PCoA, PERMDISP and Indicator Value (IndVal) analyses. Results reveal significant spatio-temporal heterogeneity: Site 1 remains dominated by native species (>70% biomass) and summer peaks of NIS (>70% biomass) were recorded at Site 3, whereas Site 4 experienced a substantial NIS expansion, reaching 97% of the total biomass by 2021. Statistical clustering identified distinct indicator species for each inlet of the basin, such as Amphiroa beauvoisii (IndVal = 100) in the First Inlet and the NIS Hypnea corona (IndVal = 65.6) in the Second. Water temperature emerged as a primary driver of community shifts. Most species, including both native (Chondracanthus acicularis; rs = 0.50, p ≤ 0.05) and several NIS (Polysiphonia morrowii rs = 0.65, p ≤ 0.5; Osmundea oederi rs = 0.70, p ≤ 0.5), exhibited negative correlations with mean thermal values, while Ulva laetevirens (rs = −0.50, p ≤ 0.05) showed greater tolerance. These findings highlight the importance of LTER monitoring in demonstrating that the Mar Piccolo’s resistance to NIS pressure is non-uniform across the basin. Under a global warming scenario, thermal forcing is actively reshaping macroalgal assemblages. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Biological Invasion on Aquatic Ecosystems)
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