Possible Interactions between Invasive Caulerpa Taxa and Native Macrozoobenthos: The Case Study of Favignana Island

Abstract

Biological invasions are widely recognized as a major threat to native biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and services. Amongst the NIS recorded in the Mediterranean Sea, Chlorophyta species belonging to the genus Caulerpa (Caulerpa cylindracea, C. taxifolia and C. taxifolia var. distichophylla) have raised serious concerns due to their potential or ascertained impact on native benthic communities. During surveys carried out to monitor the occurrence and the coverage of Caulerpa species along the coasts of Favignana Island (Egadi Islands Marine Protected Area), we observed variations in C. cylindracea and C. taxifolia coverage and also some large invertebrates overgrown with thalli of both species.