First record of the calanoid copepod Pseudodiaptomus marinus Sato, 1913 in the North Aegean Sea, in Thessaloniki Bay, Greece

Abstract

The presence of the non-indigenous calanoid copepod Pseudodiaptomus marinus is reported for the first time in the North Aegean Sea, in Thessaloniki Bay, a semi-enclosed basin in the inner part of Thermaikos Gulf. Both female and male specimens were collected during monitoring sampling in the study area. The pathway of arrival of the species most probably is via ballast water, since the sampling site is next to the port of Thessaloniki, which experiences high traffic of commercial maritime transport. Continuous monitoring of the area is needed to reveal the establishment status of the species and its impacts on the zooplankton community.