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Peyton J, Hadjistylli M, Tziortzis I, Erotokritou E, Demetriou M, Samuel Y, Anastasi V, Fyttis G, Hadjioannou L, Ieronymidou C, Kassinis N, Kleitou P, Kletou D, Mandoulaki A, Michailidis N, Papatheodoulou A, Payiattas G, Sparrow D, Sparrow R, Turvey K, Tzirkalli E, Varnava AI, Pescott OL. Using expert-elicitation to deliver biodiversity monitoring priorities on a Mediterranean island. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0256777. [PMID: 35324899 PMCID: PMC8947143 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Biodiversity monitoring plays an essential role in tracking changes in ecosystems, species distributions and abundances across the globe. Data collected through both structured and unstructured biodiversity recording can inform conservation measures designed to reduce, prevent, and reverse declines in valued biodiversity of many types. However, given that resources for biodiversity monitoring are limited, it is important that funding bodies prioritise investments relative to the requirements in any given region. We addressed this prioritisation requirement for a biodiverse Mediterranean island (Cyprus) using a three-stage process of expert-elicitation. This resulted in a structured list of twenty biodiversity monitoring needs; specifically, a hierarchy of three groups of these needs was created using a consensus approach. The most highly prioritised biodiversity monitoring needs were those related to the development of robust survey methodologies, and those ensuring that sufficiently skilled citizens are available to contribute. We discuss ways that the results of our expert-elicitation process could be used to support current and future biodiversity monitoring in Cyprus.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Peyton
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - M. Hadjistylli
- Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Lefkosia, Cyprus
| | - I. Tziortzis
- Water Development Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Lefkosia, Cyprus
| | - E. Erotokritou
- Department of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Lefkosia, Cyprus
| | - M. Demetriou
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, Lefkosia, Cyprus
| | - Y. Samuel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, Lefkosia, Cyprus
- Oceanography Centre, University of Cyprus, Lefkosia, Cyprus
| | - V. Anastasi
- Terra Cypria - The Cyprus Conservation Foundation, Lefkosia, Cyprus
- BirdLife Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - G. Fyttis
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, Lefkosia, Cyprus
- I.A.CO Environmental & Water Consultants Ltd., Lefkosia, Cyprus
| | - L. Hadjioannou
- Enalia Physis Environmental Research Centre, Lefkosia, Cyprus
- CMMI – Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute, Larnaca, Cyprus
| | | | - N. Kassinis
- Game and Fauna Service, Ministry of Interior, Lefkosia, Cyprus
| | - P. Kleitou
- Marine & Environmental Research (MER) Lab, Lemesos, Cyprus
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - D. Kletou
- Marine & Environmental Research (MER) Lab, Lemesos, Cyprus
- Department of Maritime Transport and Commerce, Frederick University, Lemesos, Cyprus
| | - A. Mandoulaki
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, Lemesos, Cyprus
| | - N. Michailidis
- Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Lefkosia, Cyprus
| | | | - G. Payiattas
- Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Lefkosia, Cyprus
| | - D. Sparrow
- Cyprus Dragonfly Study Group, Pafos, Cyprus
| | - R. Sparrow
- Cyprus Dragonfly Study Group, Pafos, Cyprus
| | - K. Turvey
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, United Kingdom
| | - E. Tzirkalli
- School of Pure and Applied Sciences, Open University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - A. I. Varnava
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, Lemesos, Cyprus
| | - O. L. Pescott
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, United Kingdom
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Bennett S, Alcoverro T, Kletou D, Antoniou C, Boada J, Buñuel X, Cucala L, Jorda G, Kleitou P, Roca G, Santana‐Garcon J, Savva I, Vergés A, Marbà N. Resilience of seagrass populations to thermal stress does not reflect regional differences in ocean climate. New Phytol 2022; 233:1657-1666. [PMID: 34843111 PMCID: PMC9299911 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence of local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity among populations is critical to accurately predicting when and where climate change impacts will occur. Currently, comparisons of thermal performance between populations are untested for most marine species or overlooked by models predicting the thermal sensitivity of species to extirpation. Here we compared the ecological response and recovery of seagrass populations (Posidonia oceanica) to thermal stress throughout a year-long translocation experiment across a 2800-km gradient in ocean climate. Transplants in central and warm-edge locations experienced temperatures > 29°C, representing thermal anomalies > 5°C above long-term maxima for cool-edge populations, 1.5°C for central and < 1°C for warm-edge populations. Cool-edge, central and warm-edge populations differed in thermal performance when grown under common conditions, but patterns contrasted with expectations based on thermal geography. Cool-edge populations did not differ from warm-edge populations under common conditions and performed significantly better than central populations in growth and survival. Our findings reveal that thermal performance does not necessarily reflect the thermal geography of a species. We demonstrate that warm-edge populations can be less sensitive to thermal stress than cooler, central populations suggesting that Mediterranean seagrasses have greater resilience to warming than current paradigms suggest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Bennett
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTas.7001Australia
- Global Change Research GroupInstitut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avançats (CSIC‐UIB)Miquel Marquès 21Esporles07190Spain
| | - Teresa Alcoverro
- Centre d’Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB‐CSIC)Carrer Accés a la Cala Sant FrancescBlanes17300Spain
| | - Demetris Kletou
- Marine & Environmental Research (MER) Laboratory Ltd202 Amathountos Avenue, Marina Gardens, Block BLimassol4533Cyprus
| | - Charalampos Antoniou
- Marine & Environmental Research (MER) Laboratory Ltd202 Amathountos Avenue, Marina Gardens, Block BLimassol4533Cyprus
| | - Jordi Boada
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències AmbientalsFacultat de BiologiaUniversitat de BarcelonaAv. Diagonal, 643Barcelona08028Spain
- Institut d’Ecologia AquàticaFacultat de CiènciesUniversitat de GironaGirona17003Spain
| | - Xavier Buñuel
- Centre d’Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB‐CSIC)Carrer Accés a la Cala Sant FrancescBlanes17300Spain
| | - Lidia Cucala
- Global Change Research GroupInstitut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avançats (CSIC‐UIB)Miquel Marquès 21Esporles07190Spain
| | - Gabriel Jorda
- Instituto Español de OceanografíaCentre Oceanogràfic de BalearsMoll de Ponent s/nPalma07015Spain
| | - Periklis Kleitou
- Marine & Environmental Research (MER) Laboratory Ltd202 Amathountos Avenue, Marina Gardens, Block BLimassol4533Cyprus
- School of Biological and Marine SciencesUniversity of PlymouthPlymouthPL4 8AAUK
| | - Guillem Roca
- Global Change Research GroupInstitut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avançats (CSIC‐UIB)Miquel Marquès 21Esporles07190Spain
| | - Julia Santana‐Garcon
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTas.7001Australia
- Global Change Research GroupInstitut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avançats (CSIC‐UIB)Miquel Marquès 21Esporles07190Spain
| | - Ioannis Savva
- Marine & Environmental Research (MER) Laboratory Ltd202 Amathountos Avenue, Marina Gardens, Block BLimassol4533Cyprus
| | - Adriana Vergés
- Evolution & Ecology Research CentreCentre for Marine Science and InnovationSchool of Biological, Earth and Environmental SciencesUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNSW2033Australia
| | - Núria Marbà
- Global Change Research GroupInstitut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avançats (CSIC‐UIB)Miquel Marquès 21Esporles07190Spain
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Mouchlianitis FA, Kalaitzi G, Kleitou P, Savva I, Kletou D, Ganias K. Reproductive dynamics of the invasive lionfish (Pterois miles) in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. J Fish Biol 2022; 100:574-581. [PMID: 34874571 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The lionfish Pterois miles invaded the Mediterranean Sea in 2012 and spread fast to the entire eastern basin. This study provides evidence of successful spawning and the first detailed analysis of P. miles ovarian dynamics in the Mediterranean Sea. The ovarian reproductive phases of mature females collected from Cyprus (eastern Mediterranean) between September 2017 and August 2018 were analysed, both macroscopically and histologically. The results suggested a prolonged oocyte recruitment and development season, and a spawning season that primarily occurred during summertime, even though spawning-capable females were caught also in autumn. A year-round spawning activity may have been inhibited due to seasonal variations in water temperature. Multiple oocyte developmental stages co-occurred in females at different reproductive phases, indicating that more than one oocyte batches were released per spawning season. The analysis of the spawning batch formation enabled the batch fecundity estimation at 3225-63149 oocytes. The oocyte development pattern described in this study shared characteristics with the indeterminate fecundity type, where new oocytes are recruited to the secondary growth phase in parallel with spawning activity. Climate change is likely to extend the spawning season of lionfish in the Mediterranean Sea and further favour its invasion. The information provided in this study is vital for the design of strategic and effective management plans to restrain the expansion of this highly invasive fish.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Georgia Kalaitzi
- School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Periklis Kleitou
- Marine and Environmental Research Laboratory, Limassol, Cyprus
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Ioannis Savva
- Marine and Environmental Research Laboratory, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Demetris Kletou
- Marine and Environmental Research Laboratory, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Kostas Ganias
- School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Kleitou P, Crocetta F, Giakoumi S, Giovos I, Hall-Spencer JM, Kalogirou S, Kletou D, Moutopoulos DK, Rees S. Fishery reforms for the management of non-indigenous species. J Environ Manage 2021; 280:111690. [PMID: 33246748 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Marine ecosystems are undergoing major transformations due to the establishment and spread of Non-Indigenous Species (NIS). Some of these organisms have adverse effects, for example by reducing biodiversity and causing ecosystem shifts. Others have upsides, such as benefits to fisheries or replacing lost ecological functions and strengthening biogenic complexity. Stopping the spread of NIS is virtually impossible and so the societal challenge is how to limit the socioeconomic, health, and ecological risks, and sustainably exploit the benefits provided by these organisms. We propose a move away from the notion that NIS have only negative effects, and suggest a turn towards an Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management approach for NIS (EBFM-NIS) in the Mediterranean Sea, the world's most invaded marine region. A structured, iterative, and adaptive framework that considers the range of costs and benefits to ecosystems, ecosystem services, and fisheries is set out to determine whether NIS stocks should be managed using sustainable or unsustainable exploitation. We propose fishery reforms such as multiannual plans, annual catch limits, technical measures for sustainable exploitation, and legitimization of unlimited fishing of selected NIS and introduction of a radical new license for NIS fishing for unsustainable exploitation. Depending on local conditions, investment strategies can be included within the EBFM-NIS framework to protect/enhance natural assets to improve ecosystem resilience against NIS, as well as fishery assets to improve the performance of NIS fisheries. Examples of the former include the enhancement of Marine Protected Areas, harvesting of invasive NIS within MPAs, and protection of overfished predators and key species. Examples of the latter include market promotion and valorisation of NIS products, development of novel NIS products, and innovative/alternative NIS fishing such as fishery-related tourism ('pescatourism'). The application of the suggested EBFM-NIS would create jobs, protect and enhance ecosystem services, and help to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Periklis Kleitou
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth PL4 8AA, Plymouth, United Kingdom; Marine & Environmental Research (MER) Lab Ltd, 202 Amathountos Avenue, Marina Gardens, Block B, Limassol, 4533, Cyprus.
| | - Fabio Crocetta
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, I-80121, Napoli, Italy.
| | - Sylvaine Giakoumi
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Ioannis Giovos
- Marine & Environmental Research (MER) Lab Ltd, 202 Amathountos Avenue, Marina Gardens, Block B, Limassol, 4533, Cyprus; iSea, Environmental Organisation for the Preservation of the Aquatic Ecosystems, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Jason M Hall-Spencer
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth PL4 8AA, Plymouth, United Kingdom; Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shizuoka, 415-0025, Japan.
| | - Stefanos Kalogirou
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Hydrobiological Station of Rhodes, Rhodes, Greece.
| | - Demetris Kletou
- Marine & Environmental Research (MER) Lab Ltd, 202 Amathountos Avenue, Marina Gardens, Block B, Limassol, 4533, Cyprus.
| | - Dimitrios K Moutopoulos
- Department of Animal Production, Fisheries & Aquaculture, University of Patras, Mesolonghi, Greece.
| | - Siân Rees
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth PL4 8AA, Plymouth, United Kingdom.
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Peyton JM, Martinou AF, Adriaens T, Chartosia N, Karachle PK, Rabitsch W, Tricarico E, Arianoutsou M, Bacher S, Bazos I, Brundu G, Bruno-McClung E, Charalambidou I, Demetriou M, Galanidi M, Galil B, Guillem R, Hadjiafxentis K, Hadjioannou L, Hadjistylli M, Hall-Spencer JM, Jimenez C, Johnstone G, Kleitou P, Kletou D, Koukkoularidou D, Leontiou S, Maczey N, Michailidis N, Mountford JO, Papatheodoulou A, Pescott OL, Phanis C, Preda C, Rorke S, Shaw R, Solarz W, Taylor CD, Trajanovski S, Tziortzis I, Tzirkalli E, Uludag A, Vimercati G, Zdraveski K, Zenetos A, Roy HE. Horizon Scanning to Predict and Prioritize Invasive Alien Species With the Potential to Threaten Human Health and Economies on Cyprus. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.566281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Savva I, Chartosia N, Antoniou C, Kleitou P, Georgiou A, Stern N, Hadjioannou L, Jimenez C, Andreou V, Hall-Spencer JM, Kletou D. They are here to stay: the biology and ecology of lionfish (Pterois miles) in the Mediterranean Sea. J Fish Biol 2020; 97:148-162. [PMID: 32249927 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The lionfish, Pterois miles, is one of the most recent Lessepsian immigrants into the Mediterranean Sea, and it poses a serious threat to marine ecosystems in the region. This study assesses the basic biology and ecology of lionfish in the Mediterranean, examining morphometrics, reproduction and diet as well as population structure and distribution. The population density of lionfish has increased dramatically in Cyprus since the first sighting in late 2012; by 2018 aggregations of up to 70 lionfish were found on rocky grounds with complex reefs and artificial reefs in depths of 0-50 m. Lionfish in Cyprus become mature within a year, and adults are capable of spawning year-round, with peak spawning in summer when the sea-surface temperature reaches 28.4°C. The Cypriot lionfish grow faster and bigger than in their native range, and females are more common than males. Lionfish are generalist predators in these waters, as also found in their native range, consuming a range of teleost and crustacean prey, some of which are of high economic value (e.g., Spicara smaris and Sparisoma cretense) or have an important role in local trophic webs (e.g., Chromis chromis). Overall, the reproductive patterns, the presence of juveniles and adults throughout the year, the rapid growth rates and the generalist diet indicate that lionfish are thriving and are now already well established in the region and could potentially become the serious nuisance that they are in their temperate and tropical western Atlantic-invasive range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Savva
- Marine & Environmental Research (MER) Lab, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Niki Chartosia
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | | | - Periklis Kleitou
- Marine & Environmental Research (MER) Lab, Limassol, Cyprus
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Andreas Georgiou
- Enalia Physis Environmental Research Centre, Nicosia, Cyprus
- KIOS Research and Innovation Centre of Excellence, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Nir Stern
- National Institute of Oceanography, Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, Haifa, Israel
| | | | - Carlos Jimenez
- Enalia Physis Environmental Research Centre, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Vasilis Andreou
- Enalia Physis Environmental Research Centre, Nicosia, Cyprus
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Kletou D, Kleitou P, Savva I, Attrill MJ, Antoniou C, Hall-Spencer JM. Seagrass recovery after fish farm relocation in the eastern Mediterranean. Mar Environ Res 2018; 140:221-233. [PMID: 30251646 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2018.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Revised: 06/09/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Finfish aquaculture has damaged seagrass meadows worldwide as wastes from the farms can kill these habitat-forming plants. In Cyprus, the Mediterranean endemic Posidonia oceanica is at its upper thermal limits yet forms extensive meadows all around the island. Understanding this under-studied isolated population may be important for the long-term survival of the species given that the region is warming rapidly. When fish farming began around Cyprus in the mid-nineties, cages were moored above seagrass beds, but as production expanded they were moved into deeper water further away from the meadows. Here, we monitored the deepest edge of meadows near fish farms that had been moved into deeper waters as well as at a decommissioned farm site. Four P. oceanica monitoring systems were set up using methods developed by the Posidonia Monitoring Network. Seagrass % coverage, shoot density, % of plagiotropic rhizomes, shoot exposure, leaf morphometry, and sediment organic matter content and grain size were monitored at 11 fixed plots within each system, in 2012-2014 and in 2017. Expansion at the lower depth limit of seagrass meadows was recorded at all monitoring sites. Most other P. oceanica descriptors either did not change significantly or declined. Declines were most pronounced at a site that was far from mariculture activities but close to other anthropogenic pressures. The most important predictor affecting P. oceanica was depth. Monitoring using fixed plots allowed direct comparisons of descriptors over time, removes patchiness and intra-meadow variability increasing our understanding of seagrass dynamics and ecosystem integrity. It seems that moving fish farms away from P. oceanica has helped ensure meadow recovery at the deepest margins of their distribution, an important success story given that these meadows are at the upper thermal limits of the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Demetris Kletou
- Marine & Environmental Research (MER) Lab Ltd, Limassol, 4533, Cyprus; School of Biological & Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK.
| | - Periklis Kleitou
- Marine & Environmental Research (MER) Lab Ltd, Limassol, 4533, Cyprus; School of Biological & Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Ioannis Savva
- Marine & Environmental Research (MER) Lab Ltd, Limassol, 4533, Cyprus
| | - Martin J Attrill
- School of Biological & Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
| | | | - Jason M Hall-Spencer
- School of Biological & Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK; Shimoda Marine Research Centre, University of Tsukuba, Shizuoka, Japan
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Rousou M, Ganias K, Kletou D, Loucaides A, Tsinganis M. Maturity of the pufferfish Lagocephalus sceleratus in the southeastern Mediterranean Sea. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014. [DOI: 10.3354/sedao00005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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