Refining a molecular tool kit to capture tropicalization in Mediterranean marine protected areas

Neave, EF ORCID: 0000-0002-0410-0338, Dimitriadis, C, Shum, P ORCID: 0000-0001-8154-9828, Riesgo, A and Mariani, S ORCID: 0000-0002-5329-0553 (2026) Refining a molecular tool kit to capture tropicalization in Mediterranean marine protected areas. Conservation Science and Practice, 8 (5). ISSN 2578-4854

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Abstract

Tropicalization, the process by which tropical species expand their ranges poleward due to global ocean warming, is a prominent threat to Mediterranean marine ecosystems, challenging their effective management and conservation. The arrival of non-indigenous fish is exacerbated by the Suez Canal that allows Indo-Pacific species to enter the region from the Red Sea. While some non-indigenous species (NIS) have already changed the composition and function of native Mediterranean communities, many others continue to arrive but often go unnoticed without regular surveys or until they are strongly established. We conducted biodiversity surveys using underwater visual census (UVC), aqueous environmental DNA (eDNA) and sponge-derived eDNA (i.e., eDNA accumulated in sea sponge tissue) at two protected locations in Zakynthos, Greece. Seven NIS were detected by eDNA, but only one (dusky spinefoot, Siganus luridus) was detected with all three methods. The fish assemblages of the two locations could be distinguished based on both UVC and eDNA but not from sponge-derived eDNA data, perhaps owing to lower filtration rates and the known higher microbial symbionts found in some of the targeted sponge species. Of the three methods, aqueous eDNA metabarcoding provided the most comprehensive species list including new NIS detected (with the red-toothed triggerfish, Odonus niger, and the houndfish, Tylosurus crocodilus, being the first and third record in the Mediterranean Sea, respectively). Our findings highlight the potential value of incorporating molecular methods into regular monitoring as early warning tools for detecting NIS in marine protected areas threatened by ocean warming.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	biodiversity; biomonitoring; climate change; environmental DNA; marine management; metabarcoding; natural samplers; sponges; 41 Environmental Sciences; 3103 Ecology; 4104 Environmental Management; 31 Biological Sciences; 15 Life on Land; 14 Life Below Water; 3007 Forestry sciences; 3103 Ecology; 4104 Environmental management
Subjects:	Q Science > QL Zoology
Divisions:	Biological and Environmental Sciences (from Sep 19)
Publisher:	Wiley
Date of acceptance:	8 February 2026
Date of first compliant Open Access:	9 June 2026
Date Deposited:	09 Jun 2026 15:22
Last Modified:	09 Jun 2026 15:22
DOI or ID number:	10.1111/csp2.70271
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/28790

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