AUTHOR=Platin Raz , Shenkar Noa 

TITLE=Can stand the heat – ecology of the potentially invasive ascidian Styela plicata along the Mediterranean coast of Israel

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Marine Science

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1159231

DOI=10.3389/fmars.2023.1159231

ISSN=2296-7745

ABSTRACT=Both colonial and solitary invasive ascidians (Chordata, Ascidiacea) have been gathering attention due to their negative impact on coastal environments. The solitary ascidian Styela plicata was first observed along the coast of Israel in 2014. It is considered a cosmopolitan species of unknown origin, and is well-known for its ability to create large aggregations on artificial substrates in the western Mediterranean Sea and North-Pacific Ocean. The extreme environmental conditions that characterize the Mediterranean coast of Israel, with a salinity of 40 ppt and sea-surface temperature reaching 33˚C, may however present a barrier to its future spread. We examined the seasonal reproduction patterns and population structure of three populations over two years, in addition to spatial surveys and monitoring oocyte release under laboratory conditions. Histological sections revealed significant differences in reproduction patterns between seasons and sites, with high reproductive output observed during the winter for all sites. Along the Israeli coast, with the exception of one site,  S. plicata is currently restricted to marinas and ports, with an impressive ability to survive the extreme environmental conditions and sustain reproductive populations. Acquiring data on its spread and establishment is essential for modeling S. plicata’s distribution under the current and predicted global changes, and for developing tools for its mitigation and control.