Coastal marine ecosystems face escalating threats from multiple anthropogenic stressors, including the release of industrial contaminants. Despite decades of industrial activity impacting marine ecosystems, long‐term effects on microbial communities and related key ecological functions remain unclear. Here, we analysed the prokaryotic genetic signatures of extracellular DNA preserved in sediment layers dating from the mid‐17th...

Among marine habitats Sabellaria alveolata-reefs deserve protection since they provide important ecosystem services and positive effects on biodiversity. Several marine species are listed among the S. alveolata-reef associated fauna, but characteristic species were seldom reported. Eulalia ornata (Annelida, Phyllodocidae) might represent an exception, since it appears common/abundant in S. alveolata-reefs of the Eastern Atlant...

Shallow hard bottom and intertidal soft bottom polychaete assemblages of the Alexandria coast, southeastern Mediterranean (Levantine Sea), were studied during a complete annual cycle in order to analyze spatial temporal patterns of variation in assemblages, and relevant factors related to polychaete distribution. The present study recorded a total of 73 species, belonging to Syllidae (22 species), Nereididae (9 species), Serpu...

The new Australian alien seaweed Caulerpa taxifolia var. distichophylla, after being established along the Turkish Mediterranean coast in 2006, was recorded in Southern Sicily in 2007. Since then local fishermen claimed support to counteract the effects of entanglement of large amounts of the alien strain wrack in their trammel nets, causing the gear to become ineffective. The further northward and westward spread of the new a...

Sabella spallanzanii is a large tubicolous filter feeder polychaete common in the Mediterranean fouling assemblages where it plays an important role in structuring the community. Its reproductive biology is well known and had been investigated since 1993. During the past few years a shift in its reproductive period has been observed. In 2008 the presence of ripe eggs in the females was observed at least two months in advance c...