The Copepod Acartia tonsa Dana in a Microtidal Mediterranean Lagoon: History of a Successful Invasion

The copepod Acartia tonsa has emerged as the dominant species within the Acartia genus in Venice's lagoon, supplanting native species like Paracartia latisetosa and Acartia margalefi. This shift, documented through four mesozooplankton datasets spanning 1975 to 2017, highlights A. tonsa's opportunistic nature, thriving under conditions of varying temperature, phytoplankton abundance, particulate organic carbon (POC), chlorophyll a, and salinity gradients. The study reveals that anthropogenic factors and environmental stressors have created an ideal environment for the invasion of nonindigenous species in this microtidal Mediterranean lagoon, with significant implications for its trophic network and ecosystem services. By comparing coexistence patterns before and after A. tonsa's settlement, researchers underscore the ecological consequences of such invasions on UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Camatti, E., Pansera, M., & Bergamasco, A. (2019). The Copepod Acartia tonsa Dana in a Microtidal Mediterranean Lagoon: History of a Successful Invasion. Water, 11(6), 1200. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11061200