Expansion of the non-indigenous sponge Paraleucilla magna Klautau, Monteiro & Borojevic, 2004 (Porifera: Calcarea) along the Mediterranean coast of Morocco

Authors and affiliation

• Fouzi Abdelkhaleq Taybi Multidisciplinary Faculty of Nador, Research Team in Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Mohammed Premier University, Nador, Morocco
• Kamal Gourari Faculty of Sciences, Laboratory for the Improvement of Agricultural Production, Biotechnologies and the Environment, Mohamed Premier University, Oujda, Morocco
• Abdessadek Essadek Université Mohammed Premier, Laboratoire de Bioressources, Biotechnologie, Ethnopharmacologie et Santé. Équipe: Biochimie appliquée à la valorisation des bioressources Département de Biologie
• Youness Mabrouki Faculty of Sciences of Dhar El Mehraz, Laboratory of Biotechnology, Conservation and Valorization of Bioresources, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco

Abstract

The Mediterranean Sea is experiencing an increased impact of biological invasions, including along the coastlines of North Africa. The non-indigenous sponge Paraleucilla magna Klautau, Monteiro & Borojevic, 2004 was detected recently in the western Mediterranean coast of Morocco. In this paper we document for the first time the occurrence of this non-indigenous species (NIS) in Marchica Lagoon, a Ramsar site and protected area situated on the eastern Mediterranean coast of Morocco. Additionally, we report it from the Saidia Marina, the easternmost location in the country where the species has been found, demonstrating its rapid expansion. The Marchica lagoon and Saidia marina have become hotspots for the proliferation of NIS, underscoring the pressing need for monitoring and management strategies to address the issue of biological invasions in this region.

Keywords

North Africa, protected area, Marchica lagoon, Saidia Marina, non-indigenous species, range-expanding species.

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