Polychaetes (Annelida) of Cyprus (Eastern Mediterranean Sea)
An Updated and Annotated Checklist including New Distribution Records
Maria Rousou (Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment of the Republic of Cyprus)
Joachim Langeneck (University of Salento)
Chara Apserou ( AP Marine Environmental Consultancy)
Christos Arvanitidis (Hellenic Center for Marine Research (HCMR))
Stephanos Charalambous ( T.C. Geomatic)
Kyproula Chrysanthou ( AP Marine Environmental Consultancy)
George Constantinides
Panagiotis D. Dimitriou (University of Crete)
Sergio Carlos García Gómez
Soteria Irene Hadjieftychiou ( AP Marine Environmental Consultancy)
Nikolaos Katsiaras (Hellenic Center for Marine Research (HCMR))
Periklis Kleitou
Demetris Kletou (Frederick University Cyprus)
Frithjof C. Küpper (University of Aberdeen)
Paraskevi Louizidou (University of Aberdeen, Hellenic Center for Marine Research (HCMR))
Roberto Martins (University of Aveiro)
Manos L. Moraitis
Nafsika Papageorgiou (National and Capodistrian University of Athens)
Magdalene Papatheodoulou (Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment of the Republic of Cyprus)
Antonis Petrou ( AP Marine Environmental Consultancy)
Dimitris Xevgenos (TU Delft - Technology, Policy and Management)
Lavrentios Vasiliades (Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment of the Republic of Cyprus)
Eleni Voultsiadou (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)
Chariton Charles Chintiroglou (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)
Alberto Castelli (University of Pisa)
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Abstract
The diversity and distribution of polychaetes in the coastal area and the EEZ of the Republic of Cyprus is presented based on both the literature records and new data acquired in a wide range of environmental monitoring programmes and research projects. A total of 585 polychaete species belonging to 49 families were reported in Cyprus waters; among them, 205 species (34%) were recorded based on the literature only, 149 (26%) were new records based on our own data, and a total of 231 spp. (40%) were recorded from both the literature and new data. A total of 51 polychaete species were identified as non-indigenous; among them, 32 were confirmed as alien species, 4 were considered cryptogenic, and 15 were considered questionable as there were doubts about their identity. The Indo-Pacific Schistomeringos loveni was reported for the first time in the Mediterranean Sea, while four species already reported in the literature, namely, Bispira melanostigma, Fimbriosthenelais longipinnis Leonnates aylaoberi, and Rhodopsis pusilla, were added to the list of non-indigenous polychaetes in the Mediterranean Sea. The current work highlights the importance of implementing environmental monitoring programmes and carrying out research surveys targeting benthic macrofauna assemblages.