Prof. Adib SAAD
Laboratory of Marine Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria
Title: NEGATIVE IMPACT OF INVASIVE INDO- PACIFIC BLUESPOTTED CORNET FISH ON THE BIODIVERSITY AND NATIVES FISH STOCKS IN THE SYRIAN AND LEBANESE MARINE WATERS
Biography
Biography: Prof. Adib SAAD
Abstract
Background:Syria a, just like Lebanon and the neighboring countries, is one of the most influenced countries by the invasive alien species due to its proximity to the Suez Canal and the dense maritime traffic along its coastline. Invasive species, in fact, may alter the evolutionary pathway of native species by competitive exclusion, niche displacement, predation and other ecological and genetic mechanisms. The bluespotted cornet fish Fistularia Commersonii (Ruppel,1838) may contribute to increase this alternation, because it is one of the most abundant and dominant Indo-Pacific alien fishes along the Levantine basin of the Mediterranean Sea at the onset of the past decade Objective: In order to know the extent and mechanism of the negative impact of this exotic species on the diversity and the natural stock of native species and her environment, it has been the study of the reproductive cycle and diet of bluespotted cornet fish. Methods: The study was performed in the coastal area of Lebanon and Syria along 380 km (approximately). A total of 460 specimens of Bluespotted cornet fish were collected by beach seine and trammel net at depth of 2-20 m from October 2012 to September 2013 Results: The results of this work was shown a rapid development among the ichtyofauna in the Eastern Mediterranean. Fistularia commersonii spawned in the Syrian and Lebanese coast from the second half of May until early August, with greatest intensity in June. Fecundity ranged between 355-697 eggs/g /ovary. This species It is carnivorous, and feed on many small fish species, such as Sardinella spp., Sprarus spratus, Alosa fallax, Boops bops .etc. 12-30 individual preys was found in the stomach of every specimen). Conclusion: The high fecundity rate, the long period of reproduction, and its rapidly expanding population feeding on fish, make a decline of the biomass and causing damage and loss to fisheries yield and perturbed the marine biodiversity.