Restructuring the Sea: profound shifts in the world's most invaded marine ecosystem

摘要: Aim We examine fish invasions in the south-eastern Mediterranean as a model system for invasibility of open coasts and provide perspectives through review global marine invasions. Location South-eastern (Levant Sea). Methods compare historical (1990–1994) modern (2008–2011) trawl surveys from continental shelf upper slope Israel to evaluate relative abundance biomass Indo-Pacific fishes their impact on diversity trophic level (TrL). resultant changes community composition by both univariate multivariate analyses, compliment this study with critical coast Results A staggering 55 species have established permanent populations last 142 years, more than any other ecosystem. This process is accelerating 13 27 new arrivals having 21st century alone. Invasive proportions shallow doubled just two decades today Levantine ecosystem dominated non-native species. proliferation has resulted significant declines some indigenous species, near extirpation levels. Main conclusions Here, we show that non-estuarine ecosystems are much susceptible large-scale invasion pressures previously thought. Our results place same category overexploitation, habitat destruction pollution, processes normally considered perturbations coastal communities. propose despite these irreversible alterations, masked overall TrL replacing native invasives similar ecological position. As extirpations increase, anticipate further biomass, Sea.