CIESM ATLAS OF EXOTIC MACROPHYTES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA

The CIESM Atlas of Exotic Species covers the marine macrophytes. A total of 110 species (22 Chromobionta, 71 Rhodobionta, 16 Chlorobionta and 1 Magnoliophyta) are listed. Several other exotic species only known on the NE Atlantic coast are listed in the Annex. The kinetics of species introduction into the Mediterranean Sea is exponential since the late 19th century. As far as the number of introduced macrophytes is concerned, the main donor area is the Indo-Pacific region, and the main vectors of introduction are the shellfish aquaculture, followed by the ship traffic and the Suez Canal. Diagnostic features, biological information, references and a distribution map are given for each species