MARINE ALIEN SPECIES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN CROSSROAD: A CRITICAL REVIEW AROUND SICILY

The Mediterranean Sea is the most invaded marine area in the world, with ~1,000 alien species, some of which are invasive. These latter are a risk for ecosystems, and sometimes for the economy and even for human health. Sicily is at the crossroad of the basin, being located in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea. Moreover, with its high diversity of habitats and environmental conditions, it has a key role in receiving newcomers from the Atlantic and non-indigenous species from the Indo-Pacific. In this review, we focused on the main taxonomic groups of interests for biological invasions, analysing the most up-to-date available literature. These groups include: macrophytes, foraminifers, cnidarians, ctenophores, molluscs, polychaetes, crustaceans, bryozoans, and fishes.