Publications by authors named "Erica Keppel"
This study was performed to analyse the genetic and morphological diversity of the sabellid annelid genus Branchiomma, with special emphasis on a taxon so far identified as Branchiomma bairdi. This species, originally described from Bermuda, has frequently been reported as an invader in the Mediterranean, the Atlantic and the Eastern Pacific, but recent observations have raised some taxonomic questions. Samples of this taxon were collected from five sites in the Mediterranean Sea, two sites in the original distribution area of B.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Tidal channels play a vital role in wetlands, but their shapes and effects on habitats and flow have not been deeply explored.
- The study provides a comprehensive dataset including Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) and backscatter data from high-resolution multibeam echosounder data collected in the Venice Lagoon.
- This data can be beneficial for various fields like geomorphology, oceanography, and coastal engineering, aiding in understanding tidal environments and improving management and monitoring practices.
Article Synopsis
- Sabellidae are notable polychaetes found in hard substrate fouling communities and are expanding into new areas, with a focus on identifying non-native species.
- During surveys conducted in 2012 and 2014, Branchiomma coheni was first discovered in Tampa Bay, Florida, indicating it may be well-established there, while it was absent from other U.S. sites and has not been reported in the eastern Atlantic or Mediterranean.
- The species likely arrived via ships through the Panama Canal, marking the first known record of B. coheni in the Atlantic, accompanied by a global update on its distribution and recommendations for proper identification and sampling methods.
Several individuals of Paranthura japonica, a non-indigenous isopod species, recently recorded on Italian coasts, have been collected from the Mar Piccolo basin, Taranto (Italy). This finding extends the distributional range of the species southwards in the Mediterranean, including a semi-enclosed coastal basin, which is considered the second Italian hotspot for the introduction of alien species. The characteristics of the place reinforce the hypothesis that its introduction is linked to shellfish trade and farming.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF