CIMPAL expanded: unraveling the cumulative impacts of invasive alien species, jellyfish blooms, and harmful algal blooms

The introduction of invasive alien species (IAS) and the occurrence of jellyfish blooms and harmful algal blooms (HABs) can significantly alter native biodiversity and disrupt ecosystem functioning. This study expands the Cumulative IMPacts of invasive ALien species (CIMPAL) index to assess the cumu...

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Main Authors: Marina Chiappi, Yolanda Stranga, Chrysanthi Kalloniati, Konstantinos Tsirintanis, George Tsirtsis, Ernesto Azzurro, Stelios Katsanevakis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Marine Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1631423/full
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author Marina Chiappi
Marina Chiappi
Marina Chiappi
Yolanda Stranga
Chrysanthi Kalloniati
Konstantinos Tsirintanis
George Tsirtsis
Ernesto Azzurro
Ernesto Azzurro
Stelios Katsanevakis
author_facet Marina Chiappi
Marina Chiappi
Marina Chiappi
Yolanda Stranga
Chrysanthi Kalloniati
Konstantinos Tsirintanis
George Tsirtsis
Ernesto Azzurro
Ernesto Azzurro
Stelios Katsanevakis
author_sort Marina Chiappi
collection DOAJ
description The introduction of invasive alien species (IAS) and the occurrence of jellyfish blooms and harmful algal blooms (HABs) can significantly alter native biodiversity and disrupt ecosystem functioning. This study expands the Cumulative IMPacts of invasive ALien species (CIMPAL) index to assess the cumulative impacts of IAS, HABs, and jellyfish blooms, also accounting for interspecific interactions. The approach is implemented in the Aegean Sea, analyzing data on 26 alien species (including one jellyfish), seven phytoplankton species responsible for HABs, and four native jellyfish species known to cause blooms. The application of CIMPAL revealed the spatial patterns and the relative importance of impacts across the Aegean Sea, identifying the most affected areas and ranking species based on four impact indicators. The results indicated that IAS contributed the most to cumulative impacts, with the highest scores observed in confined southern coastal areas of the Aegean Sea. Consequently, highly impacted coastal regions due to IAS were more prevalent in the southern Aegean compared to the north. In contrast, cumulative impacts in open waters decreased from the northern to the southern Aegean. HABs and jellyfish blooms also caused considerable impacts, particularly in certain gulfs. This study provides essential spatially explicit information to support effective management and mitigation of these environmental challenges in the Aegean Sea.
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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spelling doaj-art-62c646fbd3a042fd8b1fed666e07f6bf2025-08-20T02:36:00ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452025-07-011210.3389/fmars.2025.16314231631423CIMPAL expanded: unraveling the cumulative impacts of invasive alien species, jellyfish blooms, and harmful algal bloomsMarina Chiappi0Marina Chiappi1Marina Chiappi2Yolanda Stranga3Chrysanthi Kalloniati4Konstantinos Tsirintanis5George Tsirtsis6Ernesto Azzurro7Ernesto Azzurro8Stelios Katsanevakis9Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (BIGEA), University of Bologna (UNIBO), Bologna, ItalyNational Research Council (CNR), Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnologies (IRBIM), Ancona, ItalyNBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, Mytilene, GreeceDepartment of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, Mytilene, GreeceDepartment of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, Mytilene, GreeceDepartment of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, Mytilene, GreeceNational Research Council (CNR), Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnologies (IRBIM), Ancona, ItalyNBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, Mytilene, GreeceThe introduction of invasive alien species (IAS) and the occurrence of jellyfish blooms and harmful algal blooms (HABs) can significantly alter native biodiversity and disrupt ecosystem functioning. This study expands the Cumulative IMPacts of invasive ALien species (CIMPAL) index to assess the cumulative impacts of IAS, HABs, and jellyfish blooms, also accounting for interspecific interactions. The approach is implemented in the Aegean Sea, analyzing data on 26 alien species (including one jellyfish), seven phytoplankton species responsible for HABs, and four native jellyfish species known to cause blooms. The application of CIMPAL revealed the spatial patterns and the relative importance of impacts across the Aegean Sea, identifying the most affected areas and ranking species based on four impact indicators. The results indicated that IAS contributed the most to cumulative impacts, with the highest scores observed in confined southern coastal areas of the Aegean Sea. Consequently, highly impacted coastal regions due to IAS were more prevalent in the southern Aegean compared to the north. In contrast, cumulative impacts in open waters decreased from the northern to the southern Aegean. HABs and jellyfish blooms also caused considerable impacts, particularly in certain gulfs. This study provides essential spatially explicit information to support effective management and mitigation of these environmental challenges in the Aegean Sea.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1631423/fullalien speciesHABsjellyfish bloomsimpactsCIMPALimpact mapping
spellingShingle Marina Chiappi
Marina Chiappi
Marina Chiappi
Yolanda Stranga
Chrysanthi Kalloniati
Konstantinos Tsirintanis
George Tsirtsis
Ernesto Azzurro
Ernesto Azzurro
Stelios Katsanevakis
CIMPAL expanded: unraveling the cumulative impacts of invasive alien species, jellyfish blooms, and harmful algal blooms
Frontiers in Marine Science
alien species
HABs
jellyfish blooms
impacts
CIMPAL
impact mapping
title CIMPAL expanded: unraveling the cumulative impacts of invasive alien species, jellyfish blooms, and harmful algal blooms
title_full CIMPAL expanded: unraveling the cumulative impacts of invasive alien species, jellyfish blooms, and harmful algal blooms
title_fullStr CIMPAL expanded: unraveling the cumulative impacts of invasive alien species, jellyfish blooms, and harmful algal blooms
title_full_unstemmed CIMPAL expanded: unraveling the cumulative impacts of invasive alien species, jellyfish blooms, and harmful algal blooms
title_short CIMPAL expanded: unraveling the cumulative impacts of invasive alien species, jellyfish blooms, and harmful algal blooms
title_sort cimpal expanded unraveling the cumulative impacts of invasive alien species jellyfish blooms and harmful algal blooms
topic alien species
HABs
jellyfish blooms
impacts
CIMPAL
impact mapping
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1631423/full
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