Pseudodiaptomus marinus Sato, 1913 is a calanoid copepod native to the Indo-Pacific area with a great potential for introduction and settlement in new environments. Since 2007, an ever-increasing number of reports of this species in European waters has been recorded (Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Atlantic coasts, North Sea). The ability of P. marinus to spread across different areas should be supported by specific biological, ecological and behavioural traits.
The vision of the Working Group Towards a EURopean OBservatory of the non-indigenous calanoid copepod Pseudodiaptomus marinUS is to establish a network of European scientists and institutions working on different aspects related to the biology and ecology of P. marinus.
The purpose of the working group is to facilitate knowledge sharing and collaborations among participants, both through comparative and integrative studies from different lines of research, including distribution, physiology and molecular ecology.
The mission of the working group for the upcoming three years is detailed in the group's Terms of Reference. The group will focus on: monitoring changes in the spatial and temporal distribution of P. marinus in European waters; identifying the traits that allow the spreading and establishment of this species; discussing commonly agreed field sampling strategies; establishing a repository of European voucher specimens for molecular analyses; and investigating dormancy strategies to overcome harsh environmental conditions.
