In 1869, Suez Canal opened; 120 fish species crossed into Mediterranean
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed a statistical model to predict which Red Sea fish species are likely to invade the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal. The study aims to help environmental authorities monitor and manage the impact of invasive species as sea temperatures rise.
Why it matters
Predictive modeling for invasive species is crucial for marine conservation and managing the ecological shifts caused by man-made waterways and climate change.
Since the Suez Canal opened more than 150 years ago, more than 120 fish species have migrated from the Red Sea into the Mediterranean. Researchers at Tel Aviv University have now created a statistical model that predicts which species are likely to make the move next, states a report by Phys Org. It also states that some of the model’s top candidate species included the stellate pufferfish (Arothron stellatus), the cinnabar goatfish (Parupeneus heptacantha) and the yellowspotted trevally (Turrum fulvoguttatum). The study was conducted by Dr. Shahar Chaikin during his PhD at Tel Aviv University, under the supervision of Prof. Jonathan Belmaker of the School of Zoology, the Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, and the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History.Predicting tomorrow’s marine invadersThe new model ranks Red Sea fish species by how likely they are to be successful colonizers of the Mediterranean.
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