Biological hazards of the Caspian Sea - Caspian Invasive Species

Caspian Sea is the largest inland water body in the world. Invasions of aquatic species from their native ranges to the Caspian Sea is one of the biological hazards of this water body. During the 20th century, seven diatom and two pyrrhophyte phytoplankton species, ten macrophyte species, seven plankton invertebrate species, two nektobenthic and nine benthic species, six fouling species, and two fish species were introduced into the Caspian Sea, where they survived and were established independently. The peculiarities of the brackishwater environment, long isolation, and absence of interspecific competition with marine fauna, as well as low biodiversity, made such success of these invasive species possible. In this Article, we attempt to Introduce the Caspian invasive species and the main ways of their entrance to the Caspian Environment.

Keywords:

Caspian Sea , Biological Hazards , Invasive Species