Article

Youness Mabrouki, PhD, Laboratory of Biotechnology, Conservation and Valorization of Natural Resources, Faculty of Sciences of Dhar El Mehraz, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University (30050, Morocco, Fes); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7336-8717; e-mail: younes_mab@hotmail.fr
Peter Glöer, PhD, Biodiversity Research Laboratory (D-25491, Germany, Hetlingen, Schulstrasse 3); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6995-3641; e-mail: gloeer@malaco.de
Abdelkhaleq F. Taybi, PhD, Assistant Professor, Poly-Disciplinary Faculty of Nador, Mohammed First University (338Q+8GM, Selouane, Morocco); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9652-5407; e-mail: taybiaf@gmail.com

Mabrouki Y., Glöer P., Taybi A.F. 2023. The first record of the North American freshwater limpet Ferrissia californica (Mollusca, Gastropoda) in Morocco. Nature Conservation Research 8(1): 108–112. https://dx.doi.org/10.24189/ncr.2023.004

Invasive species are a major threat to global biodiversity. One of the most effective invaders among freshwater snails is the North American ancyline gastropod Ferrissia californica (= fragilis). A new population of this species has been found in Lake Zerrouka (Northern Morocco), a Protected Area, which is also a site of ecological and biological interest (known as SIBE). Thus, this record expands the known distribution range of this invasive species in the Mediterranean area. Despite the fact it is located in only one out of more than 150 localities sampled by us, ongoing investigations could soon reveal more finds of the species in Morocco. Lake Zerrouka is known for recently described endemic snail species, i.e. Ifrania zerroukansis and Gyraulus marocana. Therefore, the monitoring of the presence and expansion of F. californica within invaded areas, as well as studies improving the knowledge on its biology and ecology is an urgent need.

alien ancyline, aquarium trade, invasive species, Lake Zerrouka, new arrival, non-native Planorbidae, Protected Area

Received: 05.06.2022. Revised: 13.09.2022. Accepted: 17.09.2022.

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