Cryptic microsporidian parasites differentially affect invasive and native Artemia spp.

We investigated the host specificity of two cryptic microsporidian species (Anostracospora rigaudi and Enterocytospora artemiae) infecting invasive (Artemia franciscana) and native (Artemia parthenogenetica) hosts in sympatry. Anostracospora rigaudi was on average four times more prevalent in the native host, whereas E. artemiae was three times more prevalent in the invasive host. Infection with An. rigaudi strongly reduced female reproduction in both host species, whereas infection with E. artemiae had weaker effects on female reproduction. We contrasted microsporidian prevalence in native A. franciscana populations (New World) and in both invaded and non-invaded Artemia populations (Old World). At a community level, microsporidian prevalence was twice as high in native compared with invasive hosts, due to the contrasting host-specificity of An. rigaudi and E. artemiae. At a higher biogeographical level, microsporidian prevalence in A. franciscana did not differ between the invaded populations and the native populations used for the introduction. Although E. artemiae was the only species found both in New and Old World populations, no evidence of its co-introduction with the invasive host was found in our experimental and phylogeographic tests. These results suggest that the success of A. franciscana invasion is probably due to a lower susceptibility to virulent microsporidian parasites rather than to decreased microsporidian prevalence compared with A. parthenogenetica or to lower microsporidian virulence in introduced areas.     

空心莲子草响应南方菟丝子寄生的生长-防御权衡

为探讨全寄生植物南方菟丝子(Cuscuta australis)防治入侵植物空心莲子草(Alternanthera philoxeroides)的可行性,以二者野外天然生长的种群为研究对象,分析南方菟丝子寄生对空心莲子草生长及防御的影响,阐明空心莲子草在受到寄生胁迫时如何权衡自身生长与防御的关系,进而发展出一套应对南方菟丝子寄生的生长-防御策略。结果显示:(1)南方菟丝子寄生显著改变空心莲子草茎的形态,茎直径和平均节间长均增加,茎直径变化极显著(P0.01);(2)南方菟丝子寄生显著减少空心莲子草叶片数,但同时显著增加后者茎的分枝数,而茎上的节是潜在的无性繁殖体,故有利于空心莲子草的克隆繁殖;此外,南方菟丝子寄生显著降低了空心莲子草的根、茎、叶生物量和总生物量,抑制空心莲子草的生长;(3)南方菟丝子寄生显著增加空心莲子草茎的单宁、总酚、三萜皂苷含量,增强其防御能力;(4)南方菟丝子寄生的空心莲子草的生物量与茎部木质素、三萜皂苷、单宁和总酚含量均呈现显著负相关性(P0.01),对照组则不存在相关性;且寄生组较对照组相比,生物量的相对百分比显著低于对照组(P0.01),而用于防御的次生代谢产物总含量的相对百分比显著高于对照组(P0.01)。以上结果表明,受到南方菟丝子寄生胁迫后,空心莲子草改变自身的生长-防御策略,减少营养生长投入而将更多的资源投向克隆繁殖,同时增强对"防御"物质的投入,增强其防御能力,以利于后代生存和繁衍。     

海南万泉河中发现外来有害种——马那瓜丽体鱼

2011年在海南琼海万泉河发现外来鱼种马那瓜丽体鱼(Parachromis managuensis)。该种为凶猛的肉食性鱼类,已在野外建立种群,可能会对本土鱼类产生不利影响。建议主管部门禁止人为放生。     

Exotic Spartina alterniflora provides compatible habitats for native estuarine crab Sesarma dehaani in the Yangtze River estuary

Although the impact of plant invasions on benthic communities, especially burrowing crabs, has received increasing attention, the results from past studies are mixed. The exotic plant Spartina alterniflora has become the most abundant species in the salt marshes of the Yangtze River estuary since it was first found just over a decade ago, but its effects on crabs in the salt marshes is largely unknown. To examine whether the invasions of this exotic plant affected native crabs, we compared the biomass and abundance of the dominant burrowing crab Sesarma dehaani in an exotic Spartina marsh, native Phragmites australis marsh and mudflats of the Yangtze River estuary, China. To explain the differences of S. dehaani populations between different habitats, feeding preference of S. dehaani for Spartina and Phragmites was investigated. Results showed crab abundance and biomass in the Spartina marsh were significantly greater than those in the Phragmites marsh and mudflats. Soil water content and plant community characteristics in the Spartina marsh also significantly differed in the Phragmites marsh and mudflats. Moreover, the feeding preference experiment showed that crabs consumed Spartina more than twice as much as Phragmites. In summary, this study showed that Spartina provided compatible habitats for native crab S. dehaani through offering suitable food source and moderate environmental conditions.     

外来植物紫茎泽兰入侵对土壤理化性质及丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)群落的影响

为了揭示外来植物紫茎泽兰入侵对入侵地土壤丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)群落及相关肥力的影响,比较测定了紫茎泽兰不同入侵程度土壤理化性质、AMF侵染率及AMF群落的差异。结果表明,紫茎泽兰入侵降低了土壤pH,使土壤中有机碳、全氮和速效钾含量分别增加83.0%,106.9%和111.0%;尽管对全磷含量没有显著影响,但有机磷含量呈升高的趋势,而速效磷呈降低的趋势。紫茎泽兰入侵降低了本地植物的AMF侵染率;随着入侵程度的加深,土壤中以膨胀无梗囊霉(Acauospora dilatata)为优势种的AMF群落结构逐渐转变为以近明球囊霉(Glomus claroideum )为优势种的结构,紫茎泽兰可在其根周选择培育近明球囊霉,而对其它AMF种,特别是对膨胀无梗囊霉则存在抑制作用;基于各AMF种多度的聚类分析表明,形成紫茎泽兰单优群落土壤中各AMF种多度与未入侵的本地植物群落及入侵程度较轻的紫茎泽兰与本地植物群落之间存在明显分歧。综合分析推断认为,紫茎法兰入侵改变了入侵地土壤理化性状,抑制AMF对土著植物的侵染,改变AMF群落,并在其根周选择培育近明球囊霉,这可能是紫茎泽兰入侵及扩张的重要途径之一。     

Efficient avian pollination of Strelitzia reginae outside of South Africa

In its native South Africa, endemic birds pollinate the complex flowers of Strelitzia reginae (bird of paradise) through a highly complex method of pollination. The plant is cultivated worldwide in warm-temperated regions but systematic pollination of the ornithophilous species by local birds has not been reported, and, consequently, seed production is rare outside of South Africa. We found that a member of the New World warblers, Geothlypis trichas, efficiently carried out pollination of S. reginae in southern California, thereby supplementing its typical diet of insects with the energy-rich nectar of S. reginae. Only occasionally, seeds were found in plantings not visited by these birds. The pollinator service provided by the warbler increases seed production in an area outside of South Africa. This could lead to adaptive changes in the exotic species, advance species establishment and persistence and possibly promote invasive behavior in a non-native environment.     

Positive interactions of the smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora on the mud snail Heleobia australis, in South Western Atlantic salt marshes

The role of positive interactions is often crucial in communities with intense abiotic stress such as intertidal environments. Grasses acting as ecosystem engineers, for example, may ameliorate intertidal harsh physical conditions and modify the community structure. The mud snails Heleobia australis d'Orbigny frequently inhabit the SW Atlantic marshes, mainly associated to intertidal marsh plants (mainly the smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora Loisel) probably due to the plant indirect effects. The purpose of this work was to investigate the magnitude of these association and the processes that generate the pattern. Samples of the snail abundance in six SW Atlantic coastal marshes show that H. australis is associated to coastal areas of low energy and low or none freshwater input. This result is important because this species is being used as bioindicator of coastal estuarine systems during the Holocene. Thus the paleontological interpretation based on this species should be revised. Within the studied areas, snails are associated to intertidal marsh plants. However, stable isotope analysis shows that neither plant nor their epiphytes are their main food sources. Field experiments show that snails actively select areas with plants, although tethering experiments show that plants do not provide shelter from predators. However, plants do buffer physical stress factors such as temperature, which generate important mortality outside plants covered areas. These positive interactions have large effects on H. australis distributions in marsh communities; increasing the habitats available for colonization and affecting their local distribution.     

Botryosphaeriaceae from tuart (Eucalyptus gomphocephala) woodland, including descriptions of four new species

Eucalyptus gomphocephala (tuart) is a tree native to the southwest coast of Western Australia, where, in some areas, there is a significant decline in the health of tuart. Botryosphaeriaceous taxa have been isolated as endophytes and canker pathogens from numerous hosts in many parts of the world and have been implicated in the decline of E. gomphocephala. In the present study, endophytic fungi were isolated from a wide variety of native woody plant species (Acacia cochlearis, A. rostellifera, Allocasuarina fraseriana, Agonis flexuosa, Banksia grandis, E. gomphocephala, E. marginata and Santalum acuminatum), at two locations in native E. gomphocephala woodland; a site in decline at Yalgorup National Park and a healthy site at Woodman Point Regional Park. Of the 226 isolates obtained, 154 were botryosphaeriaceous taxa, 80 % of which were found to be Neofusicoccum australe, isolated from all hosts at both collection sites. Four new species are described, Dothiorella moneti, Dothiorella santali, Neofusicoccum pennatisporum, and a species belonging to a genus only recently included in the Botryosphaeriaceae, Aplosporella yalgorensis. The other species isolated were Botryosphaeria dothidea on the new hosts A. rostellifera, A. cochlearis and E. marginata and Dichomera eucalypti, on the new host E. marginata. None of the new species formed lesions on excised stems of their host species, E. gomphocephala, or a common plantation species, E. globulus. However, Neofusicoccum australe formed lesions on excised stems of E. globulus and E. gomphocephala.     

Feeding preference of Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis (Echinoidea) for a dominant native ascidian, Aplidium glabrum, relative to the invasive ascidian Botrylloides violaceus

Subtidal benthic communities show distinct patterns of community structure related to substrate angle. Suspension-feeding invertebrate communities often dominate vertical and undercut rock surfaces, while macroalgae dominate horizontal surfaces. One factor that may shape this pattern is sea urchin grazing, which is often more intense on horizontal surfaces. The native Gulf of Maine ascidian Aplidium glabrum, like other native ascidians, is generally restricted to vertical and undercut rock walls, whereas the introduced ascidian Botrylloides violaceous is often abundant on horizontal surfaces. We tested the hypothesis that this pattern could be due to differing predation intensity on these two ascidians by Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis, a dominant omnivore in the Gulf of Maine. Feeding preference of S. droebachiensis on the native A. glabrum vs. B. violaceous was estimated in the laboratory and in field experiments. Laboratory results show that S. droebachiensis prefers to feed on the native ascidian A. glabrum over B. violaceous. In the field, potential differences in the impact of S. droebachiensis on the two species were masked by the much greater growth rate of B. violaceus compared to A. glabrum. These results may help explain observed patterns in ascidian distribution in the Gulf of Maine, and ultimately the overall success of B. violaceus as a major invader throughout New England.     

AFLPs detect low genetic diversity for Phytophthora nemorosa and P. pseudosyringae in the US and Europe

In California and Oregon, two recently described oomycete forest pathogens, Phytophthora nemorosa and P. pseudosyringae, overlap in their host and geographic ranges with the virulent P. ramorum, causal agent of “sudden oak death.” Epidemiological observations, namely broader geographic distribution and lack of landscape-level mortality, led to the hypothesis they are native to this region, whereas multiple lines of evidence indicate P. ramorum is exotic to North America. We used AFLP analysis to measure genetic variability in the homothallic P. nemorosa and P. pseudosyringae and to evaluate the hypothesis of endemism. We analysed 39 P. nemorosa and 48 P. pseudosyringae isolates (29 American and 19 European) from throughout their geographic and host ranges. In the US, both P. nemorosa and P. pseudosyringae have a dominant AFLP clone with several closely related variants. There is no evidence that genetic diversity is partitioned by host or location in P. nemorosa, but the US P. pseudosyringae clonal lineage is largely nested within a more genetically variable European group. Though the absence of highly variable sampled source populations does not allow us to determine whether each species is native or introduced in the western US with certainty, the results are most consistent with the hypothesis that both are introduced — P. pseudosyringae perhaps from Europe. Invasive Phytophthora species are increasingly being implicated in emergent forest diseases, highlighting the need to identify and characterize both native and previously unknown introduced forest Phytophthoras.     

Allelopathic potential of two invasive alien Ludwigia spp.

The allelopathic potential of two invasive alien Ludwigia [Onagraceae: L. peploides (Kunth) Raven and L. grandiflora (Michaux) Greuter and Burdet], that have developed quasi-monotypic stands in many aquatic ecosystems in France, was investigated. Since allelopathy involves the release of compounds into the environment, the water of monospecific experimental cultures was directly tested against two target species: Lactuca sativa L., the standard cultivar for bioassays, and Nasturtium officinale R. Brown, a resistant and widespread native hydrophyte. The treatment was carried out at the three main phases of development of both Ludwigia in February, May and August. For each experiment, the germination, mortality and culture yield percentages, the seedling growth (radicle and hypocotyl elongation) and the health of 15-day-old-seedlings were measured. The water of each Ludwigia tank induced: (1) a decrease in germination for watercress in August (control: 68.6%, L. peploides: 48.6%, L. grandiflora: 61.1%); (2) an increase in mortality in May only for watercress (control: 3.4%, L. peploides: 13.5%, L. grandiflora: 12%) and in August for both target species (up to 22.3% vs. 3% for lettuce and 27% vs. 12.5% for watercress); (3) a disturbance of seedling elongation for lettuce in all seasons; and (4) a seedling chlorosis of both target species, particularly in May and August. This study showed that L. peploides and L. grandiflora possess an allelopathic activity that influences the water quality throughout the year. Combined with the various competitive attributes, allelopathy may contribute to the great success of these two invasive Ludwigia in Europe. In threatened wetland communities of the Mediterranean area, in particular, allelopathy might have an important impact by diminishing the seedling survival of the most vulnerable species.     

Effects of salinity on competitive interactions between two Juncus species

A glasshouse study investigated the effect of salinity on growth and competitive interactions between two closely related rush species, an Australian native (Juncus kraussii) and an exotic (J. acutus) species. Overall, both species exhibited decreases in height and total biomass with increasing salinity, although tolerance of J. acutus was marginally lower. We observed asymmetric responses at each salinity, due to the presence of the other species. In fresh-water, co-presence of J. kraussii facilitated the growth (increases in height and total biomass) of J. acutus. However, at 10 ppt salinity direct interspecific competition with J. kraussii adversely affected total biomass of J. acutus. When grown with J. acutus, at 5 ppt but not at 10 ppt, salinity reduced total biomass of J. kraussii. We suggest that interspecific interactions vary with salinity, dependant on relative salinity tolerance of each species. It would appear that in areas receiving regular fresh-water inputs, which reduce salinity stress, J. acutus has the potential to displace J. kraussii.     

内生真菌对羽茅生长及光合特性的影响

通过温室栽培实验,以感染两种内生真菌(Neotyphodium sibiricum和Neotyphodium gansuence)和未感染内生真菌的羽茅(Achnatherum sibiricum)为实验材料,分析感染不同种内生真菌对宿主植物的生长及光合特性的影响。结果表明,感染两种内生真菌羽茅的株高和CO₂补偿点显著低于未染菌的羽茅,而染菌羽茅的蒸腾速率和气孔导度显著高于未染菌羽茅,但对于感染不同种内生真菌的羽茅,无论是分蘖数与生物量的积累还是光合生理值之间均无显著差异。     

Assessing the potential benthic-pelagic coupling in episodic blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) settlement events within eelgrass (Zostera marina) communities

Coastal marine seagrass ecosystems are important nursery grounds for commercially and recreationally important species, and they serve as key settlement and recruitment sites for other species. We investigated several years (2001-2003) where episodic settlement events of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) occurred in Barnegat Bay, NJ, USA. Population assessment indicated that blue mussels settled in eelgrass beds (Zostera marina) in late spring with peak densities exceeding 170,000 m⁻². Based on calculated filtration rates of M. edulis, we determined that for at least 53 days in 2001, the density and size distribution of M. edulis were sufficient to filter the water column volume in excess of twice a day, with maximum calculated filtration rates exceeding 8 m³ water m⁻² day⁻¹. While the settlement event in 2001 was very localized, in 2003, the settlement event was considerably more widespread throughout the bay, with maximum settling densities exceeding 175,000 individuals m⁻². Associated with these high densities, maximum calculated filtration rates exceeded 15 m³ water m⁻² day⁻¹. This filtration potential may have impeded the localized development of a brown-tide (Aureococcus anophagefferens) bloom in 2001, which occurred in other regions of the bay, but the widespread settlement event seen in 2003 may have impeded the development of any brown-tide blooms in Barnegat Bay during that summer. The decline in mussel densities throughout the summer may be a result of elevated water temperatures in this back bay, but at one site, the high settlement of M. edulis was followed by a substantial migration (>40 individuals m⁻²) of small sea stars (Asterias forbesii). In 2001, A. forbesii was a significant factor in reducing M. edulis density by the end of the summer at the Barnegat Inlet site and a community level assessment showed significant positive correlations between mussel aggregations and sea star densities (r=0.68-0.73, P<0.001). At this same site in 2003, the sea stars were again present in high densities (26 m⁻²) and were a potential mechanism for mussel decline. In other regions of the bay, sea star densities are very low, but numerous other predatory species exist, including blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus), green crabs (Carcinus maenus), spider crabs (Libinia spp.), and several Xanthid crabs. Given the high mussel densities seen in this study and the considerable predation by sea stars and other benthic predators, the benthic-pelagic coupling which these mussels provide in this system contributes to the high secondary production in these grass beds.     

The non-native solitary ascidian Ciona intestinalis (L.) depresses species richness

Non-native ascidians are a dominant feature of many sessile marine communities throughout the world and may have negative effects on species diversity. We tested effects of the non-native Ciona intestinalis on the sessile invertebrate community in San Francisco Bay, where it occurs in dense aggregations. In particular, we compared species richness between PVC panels from which C. intestinalis were experimentally removed to panels with naturally dense C. intestinalis growth, using fouling panels of four sizes (between 49 cm² and 1177 cm²) to measure the effect of C. intestinalis recruitment on species-area relationships. We initially deployed 120 fouling panels (30 of each size) at a site known to have dense populations of C. intestinalis, assigning these to three different treatments: (1) Experimental removal, whereby new recruits of C. intestinalis were removed on a weekly basis, pulling panels out of the water for a short time period to do so; (2) Manipulated control, whereby panels were removed from the water each week (as in the experimental removal) but without C. intestinalis removal; and (3) Unmanipulated control, which remained in the water throughout the experiment. After 4 months, all of the panels were collected and analyzed to estimate species richness and relative abundance (percent cover) of sessile invertebrates and of C. intestinalis. Across all panels, species richness was negatively correlated with C. intestinalis abundance. The removal of C. intestinalis produced communities with significantly higher species richness than the controls. The overall species composition of treated and control panels was also distinctly different, with many species occurring more often in the absence of C. intestinalis, while others occurred more often on C. intestinalis-dominated panels. These data suggest that C. intestinalis both depress local species diversity and alter community assembly processes to fundamentally change sessile community composition.     

Aquastella gen. nov.: A new genus of saprolegniaceous oomycete rotifer parasites related to Aphanomyces, with unique sporangial outgrowths

The oomycete genus Aquastella is described to accommodate two new species of parasites of rotifers observed in Brooktrout Lake, New York State, USA. Three rotifer species – Keratella taurocephala, Polyarthra vulgaris, and Ploesoma truncatum – were infected, and this is the first report of oomycete infection in these species. Aquastella attenuata was specific to K. taurocephala and Aquastella acicularis was specific to P. vulgaris and P. truncatum. The occurrence of infections correlated with peak host population densities and rotifers were infected in the upper layers of the water column. Sequencing of 18S rRNA and phylogenetic analysis of both species placed them within the order Saprolegniales, in a clade closely related to Aphanomyces. The Aquastella species were morphologically distinct from other rotifer parasites as the developing sporangia penetrated out through the host body following its death to produce unique tapered outgrowths. Aquastella attenuata produced long, narrow, tapering, finger-like outgrowths, whilst A. acicularis produced shorter, spike-like outgrowths. We hypothesize that the outgrowths serve to deter predation and slow descent in the water column. Spore cleavage was intrasporangial with spore release through exit tubes. Aquastella attenuata produced primary zoospores, whereas A. acicularis released spherical primary aplanospores, more typical of other genera in the Aphanomyces clade.     

Chemical variability of the invasive neophytes Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. and Zucc. and Polygonum sachalinensis F. Schmidt ex Maxim

Crude extracts of roots and stems of Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. and Zucc. and Polygonum sachalinensis F. Schmidt ex Maxim from China and Switzerland were analyzed by online HPLC/UV/ESI-MS to ascertain the phytochemical differences between the original and invasive exotic varieties. A total of 36 constituents were identified by comparing their retention times, UV data, mass spectra with those of standards or with literature data. Certain constituents, such as flavanol gallate dimers, were reported for the first time from these species.     

福寿螺对稻田水生植物群落实验的影响

福寿螺是在我国南方地区危害水稻生产的一种外来入侵软体动物,已被世界自然保护联盟入侵生物专家组列为100种危害最为严重的外来入侵物种之一。在水域生态系统中福寿螺主要以摄食各种水生植物而生存。以水稻、大薸、水葫芦、粉绿狐尾藻、水花生和鸭舌草构成的稻田水生植物群落为对象,研究了低密度（4 株/m²）、中密度（8 株/m²）和高密度（12 株/m²）福寿螺处理对稻田水生植物群落的影响,同时结合福寿螺的食物选择性实验分析其相关行为特性。结果表明：1）低密度、中密度和高密度福寿螺处理1周内水稻密度均急剧下降,高密度福寿螺造成水稻密度下降超过70%,2周后福寿螺危害水稻秧苗的程度减轻;2）各密度处理福寿螺均抑制了水花生和鸭舌草扩散,第8周时高密度福寿螺处理中水花生和鸭舌草的密度仅为对照的30%和25%。同时,低密度福寿螺处理中的水花生和鸭舌草的密度显著高于中密度和高密度处理。不同密度福寿螺处理对水葫芦、大薸和粉绿狐尾藻影响不明显;3）水稻的日均密度增长率为负值,低密度、中密度和高密度福寿螺处理间存在明显差异,且均显著低于对照。水花生和鸭舌草的日均密度增长率虽为正值,但显著低于对照,水葫芦、大薸和粉绿狐尾藻的日均密度增长率和对照无差异。福寿螺日均密度增长迅速,各密度处理无显著差异。福寿螺对水稻、水花生、鸭舌草的选择性显著高于水葫芦、粉绿狐尾藻和大薸;4） 福寿螺引入8周后稻田水生植物群落物种多样性Simpson指数、Shannon指数和均匀度指数均显著降低。Simpson指数的大小顺序为：对照 > 低密度 > 中密度、高密度,Shannon指数和均匀度指数的大小顺序为：对照 > 低密度 > 中密度>高密度。说明福寿螺对供试水生植物有明显的选择性,其入侵会严重危害稻田水生植物群落的物种多样性。     

Invasion by the marine gastropod Ocinebrellus inornatus in France: I. Scenario for the source of introduction

The rate of introduction of exotic marine species has dramatically increased during the 19th and 20th centuries. Exemplifying this trend, the marine gastropod Ocinebrellus inornatus was first detected outside its native range in 1924 on the American Pacific coast, then in 1995 on the French Atlantic coast. To determine the origin of the French populations of this invasive species, we compared a French population with populations collected in Asia—the native range—and with a population collected in the United States. Analyses of mitochondrial DNA and allozyme polymorphism revealed that the French and American populations were closely related and substantially differentiated from the Asian populations. According to our results, the most likely scenario is that the source population of the French Atlantic coast populations was located in the United States. Indeed, taken altogether, the genetic structure of Asian populations, the time lag separating the introduction on the American Pacific coast from the introduction on the French Atlantic coast and the high level of genetic diversity in the two introduced areas (indicating an absence of major founder events) are hardly compatible with a scenario in which French population resulting only from primary introduction events from the native area. Finally, although similar, the French and American populations were not identical. Thus, even if the main source population of the French populations was located in the United States, the genetic structure of French populations may have been modified by cryptic and recurrent introduction events directly from Asia.     

Antioxidant status of Lobiger serradifalci and Oxynoe olivacea (Opisthobranchia, Mollusca)

Invasion of the Mediterranean Sea by the two world-wide famous exotic algae species, Caulerpa taxifolia and Caulerpa racemosa, is still a problem and has adverse effects on the Mediterranean sublittoral ecosystem. Biological control studies revealed that the two native Sacoglossans, Oxynoe olivacea and Lobiger serradifalci, may have an effect on the expansion of invasive Caulerpa spp. in the Mediterranean. In the framework of this study, antioxidant enzyme activities, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), lipid peroxidation (LPO) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) levels, as oxidative stress markers in L. serradifalci and O. olivacea were determined at two different temperature conditions (20 and 27 °C). In both species, SOD, CAT and GSH-Px activities were found to be positively correlated with temperature. The SOD activities in L. serradifalci were higher than those in O. olivacea at both temperatures, whereas the CAT and GSH-Px activities were significantly (p<0.05) higher in O. olivacea, compared to L. serradifalci. As expected, both species showed decreased LPO levels at 27 °C compared to 20 °C. GSSG level at 27 °C in O.olivacea was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of 20 °C. On the other hand, no statistical (p>0.05) difference in L.serradifalci existed between GSSG levels at two temperatures. But, despite the variations in the antioxidant enzyme activities, there was no significant difference in LPO levels between the species, suggesting that the oxidative consequences of a given environmental condition may vary among different species. Inasmuch as the GSSG levels were in accordance with antioxidant enzyme activities, GSH might have acted as a cofactor of GSH-Px and an individual antioxidant in these sea slugs.