Re-occurrence and bioindication status of the netted dog whelk <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nassarius reticulatus</Emphasis> (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Western Baltic Sea (Mecklenburg Bight,Germany)

The netted dog whelk Nassarius reticulatus (Linnaeus, 1758), considered as an extinct benthic species in German Baltic waters, was found again alive in the Mecklenburg Bight during several macrozoobenthic surveys since 1997. All data indicate that the establishment of this marine prosobranch species is connected with the more frequent intrusions of highly saline water from the North Sea into the Baltic that have been observed over the past few years. It is proposed that N. reticulatus is a good bioindicator for the hydrographic status in the western Baltic rather than for other existing potential conditions. Since 1998 a second extinct marine species, the polychaete Scalibregma inflatum Rathke, 1843 was found alive here, too.Original English Text Copyright © 2005 by Biologiya Morya, Nehring.This article was submitted by the author in English.