Presence of the Non‐Indigenous Copepod <scp> <i>Pseudodiaptomus marinus</i> </scp> Sato, 1913 in the Stomach Content of <scp> <i>Sardina pilchardus</i> </scp> (Walbaum, 1792)
Journal: Marine Ecology
Year: 2025

ABSTRACT The increasing presence of non‐indigenous species (NIS) in marine ecosystems, particularly copepods, poses significant ecological questions concerning their integration into local food webs. This study presents the first record of the NIS Pseudodiaptomus marinus in the diet of Sardina pilchardus (European sardine) in the Mediterranean Sea, based on stomach content analysis of individuals collected from Thermaikos Gulf. Out of the 174 sardines examined, P. marinus was found in five of th