Ascidia virginea from the Israeli coasts
The current study provides insights into a case of an originally Atlantic and Western Mediterranean ascidian species dispersing to niche areas in warmer regions: The Eastern Mediterranean and a Red Sea marina. The extremely different environmental variables in these ranges compared to those of the native range of A. virginea indicate the wide environmental tolerance of this species. We provide both molecular and morphological tools to identify this species to facilitate its identification in additional regions in which it may have been overlooked.  <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-023-03222-0"> Montesanto F., Hadjez R., Mastrototaro F., Huchon D., Gissi C., Novak L. & Shenkar N. (2024) Against the flow: Integrated taxonomy and environmental suitability of a cold-water species dispersing to warmer waters. Biological Invasions. 26:953-973</a>