S1: “Transport of S1: “Transport of marine invaders”marine invaders”

Transport has been going on for centuries Transport has been going on for centuries It began on a smaller scale with hull It began on a smaller scale with hull fouling and dry ballast organismsfouling and dry ballast organisms

Many of the early ships were similar to Many of the early ships were similar to the replica above (Golden Hinde II)the replica above (Golden Hinde II)

Invasive speciesInvasive species

Non-native species are Non-native species are organisms introduced into organisms introduced into an environment in which an environment in which they did not evolvethey did not evolve

Invasive species are non-Invasive species are non-native species that native species that significantly out-compete significantly out-compete native speciesnative species Mostly introduced by Mostly introduced by

human actionshuman actions Largest threat to Largest threat to

biodiversity after biodiversity after habitat losshabitat loss

Estimated at least $137 Estimated at least $137 billion in damages billion in damages annually in the USannually in the US

Most marine invaders Most marine invaders probably came as larvae probably came as larvae in ballast waterin ballast water

Caulerpa taxifolia, an invasive marine alga, in the Mediterranean Sea. Photo credit: U. of Nice, France

The coasts of the world are The coasts of the world are interconnected by extensively used interconnected by extensively used shipping routes shipping routes

Ocean-going ships use seawater for Ocean-going ships use seawater for ballast (balance)ballast (balance)

Ballast waterBallast water

http://www.animaweb.org/images/carte_logistique.gif

Ballast waterBallast water

The water (and The water (and plankton) are moved plankton) are moved great distances and great distances and released released

Planktonic organisms Planktonic organisms after transport are after transport are alive, abundant, and alive, abundant, and diversediverse

Reference: Carlton & Reference: Carlton & Geller, 1993, ScienceGeller, 1993, Science

http://massbay.mit.edu/exoticspecies/ballast/

Ballast waterBallast water

Water is taken up in the harbor at Water is taken up in the harbor at the point of origin (near-shore, the point of origin (near-shore, larvae-rich water)larvae-rich water)

Moved across an ocean or twoMoved across an ocean or two Released at the final destination Released at the final destination (again in a near-shore environment)(again in a near-shore environment)

Water fills empty cargo holds Water fills empty cargo holds and/or specialized ballast tanksand/or specialized ballast tanks

Ballast waterBallast water

Ballast water Ballast water planktonic planktonic organisms are organisms are alive, abundant alive, abundant and diverseand diverse

Reference: Reference: Carlton & Geller, Carlton & Geller, 1993, Science1993, Science

Taxa (Phyla, Classes)

Example: San Francisco Example: San Francisco BayBay

Species Species introductions are introductions are increasing increasing exponentiallyexponentially

Reference: Cohen & Reference: Cohen & Carlton, 1998, Carlton, 1998, ScienceScience

www.vistech.net

Many species Many species with world-wide with world-wide distributions distributions may actually be may actually be successful successful cryptic invaderscryptic invaders

Coles et al. 1997, 1999, Bishop Museum Technical Reports

..Example: Pearl Harbor, Example: Pearl Harbor, HawaiiHawaii

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/PearlHarbor_Sm.jpg