Monday, March 14 th, 2011 Invasive Species

Invasive species “non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.” Non-native Introduced via vector Established populations Harm caused

Invasive species A disturbance may be required to allow a population to go from an invading propagule to a locally sustaining population Chinese Mitten Crabs Damaged ecosystems more susceptible to invasion 1998 bleaching event killed 80-90% of the coral reefs in the Seychelles, leaving them more vulnerable to invasions (IUCN.org) 3 out of 330 spp. were introduced

Hot spots e-environment-problem-regions In areas subjected to the worst pollution, the most intensive fisheries and bottom trawling, and major shipping routes

Rtrcwma.org

In 1999, it was estimated that the total cost of managing invasive species in the United States was around $120 billion per year (Pimentel et al. 2004)

Characteristics of successful invaders Large home range Ecological generalists High invasion frequency High larvae dispersal

Marine Fish invaders Rare <30 of 550 fish introductions in US were marine Most introductions were intentional Improvement to ecosystem? Few negative effects actually documented

How did they get here? Ballast water Aquaculture Seafood trade Pet trade

Major pathways of marine invasive species infestation Maps.grida.no

Ballast Water Zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) -Native to Eurasia -First sighted in 1988 in Great Lakes -Hudson River in Now occur in densities as high as 700,000 per m 2

Aquaculture Drgeorgpe.com Rearing aquatic animals or cultivating aquatic plants for food Animals can escape Asian Carp Atlantic salmon

Sportsmanhabitat.com Seafood trade Intentional or Accidental Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) northern snakehead fish (Channa argus)

Pet trade Escape or release of pets Also feed, plants “Don’t free Nemo”

Impacts of invasives Foodweb interactions Competition Disease parasites Loss of biodiversity

What can be done? “bounty” for fish capture Volunteer surveys, Rapid Assessment surveys Utilize invasive as food source Biocontrol?

Education

Example 1: 2 invasive crabs Carcinus maenas European shore crab Rough map of the distribution of Carcinus maenas. Blue areas are the native range; red areas are the introduced or invasive range; and green areas are the potential range of the species.

Example 2: Sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus Life history: Anadramous Native to Atlantic coast

Example 2: Sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus Introduction: Welland Canal 1 st spotted in Lake Eerie 1921

Example 2: Sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus Spread Dnr.wi.gov

Example 2: Sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus Impacts: Affected sportfish Disrupted foodwebs One adult lamprey can consume 40 lbs of fish in its lifetime Dnr.wi.gov

Example 2: Sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus Response efforts Lampricide Physical barriers Sterile male release * 90% reduction in most areas where these methods are applied Syracuse.com Fws.gov

Example 3: Lionfish Pterois volitans Background: Venomous Dorsal, anal, and pelvic spines Native to Indian and W. Pacific oceans

Example 3: Lionfish Pterois volitans Introduction: Biscayne Bay, FL Hurricane Andrew, 1992

Evidence for the aquarium trade as the vector for the introduction of lionfish ● Lionfish are popular in the North American aquarium trade ● Lionfish were released from an aquarium in Florida waters ● Other marine aquarium fish have been introduced in Florida waters ● Color patterns of lionfish off the SE US are similar to those from the Philippines where many are collected for the aquarium trade ● No successful introductions of scorpaenids are known to have occurred via ballast water ● In more than a century, no Pacific marine fish are known to have been introduced into the western Atlantic Ocean via ballast water Coastalscience.noaa.gov Oceanservice.noaa.gov

Example 3: Lionfish Pterois volitans Spread: Long distance larvae dispersal Females release large egg masses, fertilized externally, gradually break apart to release larvae Some lionfish reproducing every few days No natural enemies

Example 3: Lionfish Pterois volitans Impacts Affecting food web, no natural predators in Atlantic Ocean Pacific Cornetfish, Fistularia corneta (Mexicofish.com)

Example 3: Lionfish Pterois volitans Response efforts Bounty Research Outreach, Education