Transcript Marine Invaders of Florida – PowerPoint Presentation

Marine Invaders
in Florida
What is an invasive species?
A species of organism (animal or plant) that
usually comes from some other place
(state, country, continent, or ocean) and
becomes a problem in its new location by
impacting human health, economy, or the
environment.
Biological invasions
are increasing on a
global scale.
Why?
– Trading and buying of goods occurs
on a global scale
– Humans travel all over the world
– Increasing vectors or pathways by
which a species can get to other
locations
How do invasive species get here?
Pathways (vectors) include:
• Discharge of ballast water (40,000 gals/min. in US)
• Hitchhiking aboard boats (props, hulls)
• Dumping of unwanted aquarium species
• Cultivation or raising of non-native food or plants
• Escapes from aquaculture/mariculture facilities
• Shipping of seafood/packing materials
• Dumping of bait buckets
• Other potentials exist
The fact that most species
can be introduced by many
vectors makes preventing
introductions an even
greater challenge
Why should Florida residents
be concerned?
• Florida provides a great climate and habitats
for non-native species. FL is second only to
Hawaii in total number of species that have
been introduced. (over 2,000 known – most
notably are plants and insects)
• Very expensive to clean up or eliminate even
one invasive species. State to spend $100
million the next decade for removal of two
invasive plants (water hyacinth & hydrilla)
• To date, no comprehensive study has been
done in Florida to determine what non-native
species may be present in marine habitats.
Yet, Florida has a long history
of invasions…
– Since early European explorations (500 yrs ago)
many marine species “hitched hiked” over on boats!
– Many “natives” may have been “introduced” years ago
but never became a problem.
Biological Impacts
• An invasive species can harm the environment
(example – reduce water quality in some way)
• An invasive species can displace or out compete
native animals and plants for food or space
• An invasive species can cause the extinction of
native species by introducing new diseases and/or
parasites or preying on natives and wiping them
out.
Economic Impacts
• Invasions can reduce production rates, survival and
fitness of crops, impact domesticated animals and
marine fisheries
• Combating invasions can be costly (i.e., bio-control,
mechanical clean-up, use of chemicals)
• Costs are usually passed onto consumers and
taxpayers like you and me!
Florida Invasions A Major Concern
• It only takes one new invader (large or
small) to impact ecosystems, economy,
or human health.
• Several recent high profile invaders
have been reported to be present along
Florida’s Atlantic coast and the Gulf of
Mexico.
What we know about Florida:
Number of species introduced (some cause
problems others do not as yet)
•
•
•
•
18 species of crustaceans (16 marine)
20 species of mollusks (11 marine)
60 species of plants (all freshwater)
Over 120 species of fish introduced
(Mostly freshwater fish species)
Most species that are introduced
do not survive in their
environment or do not become a
problem… but some do…
Florida Marine
“Invaders”
Some species currently
reported as present in
Florida waters
Jellyfish, Drymonema dalmatina
• Locally abundant in
Gulf of Mexico, from
Florida to Mississippi
• Little known
• Economic impact –
foul fishing gear
• Stings swimmers
Photo source: The Sun Herald Online
http://www.sunherald.com/news/docs/
jellyfish102700.htm
Jellyfish, Phyllorhiza punctata
• Found in Gulf of Mexico,
Indian River Lagoon in
Florida
• Native to Australia
• Probably invaded in 1999
• Economic impact – fouls
fishing gear and fishing nets
• Can be quite large
Photo source: Dauphin Island Sea Lab
http://www.disl.org/%7Emgraham/phyllorhiza.htm
Green mussel, Perna viridis
• From Indian, Pacific
Oceans and found in
Tampa Bay, 1999
48 mm
• Spreading north/south
• Impacts unknown
but considered a pest
because it grows on
many submerged
structures
Photo
source:
P. Green
Baker
mussels on pilings in Tampa Bay
• Could impact
aquaculture areas
Portunid crabs: Charybdis helleri
and
• Native to Indo-Pacific
Scylla serrata
• Reported in Indian River Lagoon
• Current status unknown
Source: U. of Southern Mississippi
Lionfish, Pterois volitans
• From tropical Indo-Pacific
• Aquarium release
• A number of sightings off
Florida have been reported
• Concern – has venonmous
spines that can harm
humans, may displace native
species
• Currently being “watched”
Other “invaders” not studied or
with unknown impacts
7 shipworm species
- No more pest than native species
Shipworm
Salt marsh snail, Ovatella myosotis
- Native to Europe
- Brought on solid ballast
- Not a pest
• Polychaete -Hydroides elegans
- Estuarine fouling species
- Not considered a pest (but
related to one that is a pest in
Argentina)
Photo source: Ruppert and Fox.1988.
Seashore Animals of the Southeast.
Other “invaders” not studied or
with unknown impacts
Porcelain crab,
Petrolisthes aarmatus
-Moving north along
Atlantic coast
Photo source:
Ruppert and
Fox.1988.
Seashore
Animals of
the
Southeast.
Shrimp, Penaus monodon
- Native to Indo-Pacific
- Escaped culture in 1989
- Appears occasionally offshore
Photo source: University
of Southern Mississippi
Other “invaders” not studied or
with unknown impacts
Crustaceans:
- 3 Barnacles (Balanus sp.)
- 5 isopods
- 1 amphipod
- 1 tanaeid
Photo source: Ruppert and Fox. 1988.
Seashore Animals of the Southeast.
Other “invaders” not studied or
with unknown impacts
Tunicates, Botryllus
and Styela plicata
- can become fouling pests
Photo source: USGS
http://nas.er.usgs.gov/tunicates/
Florida Marine
Invaders
Examples of species that are likely to
invade Florida marine waters in the
near future and are of special concern
Green algae, Caulerpa taxifolia
• Native to south Florida
• Invaded Mediterranean
Sea, now in CA
• Heavy growth from surface
to bottom
• Toxic to fish, sea urchins,
other herbivores
• New strain more is
cold tolerant
• Concern that it returns here and expands range
Veined Rapa Whelk, Rapana venosa
• Major pest on marine
farms in Black Sea
• Has invaded Chesapeake Bay
• Feeds on bivalves
• Growth and spread may cause
problems for Florida’s
oysters and mussels
• Planktonic larvae likely
arrived via ballast
Photo source: VA Institute of Marine Science
http://www.vims.edu/fish/oyreef/rapven.html
Santo Domingo false mussel,
Mytilopsis sallei
• Related to zebra mussels
• Native to Caribbean
• Serious pest in SE Asia
• Introduced and eradicated in
Australia at great cost
• Reported in Florida,
native and established or
nonindigenous?
• Concern – fouling organism
Photo source: P. Baker
What can/should people do?can do to help
stop the invasion
• Clean and inspect boats, trailers, dive
gear, anchors, and all other equipment for
attached flora and fauna before entering
Florida waters.
• Drain all bilge water and live wells before
taking your boat to another waterway.
• Only release ballast water as directed by
US Coast Guard
• Obey state and federal laws governing the
transport of plant materials and/or live
animals by air, land or sea.
NEVER release aquarium
species,
bait,
water
What
YOU
can
do to help stop the invasion
garden plants, or any
plant or animal into the
wild.
Instead, return them to a
local pet shop for resale or
trade; give them to another
hobbyist, an aquarium in a
professional office, a museum
or public aquarium or zoo;
donate them to a school, or
advertise to give them away
for free.
Credits
• Information, source materials and pictures
provided by Drs. Shirley & Patrick Baker,
University of Florida; Dr. Linda Walters,
University of Central Florida; and Ms. Karen
Blyler, University of Florida.
• “A primer on invasive species in Florida’s coastal
waters,” by C. Jacoby, L. Walters, S. Baker, and K.
Blyler. Florida Sea Grant, November, 2002.