Transcript Biological Invasions of Marine Ecosystems

Biological Invasions of Marine Ecosystems
Anson H. Hines, Ph. D.
Assistant Director & Marine Ecologist
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
INVASIONS – what are they?
 Invasions result from the establishment of self-sustaining populations of
species beyond their historical range.
 Most invasions result from human activities, creating many mechanisms (or
vectors) for the intentional or unintentional transfer of species across oceans
and contintinents --- and breaching historical barriers to dispersal.
EFFECTS OF INVASIONS
(why do we care?)
 Invasions by NIS are a major force of global change, resulting in significant
ecological, economic, and human health impacts.
 Invasions are considered second only to habitat destruction as a threat to
biodiversity and cause of extinction.
 For the U.S. alone, the economic cost of invasions was recently estimated at >
$137 billion per year.
 Available evidence indicates the transfer and introduction of NIS by human
activities has increased dramatically over the past century and continues to do
so.
Examples of
U.S. Marine
Invasive Species
Carcinus maenas –
European green crab
Garveia
franciscana –
hydroid
Rapana venosa – rapana welk
Phragmites – marsh reed
Eriocheir sinensis –
Chinese mitten crab
Loxothylacus panopei –
parasitic barnacle
COASTAL INVASIONS
 Most information and historical management effort for NIS have been in
terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems.
 In the past decade, it’s become increasing clear that coastal marine
invasions are abundant, increasing, and cause significant impacts.
 However, for most bays and estuaries in the U.S., the extent of invasions
remains unknown.
COASTAL INVASIONS (Cont.)
 Even where data exist on numbers of NIS, the information is often
incomplete, resulting from “by-catch” and haphazard surveys that
may be decades old.
 Importantly, because existing data were not collected in a
consistent fashion among sites (e.g., using standard methods), we
presently have extremely uneven and incomplete knowledge about
patterns and effects of marine invasions.

Furthermore, much of the existing information on marine NIS
remains inaccessible in obscure reports and publications, which
have not been synthesized.
Number of Invasions
(A)
105
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Number of Marine and Estuarine Invasions
in the Continental United States by Source Region
130
Number of Invasions
120
110
100
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80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
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Number of Invasions
(B)
225
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Number of Invasions
150
100
50
0
17
90
8
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19
18
20
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49
18
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79
18
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69
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99
Coastal Invasions of the United States
Number of Invasions
100
West Coast
Gulf Coast
East Coast
80
60
40
20
0
0
30
60
90
120
150
Time (years) since 1790
180
100
Number of Invasions
Fisheries
Shipping
80
60
40
20
0
0
30
60
90
120
150
Time (years) since 1790
180
SIGNIFICANT GAPS
IN MARINE INVASION SCIENCE
• We lack the data needed to (1) characterize patterns of invasion, (2)
test relative effects (roles) of particular species traits, inoculation
characteristics, source regions, and recipient region traits (e.g.,
biodiversity, disturbance) on invasion establishment and dynamics.
• Without these data, we cannot (a) develop and test predictions or (b)
assess the efficacy of any management strategy on invasion patterns.
• What data exists is not readily available to resource managers,
scientists, and the public.
• There exists no program in the U.S. to implement standardized surveys
and information management needed to address these gaps.
OVERALL GOALS
• Measure contemporary extent, patterns, and effects of NIS in
coastal bays of the U.S.
• Provide synthesis of key data on known marine invasions of the
U.S., making information readily available to multiple users
• Implement standardized surveys to develop national baseline of
data, which is needed track changes in NIS and native species
composition
• Create species inventory for NIS and native biota
SERC Marine Invasion Research Sites
Puget Sound
Coos Bay
Portsmouth Harbor
Narragansett Bay
Chesapeake Bay
San Francisco
Bay
San Diego
Jacksonville
Galveston
Kachemak Bay
Prince William Sound
Kodiak
Dutch Harbor
Sitka
Corpus Christi
Pensacola
Tampa Bay
Indian River Lagoon
Core Sites (DoD, USFWS, SeaGrant)
DoD Field Survey Sites
Additional Field Survey Sites (USFWS, RCAC, SI)
Future Field Survey Sites
Plate Retrieval
On-Site Analysis
Voucher Collection
/ Preservation
Synoptic Collection
/ Archive
Taxonomic Identification
/ Verification
Data Analysis
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
• Measure number of NIS and native species at each site, using
standard methods.
• Estimate relative importance of NIS in terms of species
diversity, within and among sites.
• Test for differences in relative importance of NIS among East,
West, & Gulf coasts and as a function of latitude.
• Measure effects of NIS in reducing biodiversity, through
homogenization, among sites.
• Provide species inventory for each site, based upon surveys and
literature
MANAGEMENT ACTIONS: PREVENTION
 To limit the transfer and impact of new invasions, U.S. Congress has passed two
laws (1990, 1996), which have focused largely on shipping
 In 1999, President Clinton signed an Executive Order, instructing federal agencies
to develop strategies to minimize the transfer and risks associated with NIS.
 Many states (e.g., California, Washington, Oregon, Maryland, Virginia,
Michigan) have now passed their own legislation, including regulations, to reduce
the number and impacts of new invasions.
 Although current federal and state laws exclude military activities, the transfer of
NIS by DoD vessels is being managed under the UNDS process, and U.S. Navy
has implemented OPNAVINST 5090.1B.
• NAISA: National Aquatic Invasive Species Act
Mid-Ocean Exchange
Ballast Water Exchange:
Empty-Refill
Flow-Through
How many exchange cycles?
Stratification; enhancement?
RECOMMENDATIONS
• National network of surveys/monitoring of invasive
species using standardized methods.
• Synthesis of key information on invasive species
using shared, online database.
• Assess vectors and minimize transfer mechanisms,
e.g., mid-ocean exchange of ballast water, prevent
fishery releases.
PARTNERS
• DoD Legacy Program
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
• Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council of Prince William Sound
• National Sea Grant Program (NOAA)
• Smithsonian Institution
• U.S. Coast Guard
Valdez Marine Terminal