Transcript Pathways for Introduction and Early Detection Aquatic Species

Introduction to Maritime Transportation:
Non-Indigenous Aquatic Invasive
Species
Dr. Ted Grosholz
Department of Environmental
Science and Policy
University of California, Davis
Defining Introduced Species
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“Introduced species” (or non-indigenous)
are those moved outside their normal
range due to human activities
Like extinction, introductions are a
natural process, but we have increased
the natural rate by about 106
Defining Invasive Species
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“Invasive species” are those introduced
species that cause measurable economic
or ecological damage (most do not)
Federal Executive Order 13112 states:
“invasive species” is defined as a species
that is (1) non-native (or alien) to the
ecosystem under consideration and (2)
whose introduction causes or is likely to
cause economic or environmental harm
or harm to human health
Ecological Consequences of
Biological Invasions
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Biological invasions are among most
important threats to global biodiversity,
second only to habitat loss
Invasive species can consume, out
compete, and drive native species to
extinction
Invasive species can affect the local
diversity and functioning of entire
ecosystems
Ecological Consequences of
Biological Invasions
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In the U.S., 10% of all plants and animals
are introduced
Introduced species are a significant risk
factor for more than 40% of listed
threatened and endangered species in the
U.S.
Economic Consequences of
Biological Invasions
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They cost the world’s economy hundreds
of billions per year (IUCN)
Introduced species cost the U.S. $128
billion per year (Pimentel et al. 2000)
A significant portion of this includes
impacts on fisheries, boating, coastal
recreation, etc.
Invasions in U.S.
Coastal Systems
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Few if any coastal systems remain
without introduced species
In U.S. waters, 500 spp. of introduced
species
– Great Lakes >140 spp.
– Chesapeake Bay >200 spp.
– San Francisco Bay >240 spp.
In San Francisco Bay, new species every
14 weeks
Millions of Dollars Spent
in California
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In San Francisco Bay/Delta and elsewhere
in CA, $30 million has been spent over the
last two decades controlling aquatic
weeds
In Southern California, the cost of
controlling the seaweed Caulerpa taxifolia
was been $2.5 million per year
New control programs for invasive plants
(Spartina marsh cord grass) are costing
the state $10-100 thousand per year
Intentional Introductions
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Many species have been introduced intentionally
for a variety of reasons
Plants (e.g. marsh grasses) have been brought
into to provide forage for animals or for
restoration purposes
Fishes (e.g. striped bass) and shellfish (e.g.
oysters) have been introduced to create new
fisheries
Predators/parasites have been introduced for
biocontrol of agricultural pests (never in a
marine system though)
Unintentional Introductions
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Most introduced species have been
introduced accidentally or unintentionally
Most of these have been brought in by
transport vectors (ships) or as bait or
seafood
In many cases they have been accidental
hitchhikers with aquaculture shipments
(e.g. oysters)
Ballast Water Release
Ballast Water
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Ballast water is an important source of
unintended introductions of marine species
Water ships take on to stabilize them, particularly
when they are unloaded
Large commercial and military ships may contain
over a million gallons of water up to 300 species
Estimated that 100 million metric tons of ballast
water with exotic plankton are released daily in
U. S. waters
Fouling on Ship Hulls
Underwater view of a highly fouled ship hull showing
attached fouling organisms
Hull Fouling
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Species attached to hull or living in/on others are
transported among harbors
Although fewer organisms, fouling can include
reproductive adults
800 million square meters of wetted surface area into North
America per day
In U.S., of 171 species introduced due to shipping, more
are linked to hull fouling than ballast water
In Hawaii, New Zealand and Australia, hull fouling may be
the most important vector for introductions
VECTORS: Marine Invertebrates & Algae (Fofonoff et al. 2003)
Number of Species
0
50
100
150
200
Biocontrol
Vectors
Fisheries
Ornamental
Multiple
Shipping
Including Shipping
Excluding Shipping
Possible vector for coastal NIS introduced
to North America by shipping (n=171)
Dry Ballast
Cargo
Ballast Water
Fouling
0
20
40
60
80
Number of Species
100
120
140
Hull Fouling
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Risk of hull fouling a function of several factors
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Vessel speed
Harbor residence time
Voyage duration
Surface area
Last cleaning
Areas on vessel not subject to shear (intakes, sea
chest)
New technologies emerging for anti-fouling
paints
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–
Less toxic compounds (but still effective)
Teflon coatings, organisms slough off
Recreational Boats
and Trailers
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Recreational boats and trailers are
frequently and rapidly transported over
significant distances
Little regulation regarding cleaning boats,
trailers, other exposed equipment
Recreational Boats
and Trailers
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Very likely possibility of zebra mussels
invading California
Several instances of live zebra mussels
found on boats entering CA
A matter of time…
Other Shipping Pathways
for Introduced Species
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Docks, barges and oilrigs with fouling can
introduce organisms
Sediments, sands, gravel, or rocks with
organisms can result in introductions
Traps, ropes, anchors, buoys, etc. all can
transport species to new areas
Transport of these items can accelerate
the movement of species along coasts
from initial site of introduction
Other Pathways of
Introduction
Release from home aquariums
 Escape of live seafood products
 Dumping of live bait containers and
packing materials
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Other Pathways of
Introduction
Transfers of aquaculture products or
fish stocks
 Intentional introductions to establish
new fisheries
 Escape from backyard ornamental
ponds
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Examples of Impacts
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Zebra mussels cost $100s million per year
in U.S. to remove from water pipes,
screens, intakes
Aquatic plants (Hydrilla, Egeria, Water
Hyacinth) and seaweed invasions
(Caulerpa in So. CA) cost CA $$ millions
per year
In CA, Chinese mitten crabs, European
green crabs and other have also resulted
in substantial costs
Example:
San Francisco Bay
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Asian Clam (Potamocorbula amurensis)
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Asian Copepods (Limnoithona tetraspina,
Tortanus dextrilobatus)
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Has eliminated seasonal cycle of planktonic plants that
support the SF Bay foodweb
Replaces native copepods, not good food for fishes
Introduced species may are likely contributing
significantly to the decline of fishes/pelagic
organisms in SF Bay (the Pelagic Organism
Decline POD)
Example:
San Francisco Bay/Delta
Native Copepod
Introduced Copepod
Example:
San Francisco Bay/Delta
From California Dept. of Fish and Game
Example: San Diego and
Orange County
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The invasive alga Caulerpa taxifolia (Med.) had
huge impacts in Mediterranean where no control
measures used
In CA since 2001, it has cost more than $6 million
for it’s eradication
Officially declared eradicated Feb. 2006
Example:
Sac-SJ Delta
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Chinese Mitten Crabs
(Eriocheir sinensis) live in
freshwater as juveniles
then return to Bay to
reproduce
Mitten Crabs clogged Fish
Salvage Facilities in 1998
and nearly shut down the
Tracy facility
Could shut down irrigated
agriculture statewide
Solutions:
Early Detection
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Most cost-effective investment is fund a
regular survey of high priority sites of
introduction
Early detection of an invasion can allow
eradication just after the species has
become established
An annual survey of 6 high priority sites
in CA could be accomplished cheaply
saving the state millions
Solutions:
Rapid Response
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Eradication is only possible as the result of early
detection and a very rapid response
A comprehensive rapid response plan for priority
species is required for effectively dealing with a
new invasion
Prior agreements/MOUs outlining authorities and
means of coordination must be in place before
the invasion
Public education to raise awareness about the
the risks and costs of invasions
Solutions: Eradication
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Eradication is difficult but not impossible
if initiated early in the invasion
Several successful eradications in
marine/estuarine systems
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Striped mussel (Mytilopsis sallei) in Australia
Abalone parasite in California (Terebrasabella
heterouncinata)
Caulerpa taxifolia in southern California
Brown algae (Ascophyllum nodosum) in SF
Bay
Policy Issues:
Ballast Water Legislation
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Federal legislation (mandatory reporting)
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NISA (1996)
NAISA (near future)
State legislation
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California AB 703 (1999) and AB 433 (2003)
CA State Lands Comm. and US Coast Guard
Requires flow through exchange or open
ocean exchange beyond 200 nm and 2000 m
depth (ships >300 GRT)
Requires reporting, ballast management plan,
ballast water log, personnel training, etc.
Policy Issues:
Ballast Water Legislation
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Future
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Alternate Ballast Water Exchange Areas
(ABWEA)
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For ships coming from outside 200 nm without
exchanging, provide alternate exchange sites
New technologies possible for ballast
treatment
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Ship based (e.g. cyclonic separation,
deoxygenation, filtration, UV, chemicals)
Shore based (e.g. feed to existing treatment
systems)
Case Study: Port of
Oakland Expansion
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Plans to expand the Port of Oakland
In 2001, Center for Marine Conservation and San
Francisco BayKeeper sued ACE, USFWS and
NMFS
Environmentalists argued that expansion would
violate ESA and NEPA by bringing in more ballast
water and introduced species into the bay
The risk of increased ballast release and invasive
species are a concern for several new or
expanding ports along the west coast
Case Study:
The Mothball Fleet
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Section 1158 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1986 (46
USC App. 1158) gives the Secretary of Transportation
the authority to sell or scrap obsolete vessels
transferred to or acquired by MARAD
Section 6 of the National Maritime Heritage Act of
1994 (PL 103-451) directs the Secretary of
Transportation to dispose of vessels in the National
Defense Reserve Fleet not assigned to the Ready
Reserve Force
This Suisun Fleet was considered for “ship breaking”
in Newport, OR
Concern about introducing species from SF Bay to
Newport Bay, since ships sitting for years without
cleaning
Case Study:
The Mothball Fleet
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Two ships were monitored as they were
moved from Suisun through Panama
Canal to the Gulf of Mexico (40 days)
Many organisms died but some
(barnacles, hydroids) made it through the
ocean-freshwater transition
Concern about the movement of retired
vessels will continue to be an important
issue for MARAD
For More Information:
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Aquatic Bioinvasion Research and Policy
Institute
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West Coast Ballast
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http://ballast-outreach-ucsgep.ucdavis.edu/
Smithsonian Marine Bioinvasions Laboratory
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www.clr.pdx.edu/abrpi/
http://www.serc.si.edu/labs/marine_invasions/
Reducing the Introduction and Distribution of
Non-Native Invasive Species (RIDNIS)
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http://www.ridnis.ucdavis.edu/