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Report on the 2018 Rapid Assessment Survey of Introduced, Cryptogenic, and Native Marine Species at New England Marinas: Massachusetts to Maine
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2020
[PDF-2.29 MB]
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Description:Given New England’s long maritime history, there are many well documented cases of marine introductions associated with international shipping. The European green crab Carcinus maenas was likely brought over in wooden ships (within rock ballast or on the hull) in the early 19th century (Carlton and Cohen 2003). The introduction in the 1950s of the green alga Codium fragile subsp. fragile is thought to be associated with shipping from Europe (Carlton and Scanlon 1985). The more recent introduction of the colonial tunicate Didemnum vexillum in the 1980s is likely due to shipping and subsequent local spread by recreational boats and movement of aquaculture gear (Dijkstra et al. 2007, Lambert 2009). As just one example of the impacts of introduced species, the spread of C. f. subsp. fragile in north Atlantic coastal waters has led to a decrease in diversity of native seaweeds (Scheibling et al. 2006, Dijkstra et al. 2017). As the world’s population and economy continues to grow, along with the quantity of goods traversing the ocean, there is an increased likelihood of new species introductions. Warmer ocean temperatures due to climate change will likely result in an increase of successful introductions of species that previously could not survive in New England, in addition to range shifts of both native and introduced species (Stachowicz et al. 2002, Bellard et al. 2013, Colarusso et al. 2016, Ojaveer et al. 2018, Dijkstra et al. 2019). Management options in the marine environment are extremely limited, particularly once a species has spread beyond its initial point of introduction (Williams and Grosholz 2008, Giakoumi et al. 2019). Therefore, accurate information regarding new introductions,establishment, and distribution of marine species is critical for managers to take action and inform the public and concerned stakeholders. A rapid assessment survey (RAS) is one successful method of detection and monitoring of native and invasive marine species (Pederson et al. 2005, Ojaveer et al. 2018). During such a survey, taxonomic experts sample sites throughout a region in a highly intensive effort to document all species encountered, including native, introduced, and cryptogenic species.
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Sea Grant Document Number:MIT-S-20-001
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Rights Information:Public Domain
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