Marine Invaders in Florida

1. Marine Invaders in Florida

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. The fact that most species can be introduced by many vectors makes preventing introductions an even greater challenge

6. 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. • .

7. 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.

8. 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. Biological Impacts

9. 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!

10. 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.

11. 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)

12. Most species that are introduced do not survive in their environment or do not become a problem… but some do…

13. Florida Marine “Invaders” Some species currently reported as present in Florida waters

14. 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

15. 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

16. Green mussel, Perna viridis • From Indian, Pacific • Oceans and found in • Tampa Bay, 1999 • Spreading north/south • Impacts unknown • but considered a pest • because it grows on • many submerged • structures • Could impact aquaculture areas 48 mm Photo source: P. Baker Green mussels on pilings in Tampa Bay

17. Portunid crabs: Charybdis helleriand Scylla serrata • Native to Indo-Pacific • Reported in Indian River Lagoon • Current status unknown Source: U. of Southern Mississippi

18. 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”

19. Other “invaders” not studied or with unknown impacts Shipworm • 7 shipworm species • - No more pest than native species • Salt marsh snail, Ovatellamyosotis • - 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.

20. Other “invaders” not studied or with unknown impacts Shrimp, Penaus monodon - Native to Indo-Pacific - Escaped culture in 1989 - Appears occasionally offshore • Porcelain crab, Petrolisthes aarmatus • Moving north along • Atlantic coast Photo source: Ruppert and Fox.1988. Seashore Animals of the Southeast. Photo source: University of Southern Mississippi

21. 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.

22. 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/

23. Florida Marine Invaders Examples of species that are likely to invade Florida marine waters in the near future and are of special concern

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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.

28. NEVER release aquarium species, bait, water 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. What YOU can do to help stop the invasion

29. 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.