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Aquatic Invasive Species in Massachusetts

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Aquatic Invasive Species in Massachusetts What They Are, How They Get Here, and What We Are Doing to Keep Them Out. Jay Baker Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management 9/29/2005 presented by Jay Baker at a MIS monitoring training session. Massachusetts has been working to develop a Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan One of the goals of the Management Plan is to start monitoring networks. Thought it might be useful to share with you the approach we’ve taken in developing this comprehensive plan, highlight a few key problems we faced along the way, and give you some sense of the time frame we’ve been working on Should note: While the plan covers marine and freshwater invaders, the focus here is primarily on the marine components 1 Codium fragile ssp. Tomentosoides or green fleece, dead man’s fingers An introduced species from the Pacific Ocean around Japan is causing some major problems in Massachusetts. 2 Particularly in West Harwich on Cape Cod. Tons of codium is washing up on the beaches, Sitting there, rotting and wrecking the beach experience. Codium washes up making the beach unusable. The Town of West Harwich came to CZM (Coastal Zone Management) asking for suggestions to solve this problem. 3 The best idea so far has been to turn the codium into a Dune Restoration Project. Bulldozers mix the sand, slipper shells with the codium and pile it into dunes. The codium needs to attach to something hard. Off the West Harwich shore, the codium often attaches to common slipper shells (Crepidula fornicata ) which is found to be prolific in eutrophic waters. As the codium grows, the wave action will dislodge the shell and algae, eventually washing ashore during high tides and storms. 4 This dune is about 8 feet high and 150 yards long. 5 Problem is there is just not enough sand. Where is all this codium coming from? 6 The green areas on this map of the southeastern section of Cape Cod show the what was thought to be eelgrass distribution, based on aerial photographs of the region. 7 # ###### #### ## ### ## # # ## # # ## ## ## ## # # #### ## ### # ## # # ## # # # ## ## ## # # # # ### ## ## # # # # # # # ## # ## # # #### ## # # However, when the areas were examined more closely by running transects with underwater cameras, areas of codium were found interspersed throughout the eelgrass beds. It is not known if the eelgrass is dying off from pollution, leaving room for the codium to become established, or if the codium is out-competing the eelgrass. 8 You might be thinking: “Why doesn’t someone use it for fertilizer?” Here is the lab report that shows that codium is not suitable for composting. First of all, the conductivity is 89, which means the salt content is very high. Secondly, two parts bulk material (sawdust, leaves, wood chips) would be needed for every one part of codium. It is just not feasible to use as compost. No good management option, so for now it remains on the beach. Question may be asked why is it so bad here and not other places. Need to look at the nitrogen situation on the Cape. Beach homes with septic systems may be providing the nitrogen to foster algal blooms. 9 Marine Invasive Species What Are They? “Nonindigenous or cryptogenic species that have that threaten the diversity or abundance of native species or the ecological stability and/or use of infested waters.” -Massachusetts Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan Nonindigenous- a species transported beyond its native range Cryptogenic- a species of unknown origin Synonyms- exotic, alien, nuisance Definitions: preferred term now is “nonindigenous” since it is not clear that every introduced non-native species will become invasive. 10 Marine Invasive Species Why are they so difficult to manage? Biological pollutants with self sustaining populations Often have few or no natural predators or pathogens Native species may be unable to compete with them Most successful invaders are pioneer or colonizing species adapted to variable and harsh environmental conditions. Difficult to manage these biological invaders because once established they are self- sustaining. Massachusetts has felt the impacts from invasive species, including the green crab that has been here for the last 180 years or so. 11 The Massachusetts Experience • Pimentel (1999) estimates a loss of $44 million per year due to green crab introduction • Carlton (2003) lists 86 known nonindigenous marine species in the Northeast and 67 Cryptogenic species • Pathogens have decimated shellfish stocks form the Chesapeake Bay to Atlantic November 2000 zebra mussel distribution Canada in the Northeastern US (USGS, 2001) • Feared species are knocking on our door In a widely cited paper, Pimentel of Cornell university estimates a loss of 44 million dollars per year due to the collapse of the soft shell clam industry, for which the green crab is blamed On the freshwater side, Massachusetts state agencies spend in excess of 500,000 dollars a year on the management of aquatic weeds. As you might guess, we are hardly making a dent Beyond established species, there is concern over species encroaching on our waters which have had devastating impacts in other states (Zebra Mussel). Zebra mussel is the poster child for introduced species that have become invasive. Note outline of waterways: Lake Champlain, Hudson River. The one spot were they have been found in Connecticut is at Twin Lakes, which is a shared watershed with Connecticut and Massachusetts. Not found in MA YET! Otherwise, we don’t know enough about the distribution of invaders or their potential impacts 12 The Chinese mitten crab is in San Francisco. Probably from an intentional release in 1992, has been intercepted at airports, illegally imported alive from Asia because it is considered a food delicacy. 2000-01 $1million in federal funds spent on control methods. See SSCW Guide to Marine Invaders in the Gulf of Maine for more info. 13 Species of Concern Established Marine Species • Green crab (Carcinus maenus) • Asian shore crab (Hemigrapsis sanguineus) • Lace bryozoan (Membranipora mambranacea) • Ship worms (Toredo bartschi, Toredo navalis, Limnoria sp.) • Ascidians • Various shellfish pathogens (MSX, Dermo, SSO, QPX) • Codium (Codium fragile) Here are a few of the bad critters, both present in Massachusetts, and threatening. Green crab came to our coast in 1817 in ship dry ballast (stones) Asian shore crab found in New Jersey in 1988; made its way to Massachusetts around 1998-2000. Lacy crust bryozoan encrust seaweed fronds, particularly kelp, causing it to break, which in turn may lead to codium fragile ssp tomentosoides coming to establish the barrens. Ascidians common name is sea squirts; generally known as fouling organisms. Shellfish pathogens See SSCW Guide to Marine Invaders in the Gulf of Maine for more info. 14 Species of Concern Threatening Marine Species • Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) • Rapa or veined whelk (Rapana venosa) • Nori (Porphyra yezoensis) • Caulerpa (Caulerpa taxifolia) Our aquaculture business is very concerned over shellfish pathogens that may be carried by introduced oysters. Rapa whelk has invaded the Chesapeake Bay region and is a major predator of shellfish. The Virginia Institute of Marine Science pays a bounty for live and dead Rapa venosa to determine the distribution rates and directions. Nori is a cultured seaweed used in sushi and as fish food. Maine is actively culturing to reproduce and grow in colder water. Caulerpa or the “killer algae” has blanketed the Mediterranean sea floor and been found at the end of a stormdrain pipe in California lagoons. The one year cost of eradication effort in one southern California lagoon was more than $1.1 million. Over and over again it is proven that once non-native species become established it is a Herculean task to remove or eradicate. 15 How Do They Get Here? Marine Invasive Species Transport Vectors The vectors that we’ve chosen to focus on so far are the usual suspects. It is not know what is sold in live bait machines. Nuclear worms (long and brightly colored) native to SE Asia has been sold by bait dealers. Better to have cut bait in the machines. A common aquarium plant, Eurasian watermilfoil, have rendered many Massachusetts lakes and ponds unusable for fishing, boating, and swimming. One can still go to Petco and buy this without any warning about its invasive properties. Another common transport vector is ballast water and aquaculture. 16 Pathways of Introduction Top Priority Transport Vector Worldwide Ballast Water Currently, 45,000 commercial cargo carrying vessels and hundreds of thousands of recreational vessels cross the oceans, carrying thousands of hitchhiking species. At least 7,000 different species are likely to be transported in ballast water each day. Ballast water flows into US harbors at a rate of 2 million gallons per hour. (Carlton, 1999 and Carlton et al. 1995 from the PEW Oceans Commission Report: Introduced Species in U.S. Coastal Waters.) What is needed: compulsory ballast water exchange off shore and research into ballast water treatment methods. National Invasive Species Act is federal legislation that gives authority to the U.S. Coast Guard. Legislation is up for reauthorization. It requires ballast water exchange outside of U.S. waters. U.S. Coast Guard needs to be able to increase its enforcement and supervision capabilities. 17 Pathways of Introduction Findings Non ballast pathways are important vectors Pet industry imports the greatest variety of species, the seafood industry the greatest volume Industries are discharging wastewater containing live organisms Seafood, bait, and pet companies were not familiar with the AIS threat The European green crab in 1990 made its way to the Pacific coast in California and Oregon via seaweed with bait worms. Seafood packaging using plant materials carries who knows what to a new location. People are unaware of the multitude of species moving in these transport vectors.
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