Marine invasions are changing the face of marine communities around the world. S

Question

Marine invasions are changing the face of marine communities around the world.  Select three invasive species in marine (not freshwater!) environments that have caused major shifts in marine community structure. For each one of the species, describe 1) characteristics that these species have which have allowed them to be successful invaders, 2) changes in community structure and ecosystem function that have occurred, and 3) ways in which governments/environmental organizations are attempting to remedy the problem.

Explanation / Answer

Three marine invasive species that have caused harm to the marine ecosystems are:

1. Green crabs of Europe have the capability to move around the oceans through their larvae on ocean currents, packaged contents (e.g seaweed) in ships, ballast water etc. Their migration has mainly affected the shellfish (e.g. clams) population in the eastern coast of the USA as they can easily feed on organisms smaller than their own size. The remedies to such a problem include chemical methods, physical trapping methods, and protection of younger populations of clams for reducing the crabs' predatory impact.

2. Killer Algae's outburst resulted in the reduction in native algae's population of the Mediterranean as they formed a dense population of their own through ocean current transport and anthropogenic interference (e.g. nets and ship anchors). Their impact is severe on the herbivorous populations of fishes, urchins. The strategies to end the growth of the harmful green algae have been mainly to apply chemical toxins (salts of copper and aluminum) in the zones of outburst and monitoring the activities of aquarium and shipping industries.

3. Seastars of North Pacific have an ability to capture a wide range of bivalves which are relatively smaller in size. The seastars grow fast and have a lifetime of up to 5 years. Their habitat in shallow marine environments up to 200 m depth results in a massive decline in the shellfish population. The measures taken to reduce their impact on the marine ecosystem have mainly been the usage of traps and physically controlling them on the surface.  

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