Marine Invasives Matter!

As recent efforts to introduce a wider range of new animal species to Alaska have demonstrated, there is a classic lack of understanding of the impact of introduced, non-native or "exotic" invasive species on both natural systems and our economy and lifestyle. 

Whoa.. I hear you say...
How can an introduced species affect our economy and lifestyle?


There are (unfortunately) thousands of examples - ranging from deliberate and usually ill-informed efforts to re-engineer or "improve" ecological systems or due to lack of appreciation of the full consequences of moving species around the planet or creating more favorable living conditions for them. 

Two examples demonstrate these concerns.

1. The Brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis) native to Australia and Melanesia was introduced (likely in ships cargo) to Guam in the 1950s and has caused the loss of  most of the native forest vertebrate species (incl. birds); thousands of power outages affecting private, commercial, and military activities; widespread loss of domestic birds and pets; and considerable emotional trauma to residents and visitors alike (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_tree_snake)

2. Caulerpa taxifolia is a light green macroalga that is widely used as a decorative plant in aquaria. A cold-tolerant strain was inadvertently introduced into the Mediterranean Sea in wastewater from the Oceanographic Museum at Monaco, where it has now spread over more than 30,000 acres of seabed. It has also spread to parts of the US and in Southern CA, more than $6m has been spent on control efforts to date. (further details on this invasive and its control history are available from: http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=115&fr=1&sts=&lang=EN).

Further details of these and more of the world's top 100 invaders can be found online at the Global Invasives Species Database site - http://www.issg.org/database/species/.  

These examples demonstrate the wider social, ecological and economic significance of invasive species. They underline why the Alaska SeaLife Center has both paid careful attention to ensuring we are  not an invasives vector and why we have begun a new invasive species program to help Alaska better address the many issues asociated with marine invasive species. 

Under the leadership of Howard Ferren and Rebekka Federer, the Alaska SeaLife Center will be hosting a Marine Invasive Species Workshop on March 3rd-4th, 2010. The Workshop is a joint effort among the Alaska Invasive Species Working Group and will bring together collaborating organizations in an effort to identify key concerns and recommend priorities to address marine invasive species issues in Alaska.  The Workshop will kick-off on March 3rd with a morning session that will be open to the public where invited speakers from various organizations will discuss species and areas of concern, vectors and ballast water rules, current management plans, insights from other states and global efforts, state law and policy, and economic impacts. The morning sessions will provide a foundation for discussion sessions to be held by the invited attendees the afternoon of March 3rd and all day March 4th. Funding for the Workshop was provided by the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens Advisory Council and Ocean Alaska Science and Learning Center.