Vectors for introduction of nonindigenous species in the Great Lakes preliminary assessment of hull fouling

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Vectors for introduction of nonindigenous species in the Great Lakes preliminary assessment of hull fouling"

Morris Houston
5 years ago
Views:

1 Vectors for introduction of nonindigenous species in the Great Lakes preliminary assessment of hull fouling Francisco Sylvester Colin van Overdijk Hugh MacIsaac

2 Hull fouling is recognized as a dominant vector for introduction of aquatic NIS worldwide, and typically exceeds ballast water in importance in major ports

3 However, only a single study assessed importance of hull fouling as a vector for NIS introductions to the Great Lakes (Drake and Lodge 2007) 944 organisms analyzed from 9 samples on a single vessel 1 ship, emergency dry-dock in 2001 in Lake Ontario

4 Estimated Species Richness (5 methods) Collected 74 distinct taxa, but estimated total number from rarefaction curves between Most species marine Drake & Lodge (2007)

5 An alarm was raised However, the results may be somewhat misleading: Sampled only one, heavily fouled ship with no indication of the representativeness of the population Although they found 74 distinct taxa, only 8 species (11 individuals) are certainly NIS This study is an indication that extreme events can happen, and that risk of hull fouling needs to be addressed

6 Sampling 2007: survey of the hulls of 13 commercial transoceanic vessels in Great Lakes ports 17 more ships in Vancouver and Halifax

7 Sampling 2007: survey of the hulls of 13 commercial transoceanic vessels in Great Lakes ports An average of 8 scrapings (20x20 cm) per ship

8 Sampling 2007: survey of the hulls of 13 commercial transoceanic vessels in Great Lakes ports An average of 8 scrapings (20x20 cm) per ship The rudder, bow thruster, propeller, sea-chests, bulbous bow, flat bottom, water line, dry-dock support strips, holes and struts

sea-chests, bulbous bow, flat bottom, water line, dry-dock support strips, holes and

9 Sampling 2007: survey of the hulls of 13 commercial transoceanic vessels in Great Lakes ports An average of 8 scrapings (20x20 cm) per ship The rudder, bow thruster, propeller, sea-chests, bulbous bow, flat bottom, water line, dry-dock support strips, holes and struts blank water sample from the dock as a control Samples immediately fixed in 95% ethanol

10 Sampling 2007: survey of the hulls of 13 commercial transoceanic vessels in Great Lakes ports An average of 8 scrapings (20x20 cm) per ship The rudder, bow thruster, propeller, sea-chests, bulbous bow, flat bottom, water line, dry-dock support strips, holes and struts blank water sample from the dock as control Samples immediately fixed in 95% ethanol Invertebrates sorted in GLIER, and sent to taxonomic experts for identifications

11 Results

12 Results

13 Results

14 Results

15 Results

16 Results

17 Results

18 Results

19 Results An average of 400 marine and freshwater organisms per ship

20 Results An average of 400 marine and freshwater organisms per ship Established invaders, such as Cercopagis pengoi No new freshwater taxa new to the Great Lakes so far Non-established marine taxa were found, in poor condition Brackish-water, NIS like Gammarus tigrinus may colonize and be transported alive to the Great Lakes

21 Conclusions Hull fouling seems to have a limited potential for introducing new NIS to the Great Lakes These results are preliminary Additional vessels will be sampled during 2008 Check for alive/dead animals Samples from Halifax and Vancouver might render a very different picture

22 OTHER PROJECTS

23 TRANSATLANTIC / DOMESTIC Ballast water (CAISN) Sediment in ballast tanks (E. Briski, CAISN) Brine treatment of no-bob ships (J. Bradie, U. Windsor, DFO, TC) Ballast water monitoring and evaluation of regulations (S. Bailey, DFO, TC) Ballast water and transit in domestic vessels (M. Rup, U. Windsor, DFO, TC, SERC) Ballast water in domestic vessels (S. Bailey, DFO, TC) Ballast water monitoring and evaluation of regulations (S. Bailey, DFO, TC)

24 THANK YOU! Taxonomic identifications and assistance: Drs. Christer Erséus, Paul Valentich-Scott, Fábio Bettini Pitombo, Rosalie Maddocks, Anne Cohen, Harry Lee, James Thomas, Ryan Fisher, Stanley Dodson, Jeffery Cordell, Patrick Hudson Ewa Szalinska, Mike Burtnyk, Dale Calder, Jan Ciborowski, Gretchen Lambert, André Martel, James Carlton, Sarah Bailey and Capt. Phil Jenkins Divers, crews and the shipping industry provided access to vessels and samples We acknowledge funding from CAISN, NSERC, DFO, and Transport Canada More info: Dr. Francisco Sylvester, GLIER, U. Windsor,

Hull fouling on domestic vessels and the regional spread of marine NIS

Hull fouling on domestic vessels and the regional spread of marine NIS Marco Meloni Nancy Correa Fábio B. Pitombo Demetrio Boltovskoy Francisco Sylvester Introduction Hull fouling on transoceanic vessels