THE INVASIVE SPECIES CHALLENGE IN

ESTUARINE AND COASTAL

ENVIRONMENTS: MARRYING

MANAGEMENT AND SCIENCE

Susan L. Williams & Edwin D.

Grosholz

THE H.T. ODUM SYNTHESIS ESSAY

http://www.okeanosgroup.

com

http://www.reefcorner.org

http://www.reefcorner.org

http://www.fishgame.com

INTRODUCTION

Estuarine and costal environments are susceptible due to activities

relating

Boating and shipping; Ballast water

Aquarium trade

Aquaculture

Life seafood and bait

Despite public awareness and scientific interest on invasive species, research articles

are relatively few.

http://globallast.imo.org

PROGRESS TOWARD MANAGEMENT: THE

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

Leaders on regulatory framework:

Australia and New Zealand: proactive and integrated approach on the control of invasive species.

Centralized management efforts, strong science-based research and accessibility to information are the key to effective control and eradication programs.

Slackers on regulatory framework:

USA lacks federal leadership and centralized management , there are laws that overlap affecting the effectiveness of regulation and management and there is a slow movement towards progress.

European Union uncoordinated as individual countries with different approach on managing invasive species in the same water body

PROGRESS TOWARD MANAGEMENT: THE

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

The existing legal instruments focus heavily on preventing introduction of

nonnative species, is undoubtedly the best way to reduce future costs of

management.

Reasons why this legal instruments fail;

1. The introduction is no evident in its early stages

2. Understudies of economical impact reduces the allocation of resources

3. Externalities, which are the costs to society or native biota above

identifiable direct costs associated with the specific economy (aquaculture

products, eradication programs), are notoriously difficult to estimate,

particularly in the marine environment

WHY ALLOCATE PRECIOUS RESOURCES

TO INTRODUCED SPECIES IN THE

COASTAL ENVIRONMENT?

1) They are vectors for pathogens

2) Accumulate higher level of

contaminants than native species

3) Associated with endangering or

threatening native species

4) High economical impacts and

restoration

Phyllorhiza punctata

Penaeus monodon Pterois spp.

Pomacanthus imperator

http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/

SUCCESS IS POSSIBLE

Successes occurres when;

introduced populations were small and restricted, human and financial resources

were available, and early action was taken.

Fall-back control program are successful when science and management

work together.

Managers were in consensus that access to experts and basic biological and

ecological information was critical to managing the eradications and more was

desirable

Managers also relied on scientists to provide eradication success/failure benchmarks

and reviews of programs to facilitate adaptive management

Risk assessment and cost-benefit analyses were useful even if qualitative; the more

extensive the scientific evidence for the risk, the easier it was to take or defend

management actions.

TWO CASE STUDIES: THE INTRODUCTION

OF CAULERPA AND SPARTINA

Invasion of Caulerpa taxifolia

Southern California

US Noxious Weed List in 1999

Identified invasion in 2000

Eradicated in 2006, due to the Southern California Caulerpa Action Team

No investigation before or during the eradication process.

Australia

Identified invasion 2000, eradication was not possible

Control programs are a priority to limit dispersal

This has given an opportunity to research management options and ecological effects of

introduced C. taxifolia

http://www.hawaii.edu

TWO CASE STUDIES: THE INTRODUCTION

OF CAULERPA AND SPARTINA

Invasion of Spartina spp.

Native to eastern North America

Introduced in 1890 in Washington (Accidental introduction)

Total of 2,400ha 1997 to 90% reduction 2011 (USDA)

Introduced in 1975 in California (Deliberated introduction by the Army Corps of Engineers)

800ha 2005 to 80ha 2011 (San Francisco Bay eradication program)

Some investigation was involved during the eradication program, which demonstrate the capacity of management and science to achieve similar goals without conflict

@World of Stock

@World of Stock

AGENDA FOR MANAGEMENT-FOCUSED

RESEARCH

Effects in Communities and Ecosystems: More focus on ecosystem

processes and function instead of the typical approach.

Prevention:

Trait base approach: using previous invasion to detect future problems.

Species distribution modeling: model that relates species distribution data

with information on the environmental and/or spatial characteristics of those

locations

Early Detection

Risk Assessment: determines the probability of a species to established and cause harm. Help prioritize and initiate action.

In absence of effective prevention and early detection

Understanding Connectivity to Prioritize Eradication and Control Efforts: There is a lack of understanding connectivity among population of marine species. More advanced knowledge will help prioritize on eradication and control.

Eradication and Control : There is a need for tested techniques of eradication and control

Bio-controls

Transgenic approach to control reproduction

Pheromone control

Disruption of molting*

Need for Decision Support : There is a need for a single source, readily

accessible, step-wise management decision support system.

Australia’s National Introduced Marine Pest Information System central repository of

information on the biology, ecology and distribution (international and national) of invasive

marine pest species

USA National Invasive Species Information Center (NISIC): Gateway to invasive species

information

Evolutionary Potential: Poorly investigated how short term or rapid evolution

influences the success or failure of introduced species

Ecological Economics and Introduced Species Cross-disciplinary: Relates to the

risk assessment involving cost of introduced species and the development of

better management recommendations

Overlooked research needs:

Facilitation of Subsequent Introduced Species : How can introduced species

become facilitators for other invasive species.

Climate Change and Specie Introduction:

There is a need for understanding how climate change interacts with coastal

invasions:

Rise SST

Rise Sea Level

Rise CO2

Ocean Acidification

DISCUSSION

Management of introduced species requires the same will and resources

that nations have applied to reducing pollution and restoring wetlands

and fisheries stocks, with high pay-offs, and investments spent on

restoration efforts risk being obliterated by the introduction of just one

successful nonnative species.