Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 12
Invasive Marine Seaweeds: Pest or Prize?
Nikos Andreakis and Britta Schaffelke
12.1
Introduction
In recent decades, nonindigenous marine species (NIMS) have become noticeable
features of coastal ecosystems worldwide as well as a major environmental problem
and a symptom of global change (e.g., Rilov and Crooks
2009
; Sellers et al.
2010
).
The accelerated occurrence of new marine invasions is a function of intensified
maritime traffic, coupled with changing environmental conditions in the “recipient”
ecosystems. The latter factor may improve the competitiveness of new arrivals in
well-established native communities. Transport by ships is the major vector moving
marine biota around the globe, mainly via ballast tanks and biofouling on ships'
hulls (Flagella et al.
2007
). However, the long-range movement of NIMS is also
associated with other marine industries such as aquaculture, fisheries, and marine
tourism (Hewitt et al.
2009a
; Minchin et al.
2009
). Global climate change and other
regional stressors such as overexploitation of marine resources, marine habitat
fragmentation, and coastal pollution are altering the “recipient” ecosystems. This
may provide both available space and a suitable ecophysiological window for
survival and establishment of NIMS outside the species' native distribution
range, or may reveal species' biological traits that are responsible for “invasive-
ness.” Unfortunately, modeled estimates indicate that the rate of biological
introductions will continue to increase, in proportion with increasing global trade
and economic development (Lin et al.
2007
; Meyerson and Mooney
2007
). Now
and in the future, a major challenge will be to achieve improvements in (1) the early
detection of NIMS, (2) the prediction of ecological and socio-economic impacts,
and (3) environmental policy and management to prevent new and to control
established introductions of NIMS (Lodge et al.
2006
; Costello et al.
2007
; Rilov
and Crooks
2009
).
N. Andreakis (
*
) • B. Schaffelke
Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville 4810, QLD, Australia
