“Delaware Invasive Species Council (DISC) and Marine

Threats from Exotics”

Estuary Habitat WorkshopJanuary 16, 2003

Bruce Richards, Ph.D.

Overview

• Examples of Estuary and Marine Invasives

• Pathways of Introduction

• Delaware Invasive Species Council– Organization– Planning & Assessment– Sample Programs & Activities– Management Plan

Potamorobula amurensis

Rapana

• 1. Black Veins• 2. columella is smooth• 3. siphonal canal is short • 4. The edge of the outer opercular lip has small, elongate teeth • * Deep orange internal shell color• * Shell growth to 18.3 cm• * Round, large inflated body whorl •

•

Codium

Hemigrapsus sanguineus

Hemi- Background

• Adult crabs can reach over 35 mm, Carapace width

• consumes: algae and animals (amphipods,snails, etc.)

• Reproductive April to September

• Embryo to zoea stage 20 to 25 days

• females produce over 40,000 eggs

• Tolerates low salinity 15 o/oo

Common Pathways

• Aquaculture - Pacific Oyster & Oyster drill

• Aquarium Trade - Goldfish & Washington state lakes

• Biological Control- Grass carp & nuisance aquatic plants

• Ships: Cargo, Ballast, hull fouling

• Live bait Seafood retailing & processing

Ballast water

• An estimated 11,507,000,000 gallons of ballast water are discharged annually in US coastal environments.

• In one series of studies, 367 different taxa were found in the ballast water of 154 ships arriving in Oregon from Japan.

DISC Organization

• 1. Chair, Vice-Chair & Sec./Treasurer

• 2. Committee:– Research– Data Management – Public Awareness & Education– Bylaws

» Emphasis has been placed on agricultural exotics

Planning & Assessment

• What can we do? prevention, eradication, control, and restoration measures

• Why are they here? address the intentional, unintentional, authorized, and unauthorized movement of organisms among and within states

• How they got here?pathways and processes• What’s our to-do list? Inventory, monitoring,

applied research, and the development of new management methods and technologies (including for prevention and exclusion

Programs & Activities

• Website, Brochure, Field Trip• Annual Meeting• Committees and ad hoc groups• Inventory of invasive plants• Research Projects:

– Deer preference study– DE/MD coastal bays assessment of marine

species

Management Plan Goals

• 1. Prevent new invasive species introductions, regulate intentional introductions.

• 2. Limit spread of established invasives.

• 3. Abate harmful ecological, economic, social & public health impacts resulting from infestations of invasives.

Thank You