Impacts of Aquatic Supertramps Economic Damage The Atlantic shipworm, introduced to the San Francisco Bay in 1913, resulted in $3.1 billion (in today’s dollars) in damage to wooden structures between 1919 and 1921. Nationwide, aquatic invaders are estimated to cause more than $9 billion in damage each year. Compete with native species Introduced zebra mussels usually win their struggles against native mussels for habitat and food, and may cause local extinctions of native species. Hybridize with native species Hybrid cattails are a cross between a native and non-native cattail species. Vigorous hybrids may in- vade wetlands that are unsuitable for either parent species, and subsequently may reduce plant biodiversity. Alter ecosystems Adult nutria weigh 15-20 pounds and can eat up to 25 percent of their body weight in vegetation each day. Their insatiable appetites, combined with construction of swim channels, converts highly productive wetland areas into barren mud flats. Prey on native species Large, introduced flathead catfish have a huge appetite for a variety of fish and shellfish including shad, sunfish crayfish, and blue crabs. Photo Credit: Michigan Sea Grant www.msue.msu.edu/seagrant/sgezmans.html Photo Credit: Gerald W. Sneegus www.pserie.psu.edu/seagrant Open your eyes! You don’t have to look far to see plant and animal invaders from another ecosystem. Most of the weeds under your feet have been transported by humans from Europe and other continents. Popular sport fish, like the channel catfish, German brown trout, and small- mouth bass have only been present in the Delaware River and tributaries since they were first stocked with these non- native fishes. So, what makes a species a SUPERTRAMP? • Invasive • Non-native • Exotic • Alien • Foreign • Introduced • Nonindigenous These are all names for plant and animal species that grow and breed outside their native ranges. We identify super successful, harmful invaders as SUPERTRAMPS, and foreign species that thrive in wetlands and waterways as AQUATIC SUPERTRAMPS. Photo Credit: Friends of Blackwater Photo Credit: USGS Photo Credit: Kerry Dressler

Open your eyes! Impacts of Aquatic Supertrampsnsgl.gso.uri.edu/penn/penng02019.pdfImpacts of Aquatic Supertramps Economic Damage The Atlantic shipworm, introduced ... SUPERTRAMP? •

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Impacts of Aquatic Supertramps

Economic DamageThe Atlantic shipworm, introduced to the San Francisco Bay in 1913, resulted in $3.1 billion (in today’s dollars) in damage to wooden structures between 1919 and 1921. Nationwide, aquatic invaders are estimated to cause more than $9 billion in damage each year.

Compete with native speciesIntroduced zebra mussels usually win their struggles against native mussels for habitat and food, and may cause local extinctions of native species.

Hybridize with native speciesHybrid cattails are a cross between a native and non-native cattail species. Vigorous hybrids may in-vade wetlands that are unsuitable for either parent species, and subsequently may reduce plant biodiversity.

Alter ecosystemsAdult nutria weigh 15-20 pounds and can eat up to 25 percent of their body weight in vegetation each day. Their insatiable appetites, combined with construction of swim channels, converts highly productive wetland areas into barren mud flats.

Prey on native speciesLarge, introduced flathead catfish have a huge appetite for a variety of fish and shellfish including shad, sunfish crayfish, and blue crabs.

Photo Credit: Michigan Sea Grantwww.msue.msu.edu/seagrant/sgezmans.html

Photo Credit: Gerald W. Sneegus

www.pserie.psu.edu/seagrant

Open your eyes!You don’t have to look far to see plant and animal invaders from another ecosystem.

Most of the weeds under your feet have been transported by humans from Europe and other continents.

Popular sport fish, like the channel catfish, German brown trout, and small- mouth bass have only been present in the Delaware River and tributaries since they were first stocked with these non-native fishes.

So, what makes a species a SUPERTRAMP?• Invasive• Non-native • Exotic• Alien • Foreign • Introduced • NonindigenousThese are all names for plant and animal species that grow and breed outside their native ranges.

We identify super successful, harmful invaders as SUPERTRAMPS, and foreign species that thrive in wetlands and waterways as AQUATIC SUPERTRAMPS.

Photo Credit: Friends of Blackwater

Photo Credit: USGS

Photo Credit: Kerry Dressler