“Delaware Invasive Species Council (DISC) and Marine Threats from Exotics” Estuary Habitat Workshop January 16, 2003 Bruce Richards, Ph.D.

“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