Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 2014
Two non-indigenous, colonial, ascidian species, Botryllus schlosseri and Botrylloides violaceus, ... more Two non-indigenous, colonial, ascidian species, Botryllus schlosseri and Botrylloides violaceus, were discovered along the south coast of Newfoundland in 2006-2007. B. schlosseri was found in several harbours, while B. violaceus has been found in one harbour thus far. These species have been reported in high, invasive abundances in many parts of the world, including other locations in Canada. They can have severe impacts on the marine environment, including displacing native benthic species, and threatening the economic sustainability of bivalve aquaculture farms. In this manuscript, we review the biology of these two species, their genetics and population ecology, and make recommendations for their eradication and control in Newfoundland harbours. This report is based on four years of research we have done on these non-indigenous ascidians in Belleoram and Arnold’s Cove, Newfoundland.
Vase tunicate, Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) Type B (sensu Sato et al. 2012), was first rec... more Vase tunicate, Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) Type B (sensu Sato et al. 2012), was first recorded in Newfoundland (Canada) in Burin, Placentia Bay, by SCUBA divers conducting rapid visual surveys for invasive species on 19 September 2012. Follow-up surveys of Burin and adjacent communities were conducted in October and November 2012. Ciona intestinalis was present in relatively low abundance in Burin, but a well-established population was located in Little Bay, approximately 15 km north of Burin. Little Bay is located within Mortier Bay, an area of high vessel traffic and the possible introduction source of C. intestinalis. Further surveys are recommended to delineate the present distribution and monitor future dispersal of C. intestinalis in coastal Newfoundland waters. Due to the demonstrated high ecological and economic impacts of this species in other previously invaded regions, options for mitigating population growth and dispersal should be examined to minimize effects of this non-indigenous species.
Invasive green alga Codium fragile spp. fragile (Suringar) Hariot, 1889 thalli were first detecte... more Invasive green alga Codium fragile spp. fragile (Suringar) Hariot, 1889 thalli were first detected in Newfoundland (Canada) within Mortier Bay (southwestern Placentia Bay) in August 2012. Subsequent SCUBA surveys in 2013 found Codium attached to subtidal substrates in Arnold’s Cove (northeastern Placentia Bay) and on the northern coast of central Newfoundland near Pilley’s Island (Notre Dame Bay), which is currently the most northern location of Codium in Atlantic Canada. Due to large distances between confirmed sightings, further surveys are recommended to determine the distribution range of Codium and its possible dispersal vectors in Newfoundland coastal waters. Implications of an invasion by Codium on coastal Newfoundland ecosystems are yet to be determined but potential concerns include the replacement of native kelp species, as previously documented elsewhere in Atlantic Canada.
Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 2014
Two non-indigenous, colonial, ascidian species, Botryllus schlosseri and Botrylloides violaceus, ... more Two non-indigenous, colonial, ascidian species, Botryllus schlosseri and Botrylloides violaceus, were discovered along the south coast of Newfoundland in 2006-2007. B. schlosseri was found in several harbours, while B. violaceus has been found in one harbour thus far. These species have been reported in high, invasive abundances in many parts of the world, including other locations in Canada. They can have severe impacts on the marine environment, including displacing native benthic species, and threatening the economic sustainability of bivalve aquaculture farms. In this manuscript, we review the biology of these two species, their genetics and population ecology, and make recommendations for their eradication and control in Newfoundland harbours. This report is based on four years of research we have done on these non-indigenous ascidians in Belleoram and Arnold’s Cove, Newfoundland.
Vase tunicate, Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) Type B (sensu Sato et al. 2012), was first rec... more Vase tunicate, Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) Type B (sensu Sato et al. 2012), was first recorded in Newfoundland (Canada) in Burin, Placentia Bay, by SCUBA divers conducting rapid visual surveys for invasive species on 19 September 2012. Follow-up surveys of Burin and adjacent communities were conducted in October and November 2012. Ciona intestinalis was present in relatively low abundance in Burin, but a well-established population was located in Little Bay, approximately 15 km north of Burin. Little Bay is located within Mortier Bay, an area of high vessel traffic and the possible introduction source of C. intestinalis. Further surveys are recommended to delineate the present distribution and monitor future dispersal of C. intestinalis in coastal Newfoundland waters. Due to the demonstrated high ecological and economic impacts of this species in other previously invaded regions, options for mitigating population growth and dispersal should be examined to minimize effects of this non-indigenous species.
Invasive green alga Codium fragile spp. fragile (Suringar) Hariot, 1889 thalli were first detecte... more Invasive green alga Codium fragile spp. fragile (Suringar) Hariot, 1889 thalli were first detected in Newfoundland (Canada) within Mortier Bay (southwestern Placentia Bay) in August 2012. Subsequent SCUBA surveys in 2013 found Codium attached to subtidal substrates in Arnold’s Cove (northeastern Placentia Bay) and on the northern coast of central Newfoundland near Pilley’s Island (Notre Dame Bay), which is currently the most northern location of Codium in Atlantic Canada. Due to large distances between confirmed sightings, further surveys are recommended to determine the distribution range of Codium and its possible dispersal vectors in Newfoundland coastal waters. Implications of an invasion by Codium on coastal Newfoundland ecosystems are yet to be determined but potential concerns include the replacement of native kelp species, as previously documented elsewhere in Atlantic Canada.
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Bay (southwestern Placentia Bay) in August 2012. Subsequent SCUBA surveys in 2013 found Codium attached to subtidal substrates in
Arnold’s Cove (northeastern Placentia Bay) and on the northern coast of central Newfoundland near Pilley’s Island (Notre Dame Bay),
which is currently the most northern location of Codium in Atlantic Canada. Due to large distances between confirmed sightings, further
surveys are recommended to determine the distribution range of Codium and its possible dispersal vectors in Newfoundland coastal waters.
Implications of an invasion by Codium on coastal Newfoundland ecosystems are yet to be determined but potential concerns include the
replacement of native kelp species, as previously documented elsewhere in Atlantic Canada.
Bay (southwestern Placentia Bay) in August 2012. Subsequent SCUBA surveys in 2013 found Codium attached to subtidal substrates in
Arnold’s Cove (northeastern Placentia Bay) and on the northern coast of central Newfoundland near Pilley’s Island (Notre Dame Bay),
which is currently the most northern location of Codium in Atlantic Canada. Due to large distances between confirmed sightings, further
surveys are recommended to determine the distribution range of Codium and its possible dispersal vectors in Newfoundland coastal waters.
Implications of an invasion by Codium on coastal Newfoundland ecosystems are yet to be determined but potential concerns include the
replacement of native kelp species, as previously documented elsewhere in Atlantic Canada.