R/IS-17

Quantitative analysis of spatial patterns of marine invasions for North America: establishing a national baseline and database

Principal Investigator:

Gregory M. Ruiz

Start/End Year:

2003 - 2007

Institution:

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

Co-Principal Investigator:

Jeffrey A. Crooks, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center; Anson H. Hines, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

Topic(s):

Aquatic Invasive Species

Description:

The overall objective is to measure quantitatively the spatial and temporal patterns of coastal invasions. We propose to establish a national baseline of data that measure invasion attributes by location (including geographic region or latitude), taxonomic group, source region, vector, and date of arrival. Our specific objectives are: * To establish a standardized, quantitative baseline of survey data for all coasts of North America; * To make available extensive geographically-referenced data from the surveys, through expansion of our online information system (NEMESIS), which includes detailed information for ~400 non-native marine species; * To test for differences in the extent of invasions among coasts and by latitude; * To test for a correlation among bays in the number of invasions with (a) the number of ship arrivals, as well as other measures of vector activity, among bays and (b) environmental and biological characteristics of the bays.

Related Publications:

Chang, AL; Carlton, JT; Brown, CW; Ruiz, GM. 2020. Down the up staircase: Equatorward march of a cold-water ascidian and broader implications for invasion ecology Diversity and Distributions26(7):881 -896. doi:10.1111/ddi.13055. UM-SG-RS-2020-16.

Chang, AL; Brown, CW; Crooks, JA; Ruiz, GM. 2018. Dry and wet periods drive rapid shifts in community assembly in an estuarine ecosystem. Global Change Biology24(2):E627 -E642. doi:10.1111/gcb.13972. UM-SG-RS-2018-08.

Chang, AL; Brown, CW; Crooks, JA; Ruiz, GM. 2018. Dry and wet periods drive rapid shifts in community assembly in an estuarine ecosystem Global Change Biology24(2):627 -642. doi:10.1111/gcb.13972. UM-SG-RS-2018-08.

Blum, JC; Chang, AL; Liljesthrom, M; Schenk, ME; Steinberg, MK; Ruiz, GM. 2007. The non-native solitary ascidian Ciona intestinalis (L.) depresses species richness. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology342(1):5 -14. doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2006.10.010. UM-SG-RS-2007-03.

Bullard, SG; Lambert, G; Carman, MR; Byrnes, J; Whitlatch, RB; Ruiz, G; Miller, RJ; Harris, L; Valentine, PC; Collie, JS; Pederson, J; McNaught, DC; Cohen, AN; Asch, RG; Dijkstra, J; Heinonen, K. 2007. The colonial ascidian Didemnum sp A: Current distribution, basic biology and potential threat to marine communities of the northeast and west coasts of North America. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology342(1):99 -108. doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2006.10.020. UM-SG-RS-2007-04.

McCann, LD; Hitchcock, NG; Winston, JE; Ruiz, GM. 2007. Non-native bryozoans in coastal embayments of the Southern United States: New records for the western Atlantic. Bulletin of Marine Science80(2):319 -342. UM-SG-RS-2007-19.

Lambert, G. 2005. First North American record of the ascidian Perophora japonica. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom85(4):1011 -1012. doi:10.1017/S002531540501204X. UM-SG-RS-2005-11.

Program Announcements

Knauss legislative fellowships in Congress help build careers — and they're fun and educational. See our video and fact sheet for details.
Maryland Sea Grant has program development funds for start-up efforts, graduate student research, or strategic support for emerging areas of research. Apply here.

News and Blogs

April 5, 2024

Applying New Skills for National Science Collaboration

March 25, 2024

A Place for Creativity in Science Writing

March 12, 2024

Maryland Sea Grant Funds Five New Research Projects

Video Gallery

Sea Grant Film Explores a Diminishing Smithville

Smithville is a community on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, on the edge of the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. A century ago, Smithville had more than 100 residents. Today, it has four, in two homes: an elderly couple, and one elderly woman and her son, who cares for her.

Featured Fellow

Leone Yisrael

Leone Yisrael is a cephalopod-loving scuba diver, cook, and loves to try new activities. She conducts genetic analysis and fieldwork at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center through the Coastal Disease Ecology Lab.

Exploring the Use of Benthic Microbial Fuel Cells to Remove Sulfide While Harvesting Energy from Oyster Aquaculture Biodeposits

Oyster aquaculture is a rapidly growing industry in Maryland’s Chesapeake waters which stimulates economic activity and may provide a host of ecosystem benefits. A potential concern associated with the intensification of the oyster aquaculture is the local production and accumulation of oyster biodeposits, which can lead to a porewater sulfide accumulation and declining bioturbation, symptoms of declining ecosystem function. Sulfide is naturally removed from the seafloor by the interactions between bioturbating infauna and sulfide oxidizing bacteria.

The Blue Crab: Callinectes Sapidus

An essential resource for researchers, students, and managers. Get your copy today!