Marine Invasive Species and Ship

Marine Invasive Species and Ship

Whitman Miller, Gregory Ruiz, *Ian Davidson Whitman Miller, Gregory Ruiz, *Ian Davidson

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

and *Portland State University and *Portland State University

National Paint and Coatings Inte National Paint and Coatings International Marine and Off

rnational Marine and Off

Coatings Conference (June 20, 2007) Coatings Conference (June 20, 2007)
SERC

Marine Invasions Researc

Marine Invasions Researc

Laboratory Laboratory

Invasion 

Ecology and 

Patterns 

Transfer 

Mechanisms 

& Pathways 

Na

Balla

Cleari
Definitions Definitions

 Non-Native = Non Native = Non-Indigenous = Exotic Indigenous = Exotic

= Introduced = Alien = Invader = Introduced = Alien = Invader
Definitions Definitions

 Non-Native = Non Native = Non-Indigenous = Exotic Indigenous = Exotic

= Introduced = Alien = Invader = Introduced = Alien = Invader

 “Invasive Invasive” describes the rate and extent o

describes the rate and extent o

invasion invasion – so not all invaders are invasive

so not all invaders are invasive
Definitions Definitions

 Non-Native = Non Native = Non-Indigenous = Exotic Indigenous = Exotic

= Introduced = Alien = Invader = Introduced = Alien = Invader

 “Invasive Invasive” describes the rate and extent o

describes the rate and extent o

invasion invasion – so not all invaders are invasive

so not all invaders are invasive

 Vector = Pathway: The mechanism by wh

Vector = Pathway: The mechanism by wh

Non-native species are introduced to new native species are introduced to new 

habitats. habitats.
WEST NILE 

SPREADS ACRO
INVASION SEQUENCE:

Establishment (Invasio

Entrainment

Arrival / Release

Colonization

Reproduction

Geographic Spread (Inva

Species Pool

High Impact (Nuisance / 

History of commercial oyster landings in Chesapeak

0

20000400006000080000

100000120000

1875

1880

1885

1890

1895

1900

1905

1910

1915

1920

1925

1930

1935

1940

1945

1950

1955

1960

1965

Year

Landings (in millions of pounds)

Dermo found in

Chesapeake Ba

y

MSX found 

Chesapeake 

Early harvesting

Provided by: National Research Council

MSX CONTRIBUTES TO O

FISHERY COLLAPS
Mnemiopsis leidyi – ctenophore (com

Introduced to the Black Sea in 19
Effects of Invasive Species Effects of Invasive Species

 Invasions by nonindigenous species (N

Invasions by nonindigenous species (N

are a major force of global change, resu

are a major force of global change, resu

in significant ecological, economic, and in significant ecological, economic, and human health impacts human health impacts
Effects of Invasive Species Effects of Invasive Species

 Invasions by nonindigenous species (N

Invasions by nonindigenous species (N

are a major force of global change, resu

are a major force of global change, resu

in significant ecological, economic, and in significant ecological, economic, and human health impacts human health impacts

 Economic cost in U.S. of aquatic invasio

Economic cost in U.S. of aquatic invasio

>$10 billion $10 billion / year (Pimentel 2003) / year (Pimentel 2003)
Effects of Invasive Species Effects of Invasive Species

 Invasions by nonindigenous species (N

Invasions by nonindigenous species (N

are a major force of global change, resu

are a major force of global change, resu

in significant ecological, economic, and in significant ecological, economic, and human health impacts human health impacts

 Economic cost in U.S. of aquatic invasio

Economic cost in U.S. of aquatic invasio

>$10 billion $10 billion / year (Pimentel 2003) / year (Pimentel 2003)

 Transfers of NIS by human activities ha

Transfers of NIS by human activities ha

increased dramatically over the past ce

increased dramatically over the past ce

and continue to do so and continue to do so
Coastal Invasions of the United St

Time (years) since 1790

0 30 60 90 120 150 

Number of Invasions

0

20406080

100 West Coast

Gulf CoastEast Coast
0 30 60 90 

Crustacea

Mollusca

Annelida

Insecta

Urochordata

CnidariaBryozoa

Other

Protozoa

Number of Species

Non-native invertebrate taxa reported in coastal 

of continental U.S. (n=326)
Possible vector for coastal NIS introd

Possible vector for coastal NIS introd

to North America by shipping (n=1

to North America by shipping (n=1

0 20 40 60 80 100 

Fouling

Ballast Water

Cargo

Dry Ballast

Number of Species
European Green Crab – Carcinus ma
1817

1989

1900 early 1980’s

early 1

GREEN CRABS IMPACT SHELLFISH 

COASTAL COMMUNITIES
Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis) 

Chesapeake and Delaware Bays (2006 & 200
Rate of coastal invasions detecte

Rate of coastal invasions detecte

North America according to vec

North America according to vec

Time (years) since 1790

0 30 60 90 120 150 180

Number of Invasions

0

20406080

100

FisheriesShipping
~110,000 Arrivals to US Ports and Places 

(Overseas + Domestic)
Modes of Introduction via Modes of Introduction via 

the Shipping Vector the Shipping Vector

 Ballast Water: Ballast Water:

water that is pumped or gravitated into B

water that is pumped or gravitated into 

tanks or holds to stabilize ship for prope

tanks or holds to stabilize ship for prope

and stability and stability
Modes of Introduction via Modes of Introduction via 

the Shipping Vector the Shipping Vector

 Ballast Water: Ballast Water:

water that is pumped or gravitated into B

water that is pumped or gravitated into 

tanks or holds to stabilize ship for prope

tanks or holds to stabilize ship for prope

and stability. and stability.

 Hull Fouling Hull Fouling
density

Commercial and obsolete ves

Vector ecology

species pool

entrainment

arrival / release

magnitude

frequency

duration

diversity

source reg

recipient r

transfer

number

Ruiz & 

variability of tra

colonization

reproduction

establishment

spread
Last Ports of Call to US Ports and Pla

Last Ports of Call to US Ports and Pla

(Jan 2004 (Jan 2004 

– Dec 2005 Dec 2005

)
Overseas Ship Arrivals (Jan 2004 – Dec 2005)
IUCN Marine Bioregions
SERC Balla

Water EcolProgram:

Over 400 vessboarded to dat• Biological Sa• BW Exchang

Experiments

Empty/Refill Flow-Thr

100% 300%

Mid-ocean ballast water exchan

ocean ballast water exchan

Hull Fouling

• Important 

Historically
Important Today:

• bigger ships• travel farther, faster• TBT phase out

Hull Fouling
Differential Fouling
Factors Likely to Affect Biofouling

Accumulation

 harbor residence time harbor residence time vessel speed vessel speed voyage duration voyage duration surface area & complexity surface area & complexity voyage routes & geography voyage routes & geography environmental factors (salinity, temperatu

environmental factors (salinity, temperatu

 season hull husbandry schedule hull husbandry schedule antifouling regime antifouling regime
Commercial and obsolete ves

Source regions

obsolete ships 

Suisun Bay, California

James River, Virginia

Beaumont, Texas

Commercial and obsolete ves

Density & Diversity

1722

2222

22

69

0 20 40 60 80 100

rudder

stern tube

propeller

hull

dock blocks

intakes

bow thruster

0 20 40 60 

commercial ships obsolet

n 

Frequency of occurrence (percentage of ships)

underwater vessel locations and biofouling occu
Commercial and obsolete ves

Density & Diversity

commercial ships 

dry dock ships 

obsolete ships 

n = 21 n = 10 n = 3 

range of biofouling percent cover 10080604020

0

Extent of biofouling on ships 
Estimating Total Wetted Surface Ar

Estimating Total Wetted Surface Ar

from NRT from NRT

 WSA is a function of: WSA is a function of:

 Length Beam Draft Vessel Class Blocking Vessel Class Blocking 

Coefficient Coefficient

1. WSA Calculated for 6 WSA Calculated for 6

-

10,000 Lloyd 10,000 Lloyd’s Reg. Entries/Class Entries/Class

2. Regression: Regression:

(NRT x WSA) (NRT x WSA)

3.

r

2 = 0.70 

- 0.93 

4. MARAD Arrivals 

MARAD Arrivals 

by Vessel Class an

by Vessel Class an

5. WSA = 

ƒ (NRT)

6. Divide WSA into 

Divide WSA into 

Crossers and Non Crossers and Non

Wetted Surface Area [x 10 Wetted Surface Area [x 106 

m

2] arriving to U

] arriving to U

Bioregions from other Global Regions Bioregions from other Global Regions

AF AO AS AU EU EU-AS HS IO NA PO 

CAR-I 5.88 0.19 8.82 0.38 12.08 0.78 4.69 0.00 94.25 0.06 

CAR-IV 1.15 0.00 3.06 0.02 1.92 0.08 0.01 0.02 28.56 0.02 

CAR-VII 0.28 0.02 4.00 0.06 3.69 0.16 0.04 0.06 17.92 0.03 

GL-I 0.01 0.00 0.02 0.04 0.14 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 GL-II 0.08 0.00 0.04 0.01 0.41 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.04 0.00 GL-III 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 NA-ET2 0.13 0.03 0.03 0.03 2.14 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.56 0.00 NA-ET3 5.39 1.28 3.18 0.33 17.87 0.59 0.07 0.00 10.14 0.01 

NEP-II 0.00 0.00 1.16 0.00 0.03 0.02 0.18 0.00 0.07 0.03 NEP-III 0.01 0.00 8.47 0.34 0.01 0.04 0.00 0.00 0.26 0.08 NEP-IV 0.01 0.00 5.69 0.24 0.03 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.50 0.01 NEP-V 0.05 0.02 2.81 0.23 0.10 0.02 0.37 0.00 1.65 0.54 NEP-VI 0.03 0.00 22.05 0.34 0.31 0.01 0.22 0.00 13.29 0.35 

SP-XXI 0.00 0.00 1.68 0.16 0.00 0.00 0.14 0.02 0.97 0.29 Total 13.02 1.54 61.02 2.18 38.75 1.75 5.72 0.10 168.22 1.41 
Wetted Surface Area [m Wetted Surface Area [m

2

]

Domestic Arrivals (MARAD 1999 Domestic Arrivals (MARAD 1999

-200

0

20,000,00040,000,00060,000,00080,000,000

100,000,000120,000,000140,000,000

Yr 1 Yr 2

WSA [m2] B

N
200 PVC panels a

wood blocks are dper embayment

PVC and wood panels sample species that settle on hard surfaces or bore into wooden structures

SERC National Fouling Surv

SERC National Fouling Surv
Conducting the Survey: Method

Conducting the Survey: Method

Panels are hung off fixed structures,1m below mean low tide mark and retrieved after 3 months 
Perna viridis and Styela plicata

3-m
Core sites

Field Survey sitesFuture sites

Dutch Harbor

Kodiak

Sitka

Ketchikan

Puget Sound

Coos Bay

Humboldt Bay

San Francisco Bay

Long Beach

San Diego

Corpus Christi

Galveston

Pensacola

Tampa

Bay 

Prince William Sound

Valdez

Kachemak Bay 

Core SitesSurvey SitesFuture Sites
0

2468

10121416

SD LB SF HB OR WA KT ST PW AK KD DH NH RI CB CH JX BB 

PAC AK ATL 

Number of NIS

NIS from LiteNIS From SE

Fouling Survey Results Fouling Survey Results
Summary: Hull Fouling Summary: Hull Fouling

 Commercial shipping provides at least 2 Commercial shipping provides at least 2 

important modes of introduction for marine important modes of introduction for marine organisms: organisms: ballasted materials ballasted materials and hull fou

hull fou

 Relative importance of these modes is not Relative importance of these modes is not 

resolved. resolved.

 ~800 million m ~800 million m

2 of inter of inter

-bioregional hull are

bioregional hull are

arrives into U.S. bioregions per year (i.e., ~4

arrives into U.S. bioregions per year (i.e., ~4

billion 6 billion 6

” x 6

” setting plates). setting plates).

 Best

-maintained vessels have 5% WSA maintained vessels have 5% WSA 

fouled??? fouled???
Knowns:

•Variation in magnitude & frequency of commercial vearrivals (WSA)

- by ship type - by port

Unknowns:•Traffic flux measures for recreational, fishing, & barg

•Extent and composition of biofouling assemblages o

commercial ships (& other vessel types)

•Effect of vessel behavior (route, husbandry, etc) & sh

on biota

•How does hull assemblage relate to probability of NI

establishment?

Summary: Present State of Knowledge
Vector Strength 

(Invasion Patterns)

Prevention Measures(Vector Interruption)

Vector Operation

(Transfer Mechanisms &

Propagule Supply)

Components of Vector Managem

Components of Vector Managem