Ocean current connectivity propelling the secondary spread of a marine invasive comb jelly across western Eurasia
Authors: Jaspers Cornelia , Huwer Bastian , Antajan Elvire , Hosia Aino , Hinrichsen Hans‐Harald , Biastoch Arne , Angel Dror , Asmus Ragnhild , Augustin Christina , Bagheri Siamak , Beggs Steven E. , Balsby Thorsten J. S. , Boersma Maarten , Bonnet Delphine , Christensen Jens T. , Dänhardt Andreas , Delpy Floriane , Falkenhaug Tone , Finenko Galina , Fleming Nicholas E. C. , Fuentes Veronica , Galil Bella , Gittenberger Arjan , Griffin Donal C. , Haslob Holger , Javidpour Jamileh , Kamburska Lyudmila , Kube Sandra , Langenberg Victor T. , Lehtiniemi Maiju , Lombard Fabien , Malzahn Arne , Marambio Macarena , Mihneva Veselina , Møller Lene Friis , Niermann Ulrich , Okyar Melek Isinibilir , Özdemir Zekiye Birinci , Pitois Sophie , Reusch Thorsten B. H. , Robbens Johan , Stefanova Kremena , Thibault Delphine , van der Veer Henk W. , Vansteenbrugge Lies , van Walraven Lodewijk , Woźniczka Adam 
Published: May 2018

Aim

Invasive species are of increasing global concern. Nevertheless, the mechanisms driving further distribution after the initial establishment of non‐native species remain largely unresolved, especially in marine systems. Ocean currents can be a major driver governing range occupancy, but this has not been accounted for in most invasion ecology studies so far. We investigate how well initial establishment areas are interconnected to later occupancy regions to test for the potential role of ocean currents driving secondary spread dynamics in order to infer invasion corridors and the source–sink dynamics of a non‐native holoplanktonic biological probe species on a continental scale.

Location

Western Eurasia.

Time period

1980s–2016.

Major taxa studied

‘Comb jelly’ Mnemiopsis leidyi.

Methods

Based on 12,400 geo‐referenced occurrence data, we reconstruct the invasion history of M. leidyi in western Eurasia. We model ocean currents and calculate their stability to match the temporal and spatial spread dynamics with large‐scale connectivity patterns via ocean currents. Additionally, genetic markers are used to test the predicted connectivity between subpopulations.

Results

Ocean currents can explain secondary spread dynamics, matching observed range expansions and the timing of first occurrence of our holoplanktonic non‐native biological probe species, leading to invasion corridors in western Eurasia. In northern Europe, regional extinctions after cold winters were followed by rapid recolonizations at a speed of up to 2,000 km per season. Source areas hosting year‐round populations in highly interconnected regions can re‐seed genotypes over large distances after local extinctions.

Main conclusions

Although the release of ballast water from container ships may contribute to the dispersal of non‐native species, our results highlight the importance of ocean currents driving secondary spread dynamics. Highly interconnected areas hosting invasive species are crucial for secondary spread dynamics on a continental scale. Invasion risk assessments should consider large‐scale connectivity patterns and the potential source regions of non‐native marine species.