INVASIVE MARINE SPECIES STUDIES

Reducing potential impact of invasive marine species
in the NWHIMNM

Paul L. Jokiel, Rob J. Toonen, and L. Scott Godwin

This project was completed within the planned time frame of Year 1. The fourth quarter involved completion of field effort, processing of samples and archiving of material in the Bishop Museum, and the completion of the final document covering what is known about introduced marine species in the NWHI.

The final document provides recommendations on future courses of action to prevent introduction of other species:

Scott Godwin, Ku‘ulei S. Rodgers and Paul L. Jokiel. 2005. Reducing Potential Impact of Invasive Marine Species in the NWHI Marine National Monument. 66 pp. (Download the PDF.)

Examples of the information summarized in the final document:

Table 1: Marine introduced species in the NWHI

NIH = Nihoa, NEC = Necker Island, FFS = French Frigate Shoals, MAR = Maro Reef, PHR = Pearl and Hermes Reef,
LAY = Laysan Island, LIS = Lisianski Island, MID = Midway Atoll, KUR = Kure Atoll

Species

Native Range

Present Status in NWHI

Mechanism of Introduction

Hypnea musciformes
(algae)

Unknown;
Cosmopolitan

Unknown; in drift and on lobster traps (MAR and NEC)

Intentional introduction to MHI
(documented)

Diadumene lineata
(anemone)

Asia

Unknown; on derelict net only (PHR)

Derelict fishing net debris
(documented)

Pennaria disticha
(hydroid)

Unknown;
Cosmopolitan

Established (FFS, PHR, LAY, LIS, KUR and MID)

Fouling on ship hulls
(hypothesized)

Amathia distans
(bryozoan)

Unknown;
Cosmopolitan

Established (MID)

Fouling on ship hulls
(hypothesized)

Schizoporella errata
(bryozoan)

Unknown;
Cosmopolitan

Established (MID)

Fouling on ship hulls
(hypothesized)

Balanus reticulates
(barnacle)

Atlantic

Established (FFS)

Fouling on ship hulls
(hypothesized)

Balanus venustus
(barnacle)

Atlantic and Caribbean

Not Established; on vessel hull only (MID)

Fouling on ship hulls
(documented)

Chthamalus proteus
(barnacle)

Caribbean

Established (MID)

Fouling on ship hulls
(hypothesized)

Lutjanus fulvus
(fish)

Indo-Pacific

Established (NIH, FFS)

Intentional introduction to MHI
(documented)

Lutjanus kasmira
(fish)

Indo-Pacific

Established (NIH, NEC, FFS, MAR, LAY, and MID)

Intentional introduction to MHI
(documented)

Cephalopholis argus
(fish)

Indo-Pacific

Established (NIH, NEC and FFS)

Intentional introduction to MHI
(documented)

 

Figure 1 = photo of introduced barnacle. Figure 1. The barnacle Chthamalus proteus is an example of an introduced invertebrate. It was well established on O‘ahu, Maui, and Kaua‘i by the time it was noticed in 1995 and was recorded in the NWHI in the harbor at Midway Atoll in 1998. This barnacle is native to the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and the Western Atlantic, and is a common fouling organism on ship hulls. A potential threat of this species is alteration of natural substrates through dense colonization. This would alter settlement patterns of native species and exclude algal grazers such as opihi. Photo by C. Zabin. (Click on the image to open a larger version.)

Figure 2 = photo of blue-lined snapper or ta'ape. Figure 2. Blue-Lined Snapper (also known as ta‘ape or Lutjanus kasmira) was introduced in the Main Hawaiian Islands during the 1960s but has spread to all islands in the Hawaiian Archepelago including the NWHI. Photo by K. Stender. (Click on the image to open a larger version.)

Major points covered in the final document are:

  1. Populations of alien marine species that have already colonized areas of the MHI represent the most likely source of invasive species in the NWHI based on the proximity and pattern of ship movements associated with the MHI.
  2. The majority of alien marine species that are currently known from the Hawaiian Archipelago are found in harbor and bay habitats and have not colonized high energy forereef habitats.
  3. The few alien species known from the NWHI are restricted to the anthropogenic habitats at Midway Atoll and French Frigate Shoals. Only one, the hydroid Pennaria disticha, has spread extensively in the NWHI but neither this or other species has exhibited invasive characteristics at this time.
  4. Marine debris has been shown to have the ability to transport nonindigenous species to the NWHI. Modes of transport such as derelict fish nets are problematic to manage but the impact of other anthropogenic debris, such as Fish Attraction Devices (FAD) deployed by the State of Hawai‘i, can be minimized.

Recommendations covered in the final document:

  1. It will be important to establish formal administrative rules and codes of conduct to minimize exposure from the variety of potential transport mechanisms for nonindigenous transport to the NWHI.
  2. Continue activities pertaining to species richness and diversity as part of establishing baseline information, and pursue research pertaining to biogeography focused on connectivity and larval transport.
  3. Include the issue of marine nonindigenous species in education and outreach activities
  4. Integrate the concepts of marine nonindigenous species and invasive behavior into the mindset of monitoring and assessment activities occurring in the NWHI.

 

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