Name
|
Native to
|
Introduced
to
|
Impact
|
Asian
paddle crab
Charybdis japonica
|
North-west Pacific (China, Japan, Korean peninsula) to east Asian Seas (Thailand, Malaysia)
|
New Zealand
|
May carry
the White Spot Syndrome virus which can affect crustacean mariculture. Can
affect biodiversity through either predation or by indirectly altering
trophic levels.
|
Colonial
tunicate
Didemnum vexillum
|
North-west Pacific
|
North-east
and north-west Atlantic, north-east Pacific, New Zealand
|
This species is an aggressive invader and is able to reproduce sexually or asexually. Fragments of the species are able to disperse, reproduce, reattach and thrive. This species fouls hydrotechnical constructions, ships, aquaculture infrastructure and cultured molluscs. It affects the biodiversity of existing communities as it outcompetes for habitat or simply grows over or smothers existing species.
|
North
Pacific seastar
Asterias amurensis
|
North-west
Pacific
|
North-east
Pacific, southern Australia
|
This species is a voracious carnivorous feeder. They are prolific breeders and are able to quickly establish large populations in new areas. The species is a serious pest to native species, such as the endangered spotted handfish (Brachionichthys hirsutus), as the seastar preys on the fish’s egg masses. The species’ preference for mussels, scallops and clams ensures that it impacts mollusc aquaculture and wild fisheries.
|
Asian green
mussel
Perna viridis
|
Persian Gulf through to the Philippines, east Asian seas and up to eastern China
|
Caribbean, south Atlantic, south Pacific
|
Tolerates
wide fluctuations of salinity and temperature and reaches high densities.
This species fouls hydrotechnical constructions, ships and aquaculture
infrastructure. It affects the biodiversity of existing communities and can
alter trophic levels.
|
Black
striped mussel
Mytilopsis sallei
|
North-west
Atlantic, Caribbean and south Atlantic
|
India, east Asian seas (Malaysia, Singapore), south Pacific, north-west Pacific (Japan, China)
|
Tolerates wide fluctuations of salinity and temperature. Highly fecund, grows and reaches maturity rapidly. This species is capable of forming dense aggregations, impacting biodiversity as they exclude most other species. The fouling of hydrotechnical constructions, ships and aquaculture infrastructure with this species causes corrosion, technical problems and loss of efficiency.
|
European
fan worm
Sabella spallanzanii
|
North-east
Atlantic, Mediterranean
|
South-west
Atlantic, southern Australia, New Zealand, north-west Pacific
|
This
species is highly fecund and is able to form mat-like, dense populations on
the seafloor. The species can tolerate wide ranges in salinity and
successfully fouls artificial structures such as hydrotechnical
constructions, ships and aquaculture infrastructure. The species competes
with native filter-feeding organisms for habitat and food. It is possible
that dense formations alter water flow, sediment stability and bacterial
communities due to their efficiency filtering particulate matter from the
water column.
|
Bay
barnacle
Amphibalanus improvisus
|
Thought to
be the east coast of north-east and north-west Atlantic
|
South-west Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, Atlantic, Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caspian Sea, north-west Pacific, east Asia seas
|
This species is fast growing and gregarious. It has high reproductive potential; being able to reproduce sexually and asexually. Tolerates wide fluctuations of salinity and temperature. The fouling of hydrotechnical constructions, ships and aquaculture infrastructure with this species causes corrosion, technical problems and loss of efficiency. Able to affect biodiversity, change community structures and alter trophic levels.
|
Wakame
seaweed
Undaria pinnatifida
|
North-west
Pacific
|
Mediterranean, north-east Atlantic, south-west Atlantic, north-east Pacific, south-east Australia, New Zealand
|
This species is able to rapidly colonise temperate regions; it can colonise any hard surface and is therefore able to foul hydrotechnical constructions, ships and aquaculture infrastructure. Able to affect biodiversity, change community structures and alter trophic levels.
|
European shore crab
Carcinus maenas
|
North-east
Atlantic, Baltic Sea
|
West Africa (Mauritania to South Africa), Mediterranean, north-west Atlantic, south-west Atlantic (Panama to Argentina), east Africa (Red Sea to South Africa, including Madagascar), Japan, north-east Pacific, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, south Pacific, south-eastern Australia
|
The adult specimens of this species are able to withstand wide ranging temperature and salinity fluctuations. It is able to reside in damp air exposed environments for up to 10 days and tolerate up to 3 months of starvation. However, when able to feed, this species is a voracious predator, preying on molluscs and other crustaceans, including commercially important species. Apart from impacting on native species through predation, this species disrupts existing community structures through competition (habitat and food) and behavioural activities (burrowing).
|