Invasive tunicates fouling mussel lines: evidence of their impact on native tunicates and other epifaunal invertebrates

Locke, Andrea; Carman, Mary R.; Lutz-Collins, Vanessa; Ramsay, Aaron; Quijón, Pedro A.; Davidson, Jeff

doi:10.3391/ai.2009.4.1.22

Cited by 42 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Mussel farms provide large amounts of potential habitat for biofouling organisms, often in locations with limited availability of natural substrates (Lutz-Collins et al 2009;Rocha et al 2009). Mussel culture lines are known to accumulate biofouling communities during cropping (Khalaman 2001;de Sá et al 2007;Howes et al 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Depending on taxonomic composition (e.g. suspension-feeding vs. browsing or predatory organisms) and biomass, accumulated biofouling taxa may compete with cultured mussels for limiting resources (food and space) and significantly contribute to the overall ecotrophic effects of mussel aquaculture operations (Lesser et al 1992;Daigle and Herbinger 2009;Lutz-Collins et al 2009). Such effects have been examined for cultured mussel species in countries such as Italy (Mytilus galloprovincialis: Nizzoli et al 2005) and Canada (M. edulis: Richard et al 2006), but not as yet in New Zealand.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biofouling on Greenshell™ mussel (Perna canaliculus) farms: a preliminary assessment and potential implications for sustainable aquaculture practices

2011

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Greenshell TM mussel (Perna canaliculus) culture is the primary aquaculture industry in New Zealand. However, our knowledge of biofouling on Greenshell TM mussel farms, and its contribution to farm ecotrophic effects, is poor. We conducted a preliminary study of biofouling accumulation at two Greenshell TM mussel farms during Intermediate and Final seed on-growing stages (each of 6 months duration) with sampling of mussel ropes at 0, 3, 5 and 6 months during each on-growing stage. A diverse range of biofouling organisms (71 distinct taxa) accumulated on mussel ropes, with biofouling biomass dominated by suspension-feeding organisms (*88% of biofouling biomass) such as other bivalves, ascidians and, to a lesser degree, bryozoans. Biofouling biomass increased with culture time, varied between farms and was generally greater at 2 m than at 8 m depth. After 6 months, biofouling organisms on average comprised 54% of the total rope biomass. The reseeding of ropes between Intermediate and Final seed crops reduced the amount of non-Greenshell TM mussel biofouling. However, after 6 months, non-Greenshell TM mussel biofouling on average still comprised 15% of the total rope biomass. To evaluate potential ecotrophic effects of biofouling on Greenshell TM mussel farms, we compare the clearance rates of Greenshell TM mussel longlines based on Greenshell TM mussels alone and when combined with the two dominant biofouling species observed in our study (the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis and the ascidian Ciona intestinalis). Our study shows that accumulated biofouling biomass on Greenshell TM mussel ropes can be significant and recommends further investigation as to actual ecotrophic effects of biofouling to ensure sustainable mussel farm practices.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biofouling on Greenshell™ mussel (Perna canaliculus) farms: a preliminary assessment and potential implications for sustainable aquaculture practices

2011

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“…comm.). Invasive and native tunicates are an economic concern for shellfish aquaculturists because they overgrow bivalves and foul gear, thereby adding weight and restricting water exchange and nutrients (Kluza et al., 2006; Howes et al., 2007; Locke et al., 2007; Rajbanshi and Pederson, 2007; Lutz‐Collins et al., 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An initial assessment of native and invasive tunicates in shellfish aquaculture of the North American east coast

Carman

Morris

Karney

et al. 2010

Journal of Applied Ichthyology

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Summary The objective of the study was to assess the distribution of native and invasive tunicates in the fouling community of shellfish aquaculture gear along the U.S. east coast of the Atlantic. Since the 1980s, several species of invasive tunicates have spread throughout the coastal waters of the North American east coast and have become dominant fouling organisms on docks, boat hulls, mooring lines, and in shellfish aquaculture. Invasive and native tunicates negatively impact shellfish aquaculture through increased maintenance costs and reduced shellfish growth. While the presence of alien tunicates has been well documented at piers, harbors, and marinas, there are few published reports of invasive tunicate impacts to aquaculture. We surveyed shellfish aquaculture operations at Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts and shellfish aquaculturists in other areas along the North American east coast and report high levels of fouling caused by seven invasive, three native, and two cryptogenic species of tunicates. All study sites were fouled by one or more tunicate species. Biofouling control treatments varied among aquaculture sites and were effective in removing tunicates. Invasive and native tunicates should be considered when assessing the economic impacts of fouling organisms to the aquaculture industry.

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“…For example, up to a 50 % loss in shellfish harvest followed the invasion and population growth of S. clava in eastern Canada (Colautti et al 2006). In addition, invasive ascidians compete with cultured species for food by reducing plankton from the water column and space by biofouling in aquaculture facilities (Petersen 2007;Ramsay et al 2008;Lutz-Collins et al 2009;Adams et al 2011;Rius et al 2011). A conservative estimate for the control of biofouling species-including many ascidians in aquacultureranges from 5 to 10 % of production costs, equivalent to US $1.5-3 billion per year (Fitridge et al 2012).…”

Section: Negative Impactsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ascidians as models for studying invasion success

et al. 2015

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Invasive tunicates fouling mussel lines: evidence of their impact on native tunicates and other epifaunal invertebrates

Cited by 42 publications

References 30 publications

Biofouling on Greenshell™ mussel (Perna canaliculus) farms: a preliminary assessment and potential implications for sustainable aquaculture practices

Biofouling on Greenshell™ mussel (Perna canaliculus) farms: a preliminary assessment and potential implications for sustainable aquaculture practices

An initial assessment of native and invasive tunicates in shellfish aquaculture of the North American east coast

Ascidians as models for studying invasion success

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