The primary objective of this project is to develop a stressor-response model, initially focused on southern New England coastal habitats, which links alterations of coastal ecosystems to the interactions of climate change, anthropogenic stresses resulting from variability in land use patterns, and the changes in populations of recently introduced marine invasive species. The model will be designed to allow managers to assess various strategies in dealing with regional coastal environmental problems and use invasive species as “sentinels” or simple monitors of the effects of interaction of climate change and environmental degradation.

Our previous work indicates: (a) warming of coastal waters is correlated with an increasing abundance of invasive marine species, and (b) lower biodiversity characteristic of more stressed habitats make these areas more susceptible to invasion. Our extensive experimental data on interactions of invasive species and the native community, existing regional and local data, and newly collected data to quantify the interactions among the 3 stressors will be used in developing the model and determining whether stressor effects are additive. We will also examine the uncertainties of the model predictions, how the model results can be extrapolated both spatially and temporally, and how the model can be tested and validated.

Our overall approach is to use population/community models to couple the interacting effects of the more system-wide stress of climatic warming with local stresses resulting from changing land use patterns and the changes in the abundances of invasive species. Models of population and/or community effects are adaptable, can predict both large and small scale phenomena, and can be used by managers of both local and regional systems. A small set of field experiments using the effluent of a power plant will be used to quantify the interacting effects of increasing water temperatures and anthropogenic stresses on the rates of species introductions and the impacts of these on native communities. A sampling program will provide model links to land-use patterns.

Research Assistance Opportunity

When non-native marine organisms become established in a particular region, they are extremely difficult, if not impossible, to control. Unintentional introductions of non-native aquatic organisms have resulted in the establishment of many species beyond their native ranges. Such introductions pose significant threats to biodiversity, alter local community composition, influence the performance of ecosystems, and can result in significant economic costs. Vectors contributing to the introduction of alien species are very poorly understood and there has been no systematic evaluation of the role that ship traffic plays in moving species from foreign ports or along the U.S. eastern seaboard.

While the examination of transport of marine species by hull fouling has traditionally focused on large commercial tankers and container ships, smaller privately owned vessels are also an important vector. For example, in a recent study of ship fouling in New Zealand it was found that privately-owned sail boats and power craft had the highest amounts of hull fouling and that the hulls were the poorest maintained relative to commercial cruise ships, cargo vessels and tankers. The recent introduction of the black striped mussel (Mytilopsis sallei) into northern Australia has been traced to the hull of a recreational vessel, and small privately owned vessels have been implicated in spreading the Japanese seaweed Undaria pinnatifida throughout Tasmania and New Zealand and the fan worm Sabilla spallanzanii in western Australia. Annual economic costs to Australia’s shipping and mariculture industries from Undaria fouling are estimated to be in the millions of dollars, while Sabilla is considered to be a major threat to Australia’s multi-million dollar scallop industry.

Our plan is to assess the current distribution and abundance of fouling species on docks, pilings, boat hulls, and breakwaters along the eastern seaboard. We will also monitor survivorship of hull fouling species on boats traveling along the coast to determine the potential of privately owned vessels to transport species from one region to another. Finally, our study will examine assumptions made about the effectiveness of maintenance procedures (e.g., painting, scraping, etc.) to reduce hull fouling.

We would like to examine the hulls of as many boats as possible that have over-wintered in the Ft. Lauderdale, FL area and that are planning trips to New England during the spring/summer of 2004. All surveys will be performed by qualified SCUBA divers who will take underwater photographs of each hull to determine individual species and overall extent of hull fouling. A plastic scraper and suction device (similar to a vacuum cleaner) will also be used to collect samples of organisms. Pilings and floating docks will be sampled in a similar manner.

To conduct this project, we will be relying on voluntary assistance from marina operators and boat owners. As a boat owner, you can assist us by: 1) completing our survey (available by providing us with your contact information or online at ), 2) allowing us to survey your boat hull one time in Florida, 3) allowing us to survey your boat one time before you leave Florida and again upon your arrival at your northern destination, and/or 4) passing this information on to others who may be interested. All names and identifying information of vessels and boat owners will be kept anonymous. We anticipate beginning our survey in Florida in mid-May. Therefore, having contact information by May 1, 2004 would be helpful.

In appreciation, boaters who complete our survey will receive a copy of the book Water wise: Safety for the recreational boater by Jerry Dzugen and Susan Clark Jensen compliments of the Connecticut Sea Grant College Program. If you are interested in assisting us, please fill out our on-line survey or contact us with your preferred method of contact. Information may be sent by email:

Send an email to Dr. Whitlatch