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Biodiversity:
Ecological Effects of Species Introductions and Extinctions
by Waterose et. al.
The Aliens are coming...to Vancouver Island...
Available Niche:
This example is quite interesting due to the complexity of the changes in the ecosystem. First, the geoduck clam, an indigenous species, was over harvested by strip-diving creating a vacant niche.
Commercial Introductions:
Then, the commercial Japanese or Pacific Oysters were intentionally introduced. This oyster is continually seeded in our waters.
The commercially harvested dungeness crab occupies the same
Exotic Predators:
An interesting development is the accidental introduction of Japanese invertebrates that prey on these oysters by boring into their shells.
Now there is a new alien on the way which has the potential to wipe out the commercial harvesting of bivalves and even decimate the dungeness crab population.
Carcinus Maenus:
The threat is real, and it’s coming. Its the Carcinus Maenus, and it’s green and it’s mean! Well, not really green, only after molting.Green Crab: It’s opportunistic and voracious. Carcinus Maenus originated in Europe and was introduced to San Francisco in about 1989, by the usual vectors, and it’s working it’s way north to Vancouver island.
Locally , attempts are being made to explore methods of irradication such as the use of exotic biological controls species. There are serious concerns about the use of non-indigenous biological predators and how there may be a cascading effect on the ecosystems, and the commercial shellfish.
The biodiversity of marine ecosystems on Vancouver Island has been significantly altered by the overharvesting of species, the intentional introduction of commercial species, the accidental introduction of predatorial species, and we are now facing an invasion of new aliens.
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