Abstract
Coastal infrastructure provides extensive habitat for marine nonindigenous species (“NIS”), especially biofouling species. Ecosystem transplants can arise when static maritime structures (“SMS”) are relocated under slow towing speeds following long periods of biofouling accumulation. Translocations of SMS occur more often than acknowledged and represent a high-risk vector of marine NIS that is largely overlooked and unregulated. We compiled geolocations and movement patterns for oil platforms, derelict/obsolete vessels, barges, dry docks, floating lodges, homes and docks, aquaculture gear and buoys for the NE Pacific coast. We related these data to NIS richness within the region and to global examples of SMS movement. Our review and synthesis of SMS, paired with biofouling surveys before and after dock towing events, reveal the growing NIS vector opportunities resulting from sprawling coastal infrastructure. As coastal development continues apace in the Anthropocene, this emerging management challenge will require strong frameworks and workable solutions for a global issue that currently lacks incentives to prevent species transfers and invasions.
Highlights
Extensive coastal and offshore development has led to worldwide marine urbanization—an expansion of artificial structures into marine waters—and creation of habitat for both native and nonindigenous species (‘‘NIS’’) (Firth et al 2016; Bishop et al 2017)
There were records for 138 marine NIS, which represents 48% of the total reported for western North America (California to Alaska; Ruiz et al 2011)
A majority of the NIS were recorded from artificial structures or settlement plates suspended from those structures, and all have the potential to occur within biofouling communities and be transferred during translocation events (Gartner et al 2016; Fofonoff et al 2018)
Summary
Extensive coastal and offshore development has led to worldwide marine urbanization—an expansion of artificial structures into marine waters—and creation of habitat for both native and nonindigenous species (‘‘NIS’’) (Firth et al 2016; Bishop et al 2017). Introduction of NIS to transport hubs is often by ship biofouling or ballast water vectors (Hewitt and Campbell 2010) and the associated proliferation of docks and other structures expands the space available for colonization. Secondary spread via vector transits or self-dispersal promotes range expansion across coastal infrastructure (Bishop et al 2017) and at times into natural habitats. We define SMS as artificial structures that spend a predominant amount of their life span fixed to the seabed or shore, but can be moved in water; examples include offshore energy platforms, obsolete vessels, non-cargo barges, floating buildings and docks, aquaculture gear and buoys
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