Invasives: Sea of Data Still to Come

Abstract

Recently, there has been a great deal of discussion about terrestrial and coastal bioinvasions [“Invasives: A major conservation threat,” M. Lambertini et al. , Letters, 22 July, p. [404][1]; and ([ 1 ][2]–[ 3 ][3])]. However, our lack of knowledge regarding the natural history of marine groups, especially marine invertebrates and microorganisms, is alarming. This lack constitutes a major impediment to understanding evolutionary histories of these organisms, ultimately making their conservation more difficult. Top predators are important for the natural dispersal of marine invertebrate populations. As they move between different locations, they transfer genetic material between geographically distant populations. Many free-living species, which include sessile taxa (such as sponges, bivalves, and barnacles) and vagile taxa (such as decapods, gastropods, and echinoderms) live as epibiotic communities on vertebrates (such as fishes, sharks, turtles, sea snakes, and whales). Therefore, long-distance migrations of the vertebrates cause dispersal of a whole biota of marine invertebrates, connecting and even merging previously isolated populations. These new structures are often interpreted as human-mediated introduced species and potentially hazardous bioinvaders, when they are in fact natural distributions. Without a better understanding of the natural history of marine invertebrates, it will be impossible to correctly identify and take environmentally appropriate action to address these species. ![Figure][4] Along for the ride. Barnacles travel with a gray whale as it moves to new locations. CREDIT: DAVID BACON/ALAMY 1. [↵][5]1. G. Rilov, 2. J. A. Crooks , Biological Invasions in Marine Ecosystems (Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 2009). 2. 1. G. Vince , Science 331, 1383 (2011). [OpenUrl][6][Abstract/FREE Full Text][7] 3. [↵][8]1. M. A. Davis 2. et al ., Nature 474, 153 (2011). [OpenUrl][9][CrossRef][10][PubMed][11][Web of Science][12] [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/content/333/6041/404.2.full [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #ref-3 [4]: pending:yes [5]: #xref-ref-1-1 View reference 1 in text [6]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DScience%26rft.stitle%253DScience%26rft.aulast%253DVince%26rft.auinit1%253DG.%26rft.volume%253D331%26rft.issue%253D6023%26rft.spage%253D1383%26rft.epage%253D1384%26rft.atitle%253DEmbracing%2BInvasives%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1126%252Fscience.331.6023.1383%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F21415332%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [7]: /lookup/ijlink/YTozOntzOjQ6InBhdGgiO3M6MTQ6Ii9sb29rdXAvaWpsaW5rIjtzOjU6InF1ZXJ5IjthOjQ6e3M6ODoibGlua1R5cGUiO3M6NDoiQUJTVCI7czoxMToiam91cm5hbENvZGUiO3M6Mzoic2NpIjtzOjU6InJlc2lkIjtzOjEzOiIzMzEvNjAyMy8xMzgzIjtzOjQ6ImF0b20iO3M6MjQ6Ii9zY2kvMzMzLzYwNDUvOTM2LjEuYXRvbSI7fXM6ODoiZnJhZ21lbnQiO3M6MDoiIjt9 [8]: #xref-ref-3-1 View reference 3 in text [9]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DNature%26rft.stitle%253DNature%26rft.aulast%253DDavis%26rft.auinit1%253DM.%2BA.%26rft.volume%253D474%26rft.issue%253D7350%26rft.spage%253D153%26rft.epage%253D154%26rft.atitle%253DDon%2527t%2Bjudge%2Bspecies%2Bon%2Btheir%2Borigins.%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1038%252F474153a%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F21654782%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [10]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1038/474153a&link_type=DOI [11]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=21654782&link_type=MED&atom=%2Fsci%2F333%2F6045%2F936.1.atom [12]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=000291397800026&link_type=ISI