Ballast Sediments Research Articles

Acclimation and introduction of hydrobionts ships’ ballast water organisms in the Port of Vladivostok

Work on the investigation of organisms of ballast water and sediments of ships sailing on Russia-Japan and Russia-China lines was started in the Port of Vladivostok for the first time for the Far East seas of Russia. In total, 145 taxa, 37 microalgal species, 24 holoplankton species, 22 meroplankton taxa, and 10 meiofauna groups were revealed, 24 species of microscopic mycelia fungi were attributed, and 28 morphologically distinct bacterial stains were isolated. Potentially toxic microalgal species were found: the dinoflagellates Dinophysis acuminate and Prorocentrum cordatum and the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia pungens. The tropical-subtropical copepod Pseudocalanus inopinus was recorded in ballast water. Polychaete larvae of the Polydora genus with an unusual morphology, which were not occurring in the Peter the Great Bay previously, were recorded as probable southern migrants from the coastal waters of the southwest coast of Honshu Island. Live larvae of the hermit crab Diogenes nitidimanus were revealed in ballast water, supporting the possibility of introduction of this species in the Peter the Great Bay. Based on an analysis of the total number of colony-forming units of heterotroph microorganisms (within the order of 103–104 cells/ml), the ballast water of ships sailing on the Russia-Japan line was characterized as moderately polluted. The detection of Escherichia coli strains, exceeding the standards quoted in the International Convention by three times or more, showed the potential danger of a mass bioinvasion. Conditionally pathogenic and toxinogenic mycelial fungi, which are able to induce mycoses and mycotoxicoses in invertebrates and fishes, were isolated from ballast water. It was determined that ballast water of the “rusty” type was poorly suited for the existence of zoo- and phytoplankton forms. In the case of the construction of an oil terminal in the Peter the Great Bay, a sharp increase of the introduction of exotic species via the ballast water and foulings of tankers is inevitable

New scientifically based methods for controlling ship ballast in ports

Intense studies and debates on biological invasions via waterborne traffic as a source of ecological danger for water resources of Russia began relatively recently. Regular examination and control of water ballast in the port of Novorossiisk [4, 5] has been one of the most important stages of these studies in recent years. Novorossiisk is the largest Russian nodal point of transportation on the Black Sea, with a capacity of more than 5000 ships and 100 × 10 6 t of cargo per year. As much as 60 × 10 6 m 3 of isolated water ballast is discharged to the aquatic area of the Tsemes Bay during loading and unloading ships. Technological solutions for sterilization of ballast water and its control are at the stage of development in Russia. The most effective way to decrease the probability of introducing invading species is to change water ballast at a depth of 200 m when a ship is 200 mi away from the coast (BWM 2004). However, it has been shown [1, 2] that this procedure is inefficient in the absence of methods for objective registration of the change of ballast water and tests for its biological and chemical examination in recipient ports. The absence of a scientifically based and generally recognized methodology of ballast water control in ports prevents the combining of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ship’s Ballast Water and Sediments and the current marine and coastal regulation systems in Russia. Ballast waters of 1500 commercial ships that arrived for loading to the oil terminals Berth no. 5 and Sheskharis were studied in 2004‐2007. At permanent stations in the aquatic area of the Tsemes Bay (figure), ecosystem studies on the biodiversity of phytoplankton, nanoplankton, microzooplankton, holoplancton, meroplankton, ichthyoplankton, macrozoobenthos, and macrophytobenthos were carried out. A total of 1063 samples were taken. The total list of the flora and fauna of this aquatic area comprised 417 taxa, including 30 taxa of nano- and microplankton, 109 taxa of phytoplankton, 73 taxa of mesoplankton, 57 taxa of meroplankton, 27 taxa of ichthyoplankton, 35 taxa of macrozoobenthos, and 86 taxa of macrophytobenthos. Examination of ballast water yielded new data on the composition of introduced fauna, its abundance, viability, and the origin of species. The main vectors of the movement of water ballast to the port of Novorossiisk (transit routes of invasion) have been determined. Most of these routes are related to the Mediterranean (62%). The studies demonstrated that the crews of commercial ships arriving for loading violate the International Convention and falsify the records on the change of water ballast in ship journals. Viable representatives of holo- and meroplankton uncharacteristic of the Black Sea have regularly been found in ballast tanks. Their abundance was as high as 20 × 10 3 specimens/m 3 . Of special interest are findings of well-preserved larvae of Euphausiaceae, stenobiont crustaceans that are so sensitive to environmental conditions that they cannot be kept under artificial conditions [8]. Our studies have shown that Copepoda and larvae of polychaetes are the main invasion risk groups in the Sea of Azov‐Black Sea basin. Estimation of the actual risk of invasion of strange species based on the analysis of the total; water ballast of tanker Prosky h as shown that a single discharge of ballast may bring more than 85 × 10 6 specimens of meroplankton to the Tsemes Bay. Carried in ship ballast water, larvae of bottom invertebrates have the best chance for spreading and extending their geographic ranges. The finding of a polychaete of the genus Streblospio , which is new for the Black Sea fauna, in the port of Novorossiisk confirms the possibility of anthropogenic introduction of benthic fauna to the Sea of Azov‐Black Sea basin. Representatives of this genus dominate eutrophized brackish waters, are tolerant to organic enrichment of grounds, and are often used as indicators of pollution. Apparently, the edaphic and hydrochemical conditions of the port of Novorossiisk proved to favor the adaptation of larvae of this polychaete to the new habitat and the formation of the

Efficacy of open‐ocean ballast water exchange as a means of preventing invertebrate invasions between freshwater ports

Ballast water is a major vector of nonindigenous species invasion globally. Mandatory ballast water exchange (BWE) was implemented for vessels carrying ballast water into the Great Lakes in 1993. Despite the implementation of this policy, few data are available on its effectiveness, and invasions have continued to be reported in the Great Lakes. In this study, we conducted experiments to assess the efficacy of BWE on six operational transoceanic vessels traveling from the Great Lakes to European ports. Each vessel had paired ballast tanks, one of which was designated as a control that remained filled with Great Lakes water, while the other was exchanged with mid‐ocean water. Community composition was assessed immediately after tanks were filled and again prior to water discharge in European ports. BWE was verified by ship records and, in two cases, by in situ water quality sensors. BWE was highly effective (>99% loss) for reducing concentrations of freshwater zooplankton. Live sentinel amphipods and oligochaetes deployed in incubator chambers sustained nearly universal mortality in tanks that experienced BWE, but not in unexchanged tanks. Finally, BWE reduced in situ recruitment of zooplankton from diapausing eggs present in ballast sediments in additional incubator chambers deployed in these tanks. Collectively, these studies support the contention that BWE by transoceanic vessels traveling between freshwater ports results in ballast water that would exceed proposed International Maritime Organization (2004) ballast water performance standards if these standards were applied to freshwater species only. Thus, BWE provides strong protection to freshwater ecosystems against invasions by both pelagic and benthic freshwater species.

Sediments in ships: Biota as biological contaminants

Global ports are hubs for industrial activities and trade. In consequence, sediments and water in these areas are often contaminated by an array of chemicals. Sediments also harbour both living, active stages and various diapausing or resting stages of biota. International shipping activities move sediments containing these biotic stages around the world, possibly resulting in biological contamination of port areas. In this study we assess active and resting stages of invertebrates contained in ballast sediment of transoceanic vessels operating on the North American Great Lakes to determine if ballast sediments could serve as a vector of nonindigenous species. A cumulative total of 160 species were identified, including 22 freshwater species not recorded from the Great Lakes! basin. Hatch rates of resting stages are affected by thermal conditions, thereby affecting invasion success. Total abundance and species diversity of freshwater invertebrate animals hatched from resting stages were negatively related to salinity of residual water in ballast tanks from which the sediments were obtained, suggesting that ballasting a shallow lens of saltwater may provide some degree of risk reduction from freshwater species invasions.

Invasion risk of active and diapausing invertebrates from residual ballast in ships entering Chesapeake Bay

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 324:57-66 (2006) - doi:10.3354/meps324057 Invasion risk of active and diapausing invertebrates from residual ballast in ships entering Chesapeake Bay Ian C. Duggan1,*, Sarah A. Bailey2, Colin D. A. van Overdijk2, Hugh J. MacIsaac2 1Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology Research, Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand 2Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, The University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada *Email: i.duggan@waikato.ac.nz ABSTRACT: We examined the invasion risk posed by active invertebrates and their diapausing stages (e.g. resting eggs, quiescent adults) carried in residual sediment and water of non-ballasted ships to Chesapeake Bay. Many taxa were recorded that are not native to Chesapeake Bay, supporting the contention that residual ballast represents an invasion vector of some risk to marine systems. Composition and propagule supply differed relative to that in ships entering the Laurentian Great Lakes (e.g. marine taxa dominated in Chesapeake Bay ships), indicating that risk varies geographically. Average abundances of active invertebrates in residual sediment (1002.1 ind. kg–1) and water (2.7 ind. l–1), and diapausing eggs in sediments (779.4 eggs kg–1), were typically low relative to those in ships entering the Great Lakes (1322.5 ind. kg–1, 10.9 ind. l–1 and 3650.0 eggs kg–1, respectively). However, due to high variability among ships, differences were not statistically significant. The major cause of composition and abundance differences is dissimilar trade routes between each system, with vessels entering Chesapeake Bay primarily originating from marine rather than freshwater ports, and because diapausing stages are less commonly found among marine invertebrates. Low propagule supplies, predominant intra-continental ship movements, and salinity disparity between the upper (20 to 28‰) and lower (3 to 8‰) regions of Chesapeake Bay (where ballast water is loaded and offloaded) may greatly reduce invasion risk and be a contributing factor to the bay’s low invasion rate: invasion risk from non-ballasted ships here may be low relative to hull fouling or ballast water discharge. Other marine coastal areas may be at greater risk from this vector. KEY WORDS: Ballast sediments · Nonindigenous species · Great Lakes · Resting eggs · NOBOB vessels Full text in pdf format PreviousNextExport citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 324. Online publication date: October 23, 2006 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2006 Inter-Research.

Does saltwater flushing reduce viability of diapausing eggs in ship ballast sediment?

ABSTRACTFlushing of ballast tanks with seawater has been proposed to reduce the risk of invasion associated with residual ballast in ‘no ballast on board’ ships. The efficacy of this procedure, however, has not been determined. Using diapausing eggs isolated from ballast sediments — as well as from Lake Erie sediment — this study investigated the impact of salinity (0, 8 and 35‰) and temperature (10, 20 and 30 °C) on the cumulative abundance and species richness of hatched zooplankton taxa. The rate and amount of hatching varied dramatically between sediments and across salinity–temperature regimes. Although exposure to saline water inhibited emergence of freshwater taxa during the exposure phase of all trials, mixed results were evident after diapausing eggs were returned to freshwater. The efficacy of salinity as a ballast treatment method was temperature dependent, although the direction of the effect was case‐specific. Exposure of eggs to saline water was less effective at 10 and 30 °C than at 20 °C. Although flushing ballast tanks with open ocean water is expected to significantly reduce the number of active invertebrates living in residual ballast water (a potentially larger source of invaders), our results indicate that the most effective treatment conditions for reduction of diapausing egg viability is 8‰ salinity at 20 °C.

Can sodium hypochlorite reduce the risk of species introductions from diapausing invertebrate eggs in non-ballasted ships?

Many transoceanic vessels enter the Great Lakes carrying residual ballast water and sediment that harbours live animals and diapausing eggs. In this study, we examine the potential for sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) to reduce the risk of species introductions from diapausing invertebrate eggs in residual ballast sediment. We collected sediment from three transoceanic vessels and from Lake Erie and exposed them to NaOCl concentrations between 0 and 10,000 mg/L for 24 h. Hatching success was reduced by >89% in all four experiments at 1000 mg/L relative to unexposed controls. Fewer species hatched at high than at low NaOCl concentrations. Based on an average residual ballast of 46.8 tonnes, the volume of NaOCl required to treat inbound vessels is 374 L. Impacts of NaOCl use could be minimized by neutralization of treated residuals with sodium bisulfite. Further research is needed, however, to evaluate the effect of NaOCl on ballast tank corrosion.

Modelling the invasion risk of diapausing organisms transported in ballast sediments

Biological invasions via ship ballast are a major driver of biodiversity change in aquatic systems. In the Laurentian Great Lakes basin, unique shipping operations pose a particular invasion risk. The majority (>90%) of incoming vessels are not fully loaded with ballast water but carry ballast sediments and residual water. Ballast sediments contain viable diapause organisms that could hatch and be released during routine ballast operations. To assess invasion risk and control of this pathway, we constructed and parameterized a dynamic hatching model for three representative groups of freshwater organisms that undergo diapause: rotifers, cladocerans, and copepods. Numerical model simulations show that ballast sediment is a plausible invasion pathway for all three groups. The model also illustrates that postuptake ballast treatment to remove or kill potential invaders should be applied as late as possible prior to deballasting to minimize the number of live organisms released. Simulations show that the ability of taxa to reproduce parthenogenetically inside a ballast tank greatly influences quantitative predictions of both risk and control.

In situ hatching of invertebrate diapausing eggs from ships’ ballast sediment

ABSTRACTShips that enter the Great Lakes laden with cargo carry only residual ballast water and sediment in ballast tanks. These ships are designated ‘no ballast on board’ (NOBOB) and constitute > 90% of inbound traffic. We conducted in situ experiments using emergence traps to assess the viability and the introduction potential of invertebrate diapausing stages present in ships’ ballast sediment. All trials commenced while vessels operated on the lower lakes (Erie, Ontario) and were completed 6–11 days later at ports on the upper lakes (Michigan, Lake Superior). Eight trials were conducted on four ships using five different ballast sediments. Hatching was observed on every ship, although not from all sediments on all ships. Overall hatch rates were very low (0.5 individuals per 500 g sediment), typically involving activation of < 0.05% of total eggs present. Five species of rotifers and copepod nauplii were hatched from ballast sediments, although only one or two species typically hatched from any one sediment. Results of this study indicate that hatching of diapausing eggs contained in ballast sediment of NOBOB ships poses a relatively low risk of invasion to the Great Lakes. However, as reproduction may occur in tanks, and non‐indigenous species may be involved in numerous introduction events, the risk posed by this vector is small but potentially important. While dormancy is a characteristic enabling enhanced survival during transportation in ballast tanks, it becomes a hindrance for introduction.

Viability of invertebrate diapausing eggs exposed to saltwater: implications for Great Lakes’ ship ballast management

International shipping has been the dominant vector of nonindigenous species introductions to the Laurentian Great Lakes over the past century. Apparent ballast-mediated invasions have been recorded in recent years, despite the implementation of voluntary ballast water exchange regulations in 1989. Since unregulated ‘no-ballast-on-board’ vessels currently dominate inbound traffic to the Great Lakes, it has been proposed that live or dormant organisms contained in residual ballast of these vessels may be partially responsible for recent invasions. Alternatively, euryhaline species may pose a significant invasion threat because they can potentially survive ballast exchange. In this study, we explored whether exposure to open-ocean water (32&) reduced the viability of invertebrate diapausing eggs in ballast sediments. Sediments collected from three transoceanic ships and from three freshwater habitats were exposed to open-ocean seawater. Egg viability, assessed as the abundance of taxa hatched between exposed and unexposed sediments, was not affected by saltwater exposure in any experiment. Species richness of hatched diapausing eggs was reduced by saltwater exposure in only one of seven trials. Our results indicate that oligostenohaline zooplankton may pose an invasion risk because their diapausing eggs are largely resistant to exposure to open-ocean saltwater.

Invertebrate resting stages in residual ballast sediment of transoceanic ships

Ballast water has been the primary vector of nonindigenous species (NIS) to the Laurentian Great Lakes over the past 45 years. Although ballast water exchange regulations were implemented in 1993 to reduce propagule loads, new NIS continue to be discovered. A possible explanation for this trend is the importance of alternative vectors, such as residual ballast of ships claiming "no ballast on board". We investigate resting stages of invertebrates in residual ballast sediments of transoceanic ships as a possible vector of NIS to the Great Lakes. To model the introduction effort potentially associated with this vector, we collected sediment samples from 39 ships entering the Great Lakes and measured the density, viability, and species richness of resting stages contained therein. Viable resting stages of NIS were found in 32% of ships, at a mean density of 3.0 × 105·ship–1. Temperature, salinity, and removal of eggs from sediment during incubation had a significant impact on total abundance and species richness of hatched taxa. A total of 21 NIS were identified, consisting exclusively of rotifers and cladocerans. Salinity of residual ballast water and geographic region of ballast uptake were predictive variables for profiling invasion risk due to ships, although explained variability was low.

Salinity tolerance of diapausing eggs of freshwater zooplankton

Summary1. Many freshwater zooplankton produce diapausing eggs capable of withstanding periods of adverse environmental conditions, such as anoxia, drought and extreme temperature. These eggs may also allow oligostenohaline species to survive increased salinity during periods of tidal flux or evaporation, and here we test the ability of diapause eggs to withstand such conditions.2. Salinity tolerance may also enable organisms to invade new environments. The increased rate of introduction of non‐indigenous species to the Laurentian Great Lakes since 1989, when ballast water exchange regulations (to replace fresh/brackish water at sea with full seawater) were first implemented for transoceanic vessels, has stimulated studies that explore mechanisms of introduction, other than of active animals, in ballast water. One hypothesis proposes that freshwater organisms transported in ballast tanks as diapausing eggs may be partially responsible for the increased rate of species introduction, as these eggs may tolerate a wide array of adverse environmental conditions, including exposure to saline water.3. We collected ballast sediments from transoceanic vessels entering the Great Lakes, isolated diapausing eggs of three species (Bosmina liederi, Daphnia longiremis and Brachionus calyciflorus), and measured the effect of salinity on hatching rate. In general, exposure to salinity significantly reduced the hatching rate of diapausing eggs. However, as non‐indigenous species can establish from a small founding population, it is unclear whether salinity exposure will be effective as a management tool.

Viability of invertebrate diapausing eggs collected from residual ballast sediment

Natural or anthropogenic movement of sediments may be an important vector for the dispersal of invertebrate resting stages between water bodies. Here we record the presence of invertebrate diapausing eggs in residual sediments from transoceanic vessels and explore whether these may pose an invasion risk. Viability of diapausing eggs was explored under light and dark conditions using sediment collected from eleven tanks on nine vessels operating on the Great Lakes. Seventeen cladoceran, copepod, and rotifer taxa were identified. Four of the species hatched have not yet been reported as established in the Great Lakes. Egg viability for individual species varied from 0% to 92%. Exposure to saline water may impact egg viability of some freshwater species. Generally, the proportion of eggs hatched in light and dark treatments did not differ significantly, indicating that light was not required to terminate diapause. As a result, eggs could potentially hatch in dark ballast tanks when immersed in freshwater loaded as ballast during operation on the Great Lakes. Viability of diapausing eggs differed among ballast tanks on a single vessel, indicating that tanks with independent ballast histories have different invasion risks. While additional work is needed to quantify risk, results from this study indicate that vessels entering the Great Lakes with only residual ballast are a potential vector for the introduction of new nonindigenous species during multiport operations.