Biological Invasions: The Introduction of Non-Native Species Worldwide

--This Electronic Field Trip was broadcast live in May 2005. Visit the Biological Invasions website for more information about this broadcast.

 

Below: Map of San Francisco and the Port of Oakland. Middle Harbor Shoreline Park was the location of the Biological Invasions broadcast.

Pictured below: Hannah, one of the students from Muncie, IN, walks toward the beach area with notes in hand ready for one of the rehearsals of the broadcast. Next to the public tower on Middle Harbor Shoreline Park is the satellite and production trucks operated by Ball State crew. In the background, the loading cranes from the Port of Oakland show where another student (Hunter) was located during the program

Every day, thousands of cargo ships around the world are busy loading and unloading their cargo. In addition to their intended cargo, however, these enormous vessels also ship other, unintended cargo. Hidden in the ships' ballast water — water used to stabilize the ships when not carrying a load — and stuck to the ships' hulls millions of tiny plants and animals are also making their way around the world. These non-native organisms are released with ballast water into a new port during loading and unloading of cargo or are scraped off the hull. Though not all survive the big trip, some do, and even adapt well to the environment. Some do so well that they out-compete local species, and others introduce diseases that quickly spread through the ecosystem.

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center has the largest research program in the United States investigating the introduction and establishment of these non-native species in coastal ecosystems. Dr. Greg Ruiz heads the SERC Marine Invasion Ecology Lab, and he and his team of researchers study the rate and patterns of U.S. coastal invasions and maintain the national database of marine and estuarine invasions.

The Biological Invasions EFTinvestigates the cause and consequences of the arrival of organisms not native to America's coastal waters. Students join SERC researchers in the San Francisco Bay area and sample the foreign organisms found there — how they arrived, how they have adapted, and how they affect the overall ecosystem.

Electronic Field Trip Series

This Electronic Field Trip is produced in partnership with Ball State University and sponsored by Best Buy, Inc. Learn more about the 2004-2005 E3 Electronic Field Trip Series.

Images from the Biological Invasions EFT

Greg Ruiz & students	Chris Brown & Students	Paul Fofonoff & students
Jevelyn examines invertebrates with Chris Broan.	Students examine invertegrates that are packed with commercial seafood mail orders.	Tuck Hines and Greg Ruiz talk to students on camera.

  

Students from Muncie, IN: Josh, Reilly,Gabe, Hunter, Hannah, Nathaniel, Paisley,