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About the Lab  The Marine Invasions Research Lab is a national and international center for research on biological invasions in coastal marine ecosystems. Biological invasions (the establishment of species beyond their historical range) are a major force of ecological and evolutionary change. Invasions are fundamentally changing the structure and function of ecosystems around the world and are impacting many dimensions of human society. The observed rates and impacts of new invasions have increased dramatically in recent time. ...more

National database of marine invasions

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Feature Story - June 2013 The diversity of the tropics helps keep invasive species low. Researchers conducted the first experiments testing the biotic resistance hypothesis. This hypothesis predicts that diverse communities, such as those in the tropics, are more resistant to invasion then communities that are less diverse. These experiments showed that introduced tunicates were more susceptible to predation in Panama then in Connecticut. Full Story New Publications Cox, Traci E., Philippoff, Joanna, Baumgartner, Erin, Zabin, Chela J. and Smith, Celia M. 2013. Spatial and Temporal Variation in Rocky Intertidal Communities Along the Main Hawaiian Islands. Pacific Science, 67(1): 23-45. First, Matthew R., Robbins-Wamsley, Stephanie, Riley, Scott C., Moser, Cameron S., Smith, George E., Tamburri, Mario N. and Drake, Lisa A. 2013. Stratification of Living Organisms in Ballast Tanks: How Do Organism Concentrations Vary as Ballast Water Is Discharged? Environmental Science & Technology, doi:10.1021/es400033z Freestone, Amy L., Ruiz, Gregory M. and Torchin, Mark E. 2013. Stronger biotic resistance in tropics relative to temperate zone: effects of predation on marine invasion dynamics. Ecology, doi:10.1890/12-1382.1 See full listing

Dr. Gregory M. Ruiz/Senior Scientist Smithsonian Environmental Research Center 647 Contees Wharf Road, PO Box 28 Edgewater, Maryland 21037 Phone:(443) 482-2227 Email: ruizg@si.edu Public Outreach: Monaca Noble Phone: (443) 482-2467, T-TH Email: noblem@si.edu