Geographical Analysis of Ballast Water Data and Potential Threats of Invasive Species for the North Eastern Untied States

摘要

In this paper ballast water data is summarized and analyzed in order to identify regions that pose particularly high risk threats of introducing an invasive species to the Northeastern United States. Certain species have drawn considerable global attention bacause of their introductions to and subsequent detrimental effects on local economies. These species are representatives of all phyla and lists of the worst offenders number in the hundreds (Zibrowius 1991, Lowe 2001, Zenetos 2005). This is why six particular species have been selected for cross-analysis with the ballast water data. These species were chosen for their known global threat, and with consideration to the region of interest, the North Eastern United States based on expert opinion.